65 Cuda wheels..which way to go?

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DonPal said:
You may be right about the 4.5 & 5.5 wheel center/transition being the same and consequently the 5.5 wheel doesn't work either....it's Scarebird's claim that it will.

I know a 4.5 wheel doesn't work (as the Scarebird's kit is setup) since I've gone thru that installation(on two cars) & tried 10 wheels (7 new) without success. sfcuda raised the exact point that I did wrong.....I bought the kits & wheels & tires without investigating whether they would work with each other...once committed I had to jury rig up a solution.

I made the 4.5 wheel work by using spacers, machining the taper on the hub, & installing an inside tapered bushing on the hub to catch the newly spaced out wheel location.

The point raised/questioned by sfcuda is that wheel selection should be coordinated with disc brake kit conversion & if considering the standard Scarebird kit do not plan on using the 4.5 wheel. Cudos to sfcuda for forward thinking & investigating......
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Thanks, Don! I'm learning just by watching you guys share your MOPAR experience on this forum. Now I'm glad I waited to move on the whole tire/wheel set up thing.

Besides, I just found out I'm getting a decent enough tax refund to fund my new wheel/tire setup. The disc conversion may come later this summer.

So for now..another question. I'm looking at 15" Cragars. JEGS has them in sbp..which I hope means that I won't have to do any drilling on my axles. Should I go 15 x 6? (the other option is 15 x 7, which might be too wide?)
I plan on the 215 series..and for that matter, any input on tire dimensions for 15" wheels?

Thanks again to all you senior members for your advice!
 
I would go 15x7 with 215/60r15s all the way around or 215s on the front and 225/60r15s on the rear. nice to be able to rotate them but the staggered look is cool too.
 
Id go 15x6's with 215/60's up front and 15x7's with some 235/60's providing the correct backspacing...
 
I just picked up a set of these up at spring fling. Anyone know anything about them? They are Keystone Klassics from Cragar I guess. Also the centers are aluminum so I think I need special lugs. Any clues on which lugs I need and where to get them?

Thanks
 
unless you are using the large mopar pattern 5-4.5, those wont work on your car. if you are you need 1/2" mag lug nuts and offset keystone washers. should find them on ebaymotors. Don't believe the keystones ever came in 5-4 pattern.
 
737jetdr said:
unless you are using the large mopar pattern 5-4.5, those wont work on your car. if you are you need 1/2" mag lug nuts and offset keystone washers. should find them on ebaymotors. Don't believe the keystones ever came in 5-4 pattern.
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yes they did and are rather rare to find at all, let alone good shape
 
Commando66 said:
The 15 X 7 Cragars don't have the proper backspace for early a-bodies.
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I'm not sure I'd agree with this. They should fit fine in the back. In the front a 14 x 7" wheel might hit the tie rod ends or the end of the upper control arm but the 15" diameter wheel, because of the larger diameter, should give enough room to squeak by. I ran a 14 x 7" wheel with 4 3/8" back spacing on the front of a '64 Barracuda by using a 7/16" spacer with stock 9" brakes. The same wheel worked fine in the back, both with the stock 7 1/4" rear & later with a stock A body 8 3/4" rear.


http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=14745
 
CUDAGUY said:
yes they did and are rather rare to find at all, let alone good shape
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That is what they are. They are only 14s though. I was wiping them off when I stacked them behind the house and they are pretty shiny. So these are sort of rare?

I do not need the oval washers, right?

Tim
 
I stand corrected then. If they are indeed 5-4 then you won't need offset washers just round ones. I sold custom wheels and tires from 1984 to 1997 and never ran across a set that I can recall.
 
timbolia said:
That is what they are. They are only 14s though. I was wiping them off when I stacked them behind the house and they are pretty shiny. So these are sort of rare?

I do not need the oval washers, right?

Tim
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You bought those off a swap spot that faced toward the street in the first couple rows? I think those are Tim Herren's. He had a red 66 Barracuda faded paint in the Sat. show side. He is a new FABO member too.
 
timbolia said:
That is what they are. They are only 14s though. I was wiping them off when I stacked them behind the house and they are pretty shiny. So these are sort of rare?

I do not need the oval washers, right?

