Thread: '34 Fat Steel Front Fenders

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Originally Posted by REGs

IMO ..... ditch the incorrect spaced wheels ..... you'd be hard pressed to find something that'd roll those lips & look "right".

Also with the correctly backspaced wheels you'd be able to run a taller tire. If I remember my '34 truck front fenders had a pretty deep well.

Ratty 46

I wouldn't mind doing that, but I have not been able to locate any rims that had the backspace/offset of the old Cragars! These were from the early 80's, as best I can tell.

I checked many different wheels at www.newstalgiawheel.com/ and all seem to have similar or slightly lower backsets, which would push the wheels further out. The best "improvement" appeared to be, the Am Racing Torq's 15x6 with a backspace of 3.62", while the 15x6 Rockets I have have a 3.5". If I'm not mistaken, that then means that the amount of rim on the outside is apprx 2.38" & 2.5". Not a significant change! I even looked at 15x4 rims, and those were the same outside distance! (backspace was 1.5", so showing side was 2.5"!)

Before I modify the fender lip, I think I'll mount 155r60-15's on the 15x6 rims. Looking at the tire calculator ( http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp ) it seems that section width then drops from 7.67" to 6.1", which would pull the tire in by 3/4" on each side (pretty much flush with the rim sides), and the sidewall height drops from 4.22" to 3.66". The only fly in the ointment here is that the recommended rim sizes are 15x4.5 to 15x5.5, so I will be flattening the tire slightly. Anyone do this before? Any insights?

Is my logic correct in that this drop in width/height will allow the tire to clear if it is currently just slightly rubbing at lock? I assume if the car sits to low in the front, I can just adjust up the coil overs a little more to account for it, but I am correct in assuming that it should be a minor adjustment?

That said, Any suggestions as to another rim which will sit back further in the wheel well?

Bart