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Tire clearance / removing front leaf spring clamp ?

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rustytoolss

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Doing a ruff wheel/tire clearance check. I looks like I may need to remove/relocate the front leaf spring clamp (not sure just yet) . How big of an issue would that be for a street car 1962 Plymouth Fury wagon Wheel size 17x8 4.5 BS Tire 235/60/17 . Possible other size Wheel 18x8 4.5BS tire size 235/55/18.
 
More than likely you'll need a 1/4" wheel spacer if you're keeping the 4 1/2 backspace wheel. 4 1/4 backspace is what was needed on my '62. I too bought 4 1/2 and had the same problem. The bulge in the tire will be even wider than the rim resulting in less clearance with the spring.
 
khryslerkid said:
More than likely you'll need a 1/4" wheel spacer if you're keeping the 4 1/2 backspace wheel. 4 1/4 backspace is what was needed on my '62. I too bought 4 1/2 and had the same problem. The bulge in the tire will be even wider than the rim resulting in less clearance with the spring.
Click to expand...
I can get the wheels 17x7 4"BS that would help (i think). What size Wheels/tires are you using in the front and rear of you 62 ? I plan to buy same size for all 4 corners, Street driven vehicle. Thanks
 
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Like Frank posted.
If you doing any burn out ect you need the front of both springs clamped.
Jmho, but if things are that tight it's time for a spring re locater set.
 
rustytoolss said:
I can get the wheels 17x7 4"BS that would help (i think). What size Wheels/tires are you using in the front and rear of you 62 ? I plan to buy same size for all 4 corners, Street driven vehicle. Thanks
Click to expand...
Ir you plan on having the same size wheel and tire combo front and rear, i would be a little ln the conservative side for the front. I would suggest the 17x7 with 4"bs. You have the advantage of having a 62 plymouth wagon that has a rear wheelwell opening similar to a 62 dodge, more open than a 62 plymouth sedan.
I could tell you what i run on my 62, but it wouldnt help, cause i havent ID'ed my rearend, i only know its not a 62. I think its a 65 thats a little wider than stock, so more bs than normal would be required.
 
33 IMP said:
Ir you plan on having the same size wheel and tire combo front and rear, i would be a little ln the conservative side for the front. I would suggest the 17x7 with 4"bs. You have the advantage of having a 62 plymouth wagon that has a rear wheelwell opening similar to a 62 dodge, more open than a 62 plymouth sedan.
I could tell you what i run on my 62, but it wouldnt help, cause i havent ID'ed my rearend, i only know its not a 62. I think its a 65 thats a little wider than stock, so more bs than normal would be required.
Click to expand...
Yeah, going more conservative I'm sure is what will happen. Starting to look like 225/60/17 (27.6 DIA) or 235/55/17 (27.2 DIA). We all get caught up in thinking we are Chip Foose and can make big fat wheels/tires fit anything. But then we wake up to the real world (sucks), but I'm OK with those sizes. :)
 
Speaking only about the height....
I have run 235/70x15 on the front on my 62, and i have 235/75x15 on 15x7 that i am gonna run, that are 29+" tall. But i just noticed the other day that the p.o.has trimmed the splash panel, where a tall tire would hit on a turn. (the other day, after owning it for thirty years, lol)
Just a personal opinion.... i would go with the taller tires, to fill the 62 wheelwells. They are soooo loong, they dont look right with short tires.
 
33 IMP said:
Speaking only about the height....
I have run 235/70x15 on the front on my 62, and i have 235/75x15 on 15x7 that i am gonna run, that are 29+" tall. But i just noticed the other day that the p.o.has trimmed the splash panel, where a tall tire would hit on a turn. (the other day, after owning it for thirty years, lol)
Just a personal opinion.... i would go with the taller tires, to fill the 62 wheelwells. They are soooo loong, they dont look right with short tires.
Click to expand...
I agree about short tire looking wrong. I just bought this wagon. It came with /225/60/15 (25.6 tall)...way to small. I just checked clearance with a 225/70/15 (27.4 tall) the tire just clears by about .25"...if the suspension was in the control arms up/ would rub. So to use 225/60/17 (27.6 tall) IT would rub! So if I have to make room...I might as well make room for a 235/60/17 (28.1 Tall) Have to think about this some...really not sure if I want to modify things. The car is about 60 years old, and has made it this long without modification.
 
