Technical how close can tire be to inner fender on leaf spring car? an inch?

I've be trying to find a new rear for my car and finally got a chance to go out in the garage and measure the distance between the rear frame rails witch is the same as between the inner fenders. The previous rear was 58 w.m.s to w.m.s and centered the tire pretty well in the openings but it was kind of a pain to get the tire out being a lowered hudson. I found another rear that's 54.5 from w.m.s to w.m.s but when I measured it all up that only leaves me and inch clearance to the inner fender/frame. The car has leafsprings but also a track bar witch does make it move a small amount through the suspension travel. Is one inch enough room? It would make tire changes so much easier if so. If not can I add maybe a 1/4 or 1/2 spacer to each side or is that unsafe? I google it but couldent find a solid answer

 

1" would be the minimum I'd shoot for, 1&1/2 would be better.

 

I agree with Rusty1

VR&C.

 

Yea I'd like it to be a little more than an inch but I can get the rear cheap (s10) so if I have to add a spacer I can. Had a hard time finding a gm rear under 58 but over 54.5 w.m.s to w.m.s I didn't want to have to cut down a rear or run a different bolt pattern wheel.

 

Anybody know if a half inch wheel spacer is safe to run

 

'62-'67 Chevy II/Nova have a wheel base of 57.75

BTW, what the heck is w.m.s. ? HRP

 

W.M.S wheel mounting surface. It is what should be measured in the hot rod world. Advertised tread widths in car spec sheets can vary quite a bit due to wheel offset.
I think there is a thread here with most common rear widths listed.

 

W.M.S. means wheel mounting surface.

 

I don't believe a 1/2" spacer will be a problem, as long as you the lug nuts are fully on the threads of the wheel studs when they are tight. Years ago we ran 1/2" spacers on our dirt track car, and I suspect the wheels on it was under a lot more load then your Hudson wheels will be.

Tire clearance on leaf spring cars used to be considered enough with a thumb thickness (about 3/4") between the tire and any hard surface, side to side. That is, unless your doing hard cornering with big sticky tires. Gene

 

I ran spacers that were just over 3" on a race car. Hit 227 on the back straight. No issues.

Run a hubcentric spacer, if you can.

 

Hey Peter you running radials or bias ? Radials should have more than an inch.....I wouldn't be afraid of a spacer, but you could also run wheels with less backspace ....heck you could build your own....cut the center out of the rim you want to use cut the rim off of the center you want grind them clean knock em together bolt em up and spin em with a jack stand sitting realy close so you can "true" them.....weld em up and go!...good luck, have fun!


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!