Hello,

Im looking to see which drag slicks I can fit under my Fairlanes stock wheel wells. A spring relocation change may eventually come but for now I want to get some slicks and wheels. Im looking at 28 inch diameter tires for now. I have made some simple AutoCad drawings of the rear on my Fairlane. I laid out the quarters, inside wheel well lip, frame, spring perches, etc So I have an accurate picture of my available room to fit the maximum width slick without rubbing. I have not accounted for the possibility of rolling the quarter panel wheel lip. This is just background info. My question is about wheels. I dont want to shell out $400 a wheel for some fancy mags just yet. Ill need a 15x8 wheel with a 5 inch back space to fit. A 4-3/4 may be ideal but it would take a more custom wheel. I was thinking of using a steel wheel but I doubt if they are available. Would it be best to get a 15x7 and have it widened to 8 inches? If so what kind of cost is it to usually do two wheels?



The images for those interested are showing my Fairlane with the current street BFGs 255/60/15 and with Mickey Thompson advertised dimensions for 28x11.5x15 ET Drag Radials.







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Doug Bender

1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed



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I've used stock Ford 14x7 steel wheels with 28x9x14 MT slicks and they worked great. I've also used steel Dodge 15x7 wheels with 28x9x15 MT slicks and they fit fine as well.

For my 66 Fairlane street car now, I have a set of 15x8 AR TTII wheels made with 4.75" backspacing to fit the 275/60-15 Goodyear Eagle GTs. Car has stock wheel tubs and spring location, as well as Cal tracs. Unless you have disk brakes on the rear, I think 5" BS would be too much, though you could add a small spacer to center it better.

Good luck

66 Fairlane GT Silver Blue "BRUTE" Genesis 496/C4
66 Fairlane GT Nightmist Blue 428/TKO600
66 F250 Camper Special Rangoon Red 428/4-speed
2000 Lincoln LS Sport 5-speed

They can make you a stock-looking steel wheel with custom backspacing. I had made similar measurements on my '65 galaxie and ordered a set of 15x8 rims with 4.5" backspace--in bare steel I payed about $75 per wheel about 7 years ago. They look identical to my stock rims and fit my dog dish hubcaps. There is also a company called Stockton that makes custom steel wheels.



http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9026

widening too and has a great rep. Don't know of exact cost though.

http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm

Stockton Wheel also has a good rep. See site below for more leads.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2006/02/Steelies/index.php

wheelwell. The big concern is the section width, and not so much the tread. The sidewall bulges, and that will usually touch or rub first on most cars. An 8" rim is also too narrow for a 11.5 tire. Should be on a 10" anyway. Tom P will probably know the exact combination that will fit, but you'll have to wait for him to get out of bed.

Othr with Fairlanes will be more help. My Mustang has a bigger wheelwell, and a 11.5 is tight there.

of it, perhaps Aero already has a size you could use..hard to beat these prices:

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+401011+115+4294923105

I did find this:
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=51558012P&Category_Code=ALLIED
I guess they'd work on drag tires. I'm not sure if 4x4 requirements are less than drag racing?


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Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed

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website; knew of Aero Wheels before but not Allied. Since they are steel, 4x4 or otherwise, I'm sure they would be fine for drag slicks, if anything a tad heavy compared to an alum. wheel.

http://www.alliedwheel.com/custom_steel.htm#

My brother ordered a set of 16 inch with 4.75 custom backspacing for his mustang.

But I am going to talk to wheel ventiques or stocton wheels about widening my stock GT rims, since i now have 8 rims, i figure i can use one set as road wheels and one set with wide/skinnies.

************************************

1967 FE 390GT engine: 416 CID 233/238* @ 0.050 Solid Lifter w/ 4 spd TL.
1968 GT/CS Mustang. 289/c4
1995 Mercedes e320 I6 DOHC, 216 HP wagon.
2003 Tundra SR5, 4.7 DOHC, 4x4.
Another Galaxie (one day.)

Oh and a Bicycle - daily driver to save gas for the 'F'un 'E'xcursions.

The section width of the tire I'm looking at is 11.0. See M/T specs.



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Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed

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The wheels and tires never interchange between the 68 Fastback Stang and the 67 Fairlane. Ahhh. The springs are not the same.

http://www.jegs.com/p/Percy%27s/761153/10002/-1


68 Mustang F/B
67 Fairlane GT

it says "equvalent size" is 29x11.5x15 but the tire is actually 29x9.5x15. How is that equvalent?? If the tire was 11.5 as stated, then a 9 or 10 inch rim would be required and the section width would be over 13".

