Author Topic: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?  (Read 4895 times)

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cjshaker

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Getting ready to start on the Galaxie, to get it ready for Drag Week. Since this is just a bone stock 390 car, I'd prefer not to have to buy a set of tires just for a one time use during Drag Week. If possible, I'd like to use the Mickey Thompson ET Street tires I use on the Mach 1, I'm just not sure they'll fit under the wheelwells. I have the bias ply 28x11.5x15 tires.
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

mbrunson427

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2018, 09:05:19 AM »
Here's some 275/60/R15's. Ended up going with 1/2" less backspacing than this. I can't remember what it was though. You can fit 1/2" to 1" more tire under there without modifying anything but 275/60/15 is a pretty common size and they're plenty big.







Mike Brunson
BrunsonPerformance.com

cjshaker

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2018, 09:32:57 AM »
Thanks for that info and pictures. That's pretty much the same size as the MT ET Street tires. Now I just have to see if the wheels I currently have the tires mounted on will have an acceptable backspacing. Where did you get the rims in those pictures?
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

mbrunson427

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2018, 11:57:58 AM »
http://www.stocktonwheel.com/heavy_duty.html

They'll make the "20 series" wheel however you want. Made an educated guess on those ones and missed, luckily they fit my '62 Galaxie perfect so it wasn't a total waste. If my memory serves me, those were 4.25" backspace and it needed 4.75". Don't quote me on that though. They are 15x10 wheels.
Mike Brunson
BrunsonPerformance.com

mbrunson427

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2018, 12:01:38 PM »
Oh, and if you plan on powder coating the wheels, make sure they send them bare, not primer. Their primer is powder coat, and it's a real b**** to get off.
Mike Brunson
BrunsonPerformance.com

Heo

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2018, 12:56:32 PM »
When i need a tailor made wheel like that
i cut it in the lathe an weld in a strip of steel.
Or buy a cheap whitespoke in the right width
or whatever thats cheapest for the moment
And cut out the center and weld in the center
i want to use 
For me its faster and cheaper and i can fine tune
the offset before i weld it



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

mbrunson427

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2018, 01:13:35 PM »
When i need a tailor made wheel like that
i cut it in the lathe an weld in a strip of steel.
Or buy a cheap whitespoke in the right width
or whatever thats cheapest for the moment
And cut out the center and weld in the center
i want to use 
For me its faster and cheaper and i can fine tune
the offset before i weld it

If I did that, my wheels would look like this.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXpx21Uf7hs
Mike Brunson
BrunsonPerformance.com

Heo

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2018, 02:59:58 PM »
  :o ;D Nahhh its not that hard. I made my first set
age 12 for my Dunebuggy, cut it with a anglegrinder
we had to small lathe to fit a 15 inch wheel then
Wraped the steelstrip around a bucket to get it
somewhat round :D



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

cammerfe

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2018, 11:01:14 PM »
Had an extended discussion with a friend today, still an owner of a '64 Lightweight. He reminded me that he had used a jack to bulge the rear quarters and a little judicious sheetmetal work at the front of the wheel opening to enable the use of 12" M&H tires. He said that it was never questioned, but he was ready to point to the statement in the rules that 'mild customizing' was acceptable. ::)
KS

TomP

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2018, 12:04:59 AM »
I do like Heo does, make my own wheels by using a Ford center in another rim. I have disc brake 15 x 4" by using TBird centers in VW Bug rims and some 15 x 10's using  14" Ford centers in aftemarket chrome wheel rims... think it was  Cragar SS with the aluminum centers cut into pieces and knocked out.

cjshaker

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2018, 09:29:52 AM »
No sheet metal work here, the car will remain a basically stock cruiser. Even though I've got a stick setup, it'll remain the only automatic car I have also. It's the only car my wife can comfortably drive, even though the lack of power steering is a challenge for her.