Tim
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I dont think you do...If I remember right, just shank or 'mag' style lugs like you would run with slots.
 
thanks all, for your input and advice! I finally got my new wheels and tires.. I went with 15 x 6 Cragar SS wheels with 215/60/15 Nankang Geostar radials all around. Just in time, too, 'cuz my old tires were literally splitting at the seams. (I haven't driven my 'Cuda in two weeks) I'm pretty happy with the setup..no rub, a solid stance, and the ride is really smooth..and safer!
 
Congrats, finding wheels that fit and ones you like can take some time.

Pics?!
 
Thanks! It was a process..complete with the UPS delivery fiasco, but it was worth the wait. The only pic of the new wheels and tires are my profile avatar. Maybe more on the way!
 
autoxcuda said:
You bought those off a swap spot that faced toward the street in the first couple rows? I think those are Tim Herren's. He had a red 66 Barracuda faded paint in the Sat. show side. He is a new FABO member too.
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Yeah that's who I got them from. Still struggling to get the lugnuts. Turns out when I replaced a wheel hub a while back I got left hand threads. So It took a while to get lugs that fit and now I need 5 more leftys. Had the front right blow out on me on monday so now I am riding on three 14s and onwe 13 till the lugs come in the mail. The lugnut King is helping me out though. No one else seems to have what I needed. Tim seemed like a good guy, but if I had it to do over I would have not gotten these rims. Not even sure I like the look of them. I guess I should wait till I have all 4 on the car before I decide.
 
sfcuda said:
thanks all, for your input and advice! I finally got my new wheels and tires.. I went with 15 x 6 Cragar SS wheels with 215/60/15 Nankang Geostar radials all around. Just in time, too, 'cuz my old tires were literally splitting at the seams. (I haven't driven my 'Cuda in two weeks) I'm pretty happy with the setup..no rub, a solid stance, and the ride is really smooth..and safer!
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Thanks for the info. May I ask for a couple of clarifications?

The wheels are the 15x 6 Cragar 5 on 4 with the 3.375 backspacing?

How much sidewall clearance would you say you have on the rear fender?

I need to do something with the brakes on my latest toy, and discs are on the list. I know scarebird claims their stuff will clear the OEM 13's that are on my '65 Cuda now, but if I can find a 15" wheel that works I will have a bigger brake selection...

I hate to do it, but I will probably wind up going through the drum brakes as a temporary measure...

Thanks!

B.
 
"I know scarebird claims their stuff will clear the OEM 13's that are on my '65 Cuda now"

From my contacts with Scarebird, their disc brake conversion claim is that their conversion does not work with either the 13 or 14 inch wheels that are only 4.5 wide....they only claim the 14 x 5.5 wheels will work without other modifications(spacers, machine hubs, etc).....I have not verified that 5.5 wide wheels work.
 
Would the same premise work for the 66 Barracuda? I have a set of 13's on now, but looking to bump the tire size up to the largest possible without scraping anything. Thanks!
 
I have a set of 14" mopar rally wheel for my 65 formula s waiting for tires I believe the fronts are 4.5 and back are 5", but they are smaller by 1/2 inch in front. I had 15 inch tires on it at one time and found them to be just too big handling wise. Remember they came with 13" tires stock. I find he 14's do very well I have regular 14" rims on the car now it rides nice on them just waiting for the time and money to upgrade to the rally wheels. I have upgraded to front disc brakes and 8.25 rear w/ larger bolt pattern wheels. hope this helps you choose...
 
My -65 has 14" steelies, 225/70-14 rear and 195/75-14 fronts. Just hope the DMV likes this setup when I'll do my import examination... :D
 
Johnny Dart said:
I stayed a little smaller on the tires on this car,because I didnt want to rob power from the /6.

Might change my mind with this new motor though. This thing will roast these tires....

Honestly, want to go to a 15" steelie with a 60 series tire. 15's look real good these.
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Does a wider tire or a taller tire rob power? I know both play a factor. But does one play a bigger factor than the other? I'm a new owner of a 1966 valiant signet. Thanks.
 
The actual weight of the tire, was my concern with the slant. The bigger or wider the tire, the heavier it would be. More rubber to spin. I ended up with 215-70-14's all around.
Most tire specs, list the weight of each tire.
What car do you have, and what are your plans ?
 
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