Why not make a tire and call it what it really is. All the tire companies are just as bad. Goodyears seem to have the smallest section width for any given tread size. I'm talking slicks, and not street legal tires though.

I think M/T gives section width numbers on their street/strip tires like the ET Streets and gives tread width numbers on their actual slicks so it gets confusing. Their 28x9-15 slick is similar to their 28x11.5-15 ET Street tire. They both have around 8.5 inch wide tread and about 11 inch section width and a bit less than 28 inch diameter. So their actual tread width, section width, and diameters are a bit off to confuse you more. LOL

The problem with Fairlanes is that the wheel well tapers in at the top. The widest slick that will fit without cutting the car or, jacking it way up with air shocks is, a 28 X 9. Before I fully tubbed my 67 I was able to have 28 X 10 slicks fit by mini tubbing the rear wheel wells all the way into the frame rails. With this done the car could sit nice and low and still have plenty of room for the slicks to move around and grow. I probably could have installed wider slicks with that mini tub but a bigger tire at that time wouldn't make it hook harder.

You'll also need a wheel with a 4 1/2 inch back spacing in order to fit right. A stock Ford 15 X 7 inch steel rim from an early 70's Torino with a 9 inch slick will work perfectly.

Keep in mind that guys are running in the 8's with a 28 X 10 standard width (non "W" tire) so you really don't need a big tire to get traction.


Dave Walters
427 Galaxie Registry
Website
http://home.ptd.net/~pwalters

I had laid this one out and it fits easily. M/T calls out for a 8" wheel as a recommendation. Some say they run a 7" wheel. Is it normal to go against the manufacturers recommendations and still be safe to use? I guess if I went with these I'd need tubes? I've read where some say there are issues by mixing radials and bias tires. I have radials on the front. Or is this only a problem for really fast cars?
Thanks,



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Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed

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If you're looking for dragstrip only use, the 28x9 slick will work great for you. You might even consider a shorter tire to help your gearing. I've run that tire on a seven inch wheel with no issue at all. Used tubes so I didn't have to keep filling them between rounds.

If you want to drive the car to the track with the tires on it, then the radials make more sense. I think you need eight inch wheels for the 275s, but could get by with seven inch wheels with the 255s, plus they are shorter, so your gearing is better and the wheels are readily available.

Regardless of the advertising on the drag street radials, I've never seen them work as well as a traditional wrinkle wall slick.

66 Fairlane GT Silver Blue "BRUTE" Genesis 496/C4
66 Fairlane GT Nightmist Blue 428/TKO600
66 F250 Camper Special Rangoon Red 428/4-speed
2000 Lincoln LS Sport 5-speed

It will have an occasional day at the track. I will have separate wheels and tires for the strip. The only thing I didn't like about the 28x9x15's is the advertised diameter is 27.3. I was hoping more to a true 28 incher. I'll be running 4.11 gears with a toploader 4 speed.

Thanks,


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Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed

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Hoosier 18140 28.0/ 9.0-15 9.0" 28.0" 88.0" 8-10" 8" 11.1" D06

Phoenix 9.00/28.5-15 PH377 F9 8.0 12.5 28.6 8.9 25.0 90.0

M&H 9.0/28.0-15 MHR-70 #704 9.0 11.0 88.0 8.0

Lots to pick from, various heights. All should fit fine on a seven-inch wheel, and have lots of clearance with the spring and fender.

Wheels are pretty reasonable

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1=SUM%2D521%2D5765PS&N=700+4294923107+4294923106+4294923105+4294755963+4294795102+4294793325+4294795099+115&autoview=sku

Plus Summit has a $25 discount over $100 right now


66 Fairlane GT Silver Blue "BRUTE" Genesis 496/C4
66 Fairlane GT Nightmist Blue 428/TKO600
66 F250 Camper Special Rangoon Red 428/4-speed
2000 Lincoln LS Sport 5-speed

Thanks for the tire info. I was looking at the Hoosier 28x9x15 that you mentioned in your reply

"Hoosier 18140 28.0/ 9.0-15 9.0" 28.0" 88.0" 8-10" 8" 11.1" D06

Phoenix 9.00/28.5-15 PH377 F9 8.0 12.5 28.6 8.9 25.0 90.0

M&H 9.0/28.0-15 MHR-70 #704 9.0 11.0 88.0 8.0

Lots to pick from, various heights. All should fit fine on a seven-inch wheel, and have lots of clearance with the spring and fender.

Wheels are pretty reasonable"

The Hoosier cross section is 11.1, so you're saying tha twill fit on a 7" wheel? I know what the manufacturer recommends and wha tactually works are two different things so before I get some Hoosier 18140 tires, have you ever fit these on 7" wheels?