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I have 215 R 70 X 15 on the front of my 1964 Polara. I think they are about 26.5" tall. While this combo clears on the front of my 1967 Coronet, they did not on the '64. Because the lower front edge curls in so far, the tire snagged here when turning corners. I remedied this by trimming the area near the lower fender brace attachment.
 
Rustytoolss, what was the backspace on your checking rim? Moving the rim in as tight to the inside as possible (more backspace) will give more room to the front edge of the front wheel opening. My 235/70x15s were on a 15x6 with 4 1/4 bs. (Full disclosure: one front 235 did rub...on the header tube in the wheelwell. No header tube - no rub)
 
33 IMP said:
Speaking only about the height....
I have run 235/70x15 on the front on my 62, and i have 235/75x15 on 15x7 that i am gonna run, that are 29+" tall. But i just noticed the other day that the p.o.has trimmed the splash panel, where a tall tire would hit on a turn. (the other day, after owning it for thirty years, lol)
Just a personal opinion.... i would go with the taller tires, to fill the 62 wheelwells. They are soooo loong, they dont look right with short tires.
Click to expand...
33 IMP said:
Rustytoolss, what was the backspace on your checking rim? Moving the rim in as tight to the inside as possible (more backspace) will give more room to the front edge of the front wheel opening. My 235/70x15s were on a 15x6 with 4 1/4 bs. (Full disclosure: one front 235 did rub...on the header tube in the wheelwell. No header tube - no rub)
Click to expand...
The wheel I checked with was a Weld ProStar 15x7 with 3.5" BS. The wheel I plan to buy is a Foose Knuckle 17x7 with 4" BS, so with the Foose wheel, the wheel will move inward .5" If I'm going to need to trim the fender I think, I will be buying 235/60/17 (28.1" Tall) tires.
 
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Dave6T4 said:
I have 215 R 70 X 15 on the front of my 1964 Polara. I think they are about 26.5" tall. While this combo clears on the front of my 1967 Coronet, they did not on the '64. Because the lower front edge curls in so far, the tire snagged here when turning corners. I remedied this by trimming the area near the lower fender brace attachment.
Click to expand...
I think that I will need to trim my fender also. Thanks
 
33 IMP said:
Speaking only about the height....
I have run 235/70x15 on the front on my 62, and i have 235/75x15 on 15x7 that i am gonna run, that are 29+" tall. But i just noticed the other day that the p.o.has trimmed the splash panel, where a tall tire would hit on a turn. (the other day, after owning it for thirty years, lol)
Just a personal opinion.... i would go with the taller tires, to fill the 62 wheelwells. They are soooo loong, they dont look right with short tires.
Click to expand...
If it's not to much trouble, could you post a picture showing how your fender has been trimmed , If it's a big hassle don't bother. Thanks
 
rustytoolss said:
If it's not to much trouble, could you post a picture showing how your fender has been trimmed , If it's a big hassle don't bother. Thanks
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, i cant. I'm 250 miles away from my car at the moment.The trimming was from the flange on the splash panel/front valence, the piece that is body color under the front bumper. The actual fender opening is stock.
 
rustytoolss said:
If it's not to much trouble, could you post a picture showing how your fender has been trimmed , If it's a big hassle don't bother. Thanks
Click to expand...
Here's a couple of shots of lower fronts of fenders on my 1964 Polara that I trimmed about an inch of metal away for tire clearance. Hope this helps.

P3020032.JPG P3020033.JPG
 
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