Advice on Wheels

[gtxpress]

So,  I have a question.   I lurk this forum daily and really enjoy the different subjects and really have my eye on the BBM stuff, so I keep coming back.
I currently have a 67 Fastback that has a medium roast 390 in it.  Roller setup with headers, 3.25 limited slip and a 750 DP on it.  The thing feels like it really pulls strong but I decided I wanted to know how it pulled. 
To that end I bought a pair of mainly wore out slicks (cheap) and they are 26X10 15 inch rim M/T slicks.  The next thing is getting a set of wheels.   I feel sure that someone on this forum has gone through this with a 67 and I am looking to find a cheap pair of wheels that will work for this setup without setting me back much.  After all this is basically a good driver quality car that wins a lot of car shows.  Plus this is not an endeavor  I plan on staying with doing just one of those things I want to get out of my system.
If I end up being really disappointed I will be talking to Jay about a little hotter setup. 

Gary

[afret]

I think a short tire like a 26" tall tire is good for your gearing but I don't think you need a 10" wide tire.  8"-9" wide would be more than enough and give you more room with a 8" wide rim with about 5" backspacing.  With a 10" wide tire you should have at least a 9" wide rim with 10" better ( with the right BS). But you might end up running out of room between the leaf spring and fender lip and have to get rid of the fender lip by rolling or cutting unless you have the rear end jacked up so the wheel opening is higher than the sidewall most of the time.  Might be easier to just get a skinnier set of slicks.

[Joe-JDC]

Check your local Craig's listing for 5 on 4 1/2" lugs with 4 1/2" backspacing and 15 x 8" size.  There are always Weld lightweight wheels offered fairly cheap since many of the Fox mustangs swapped over to 5 lug axles and that was a common wheel.  Joe-JDC

[fe66comet]

My stock 66 Comet was limited to a 7.00 wheel with 4.5 backspace. Tire diameter was 26" it fit but had little to spare. There are kits available to move the springs in 4" without body modifications but obviously the perches would have to be moved in on the axle.

[fastback 427]

Nice car gtexpress! The fastbacks can handle a much larger tire than the coupes. I have two sets of slots for mine. Size is 15 x 8 1/2 with 3.4" Backspace. I had the wheels machined a little to fit the tire and car.  The rims I have had a little over an inch thickness on the hub.The tire is 29.5 x 11.5 hoosier qtp. My car does set up in the back and clearance is close on the fender. If i used a 9" tire I could lower it with no clearance issues. Getting the right back space is critical. Measure twice cut once.......

[thatdarncat]

It is a nice car. Let me ask..stock rear suspension or do you have CalTracs? If stock it's going to want to squat on launch giving you more of an issue with clearance to the fenders. With CalTracs the body will rise and you can get away with bigger tires. Mustangs need a wheel that offsets in toward the spring - Afret is giving you good advice. A 8" rim will be about 9" wide total outside edge to outside edge. 5" offset inward leaves 4" outward and that is kind of the ratio you're looking for. I'd avoid wheels that offset outward. Again, if the body will raise you can get away more outward, especially if a short tire like 26". With a 9" slick you can get away with a 7" rim which are easy to find in steel at a junkyard if you just want something easy and cheap to try the slicks with. I race a fastback, my buddy a coupe - I hate to disagree, but I've seen no difference between the two as far as tire clearance, JMO. 

[gtxpress]

Thanks for the info.  I have 245/60 r14's on the rear now with no problem.  I believe they are actually a little taller than the slicks.  I have been looking around for some wheels with no luck so far.  The rear has slapper bars on it and there is some lift with those installed. 

[Drew Pojedinec]

where are you at GTxpress?
I'm trying to kick these outta my shop:



they didn't look right on my Galaxie, but I bet they'd look cool on a Mustang.

[fe66comet]

I currently have the same wheels on my Ranger, kinda heavy.

[GJCAT427]

Drew, are those 14" or 15" wheels and how wide are the rims?

[Drew Pojedinec]

14 inch with 4inch backspacing, 8 inch rims.
245/60/14 tires.
I think they are called American Racing Outlaw II.
I kinda felt on a 63 Galaxie, they looked small and very 70's ish.  If I ever find a Falcon or Mustang for my boy, I'd probably use them, but I just didn't like them on my car:



One of the treads bulged on the tires and I really wanted steel wheels, so I pulled them off.  They aren't show car quality.
I wanted the look I currently have:



I can say, those previous tires are hard as a rock and I'd spin them way too easy.  The new tires are Mickey Thompson s/t and they are awesome, I'd recommend them to anyone for a street car, they do well in the rain and all too.

[gtxpress]

Love the steel wheel look.  I agree it does fit the car better.  The others don't really fit the mustang I have but if you sell 2 of them for little of nothing I would be interested. 

[sumfoo1]

how much do you want for the set of 4 ? do they come with the tires?

[Drew Pojedinec]

I'll pm ya.  I'm not really wanting to ship them, I live in Georgia.

[Qikbbstang]

Im scratching my head on Jay's: Fastbacks have more tire room then Coupes.  At first I thought that's major insightful and just bought into it but thatdarncat's questioning it: ( I've seen no difference between the two as far as tire clearance) and my hanging around time under and inside gutted Mustangs makes me wonder where/how could there be more clearance?............It presume the "room" would be on the inside inner wheel well?..............................