Thanks,



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Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 390/428CJ Heads, 4-Speed

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My 67 Falcon is pretty close to your Fairlane in the back. Leaf spring location and housing width are identical. I can fit a 28 x 10.5 x 15 MT ET Drag on a 15 x 8 x 4.5 BS wheel. It just barely fits and I use a 1/8" thick spacer to keep the tire off the leaf spring - and still get rub marks. I'd use a 10" wheel, but that increases the bulge and the tire would not fit. A 28" tire also has interference problems with the leading edge of the wheel well.

If your drawing is to scale, your illustrated tire bulge intersects the plane of the leaf. I also think the leafs kind of "toe out" towards the back.

Shop around the track - I picked up my first set of used up 28s and a pair of Weld Draglites for $50. The tires were good for test fitting only. If you are just after tires, put the word out at the end or beginning of the season for some used up 28" tires and you should be able to find some -useful for fitting- free. 28- 10.5 x 15 is a very popular size, 9" less so.

1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V

http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod>

Owner built, owner abused.

It`s been over 30 years since I had the car, but when I raced my 66 Fairlane GTA in the mid 70`s, I used a pair of the MoPar Rally wheels from a 70 Cuda, which were 15x7"`s, with a set of 9x28 1/2-15 Firestone "Drag 500" slicks. I remember having to fold down the tab that was sticking out where the rubber snubbers for the axle housing were mounted, and I also recall rolling up the wheel lip edges, but I can`t recall if that was for actual slick clearance, or to fit my tow hubs and tires under the car. (No fancy ass trailer back then, just a tow bar!)
As for tire size, yes the M/T 9x28-15 is only 17.3" tall, but Hoosier, and likely Goodyear made slicks that are actually 28" tall.

428 powered Fairmont drag car, Best ET:10.03@132.11MPH, best 60 ft: 1.29
59 Meteor 2 dr. sedan 332, Ford O Matic
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4speed

Where did you get your 1/8" spacer? Is it billet Al or steel and made for 1/2 inch studs?

Had it in the tool box - it's aluminum, probably got it at Pep Boys at sometime in the past. Looks generic in nature.

1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

.

If anything err to the side of too much backspacing as you can always make clearance to the inside easier than outside or use spacers. The 275 tire would be under 11 1/2" section width but i'd still never trust published specs. These people don't own a tape measure and i've had to retub my car to fit a supposedly narrower tire.

There is also a big nasty bump stop perch in the wheelwell that can be cut down then the next obstacle is the leaf spring. On my rusty 66 Comet convertible i've moved the leafs 3" inward into a tunneled out frame and now there's quite a bit of room.

I've got 2 sets of 15x8" stock 60's steel wheels i've made up that are 4 1/2" backspace and 6" backspace. They are done but using centers from stock skinny wheels welded into 8" wide aftermarket wheels and could be made anything in between.

I can tell you that on my car the tire hit the spring and still had no problem with the snubber on the frame. Those are still on the car. On our 70 Mustang, the same tire on the same wheels clears all over the place with about 1" to the springs.

1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

Wheel Vintique has a 15x7 off the shelf wheel as a repicla of the Ford Styled Steel wheel. I called and after many begging sessions they agreed to make me a set of 15x10 with 6.5 backspacing and 15x6 for the front. Look original, work like a charm. My 67 Mustang has MT 13.50x28's on them. At the time they did not charge any more than a off the shelf 10' steel wheel, now I think they charge a $25.00 per wheel set up for custom steel width & offset. About $160.00 each.

Nothing neater than a stock looking wheel on a stock looking car that hauls axx.

I'm running a '57 Ford 9" rear and McCreary L60-15 tires on my '66 Fairlane. Had 15x8 Keystone Classics with 3 7/8" backspace and tires just barely rubbed on bumps. You can order special offset 15x8 Cragar SS wheels from Summit. They only cost me an extra $15/wheel if they can make it. Just a thought.

I have a pair of 15 x 8 drag stars with a 4 1/2 BS and a set of 15 x 7 Ford factory steel wheels. I didn't realize it but I'm real close to you over in Trexlertown. If you want to check them out for size send me an email at dwalters@ptd.net I'd be glad to help you out if I can.

Dave Walters
427 Galaxie Registry
Website
http://home.ptd.net/~pwalters

If you have 350-375hp and can turn 55-5700 rpm the 4.11 should work well.
Hope you have a wide box and not over 2300lb clutch.
Good luck, you will love those tires!
Ron.