If I tried to make my own rims, mine would end up like the Vacation wagon also.
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

Heo

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2018, 12:15:18 PM »
I bet you can do it Doug, Its not that hard, you should See how much
a stock wheel is out of round and side to side. If you take a old Ford
wheel, preferably one with riveted center since its easier to drill the
rivets than grinding the welds. And a cheap 10 inch wheel,Whitespoke,
 rusted fake wirewheel etc. There is a code stamped on most wheels
15J 8 for example where J is the inner dia of the rim so a J center fits
a J rim
Drill the rivets knock out the center ,sometimes the center is hard to get out
then  you can cut the rim in one place to let go of some of the interference fit.
Take the donor wheel and cut up the center with a torch in pieces like a birthday cake
knock out the pieces and grind away remains of the welds so the rim is nice and smooth
on the inside
Take a piece of 2x4 and a sledgehammer and knock in the center in the new rim to where
you want it. You should not have to hit it to hard once you got it started
meassure with a tape meassure or something that you are close to even from side to side
mount the wheel on the car and fine tune the offset. you can have the tire mounted
If you don't have a Lathe you can take of a front wheel mount your wheel have something...
I used a wheel i welded a 1/4 inch ironbar that i drilled and threaded a hole in the upper end
and used a bolt so i could adjust it in and out. Put it so the bolt is close to the side of the rim
rotate the rim on the spindle and watch for side to side wobble adjust, under 1/8 is okay but
i prefer to be closer to zero, you almost never get to zero because the rim in itself is not
perfect, tack weld, test it on the rear end if fine weld 12-6-3-9 o clock an inch at a time  you
can weld with the tire mounted if it is tubeless

I hope you understand my rambling  Its not easy to explain in a language your not born in to

You probably earn more recycling coke cans. But like it always is for me ,estimated deliverytime
doubles , the shipping company loose them and when you finally get them they have a Valiant
bolt patern so you cant even resell them ;D

I have two complete power stearings for those Galaxies i could have given you, but i gues shipping
will cost more than they are worth
« Last Edit: June 14, 2018, 01:05:06 PM by Heo »



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

cjshaker

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2018, 01:16:16 PM »
Heo, if you hadn't pissed off the guys at the import shipping place, you wouldn't have to have stuff sent to your wife just to make sure you get it. ;D ;D

As far as making my own rims, compared to buying one; when I envision all the 6 year old Chinese kids that will lose their jobs and not be able to support their families, I just can't bring myself to do it. ;)
Seriously though, I have several rims with different offsets that will work with the tires, just hoping one of them will work ok on the car. I don't want to spend any more money than I have to for a one time deal. The car will get the stock rims put back on when I'm done, and stay that way. Other than a mild build on the engine, just to keep up with modern traffic, the car is just a cruiser. I'm bummed I won't be taking the Mustang this year. I just don't want to haul my old rig 12 hours on the interstate, which is according to Google, so it'd be more like 18 hours on the road for me with my top speed of 60mph. And I really can't stand dealing with the crazy asshole drivers around big cities that I'm not familiar with, while hauling 10,000 pounds with a 48 year old truck. I'm typically NOT vulnerable to road rage, but I'd like to beat half of them over the head with a lead pipe! >:(
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

Heo

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2018, 01:32:24 PM »
 ;D That's what you get for telling the boss of the outfit that
he is the leader over a gang of thief's ::)

Lead :o that's hurt the environment, use hickory the green alternative ;D



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

FirstEliminator

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Re: What are the biggest tires you can fit under a '65 Galaxie?
« Reply #14 on: June 15, 2018, 08:06:45 AM »
weld 12-6-3-9 o clock an inch at a time  you
can weld with the tire mounted if it is tubeless

    Here's something to consider about welding on wheels with tires:
 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUVzgCHHuA
Mark
Berkshire Transmissions
North Adams, Massachusetts

70 Cougar XR-7 460 C-6
70 Cougar XR-7 conv 351c 4v FMX
69 Cougar SS 351w AOD
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