Eary VS. Late A-body rear end widths
Why are people narrowing housings and not getting the maximum benefit from their effort?
Well,
I narrowed mine to fit a standard 4.5 backspace wheel, up tight to the inner fender, less 3/8 inch. This lets me punch the wheels out until the rubber drags on the outer lip. My 68 Barracuda accepts up to 325/50-15s on tens, even lowered.
If I had not liked my Kidney-slots, aka slot-mags, aka Ansens and ET-IIs, as much as I did, this would not have been necessary. But now I can install any 4.5 or less backspace wheel. I have four sets of standard off-the-shelf rear wheels, of various widths, that I can now just bolt-on.
Of course, for me, the 8.75 was the only choice, because of the strength I needed and because of the Drop-out gear-carrier. At one time, I had a lotta lotta pumpkins; nearly every one from 2.76s to 4.30s in addition to a 4.88, and a 5.13..... or was it a 5.38, I forget.............. I never had a 4.56 nor a 3.73.