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Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

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Old 02-02-2012, 06:49 PM
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Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Ok, Im trying to get a plan together to setup the back end of my car. Starting with wheels. I would like to run AR Pro Series TrakStar480R's. There 15x10 with a 5" backspace. 5" is the biggest I find for backspace. I know 6.5" backspace is ideal to have the wheel tucked under the well. I dont want them to stick out. I want to run a MWC fab9 rearend. I figured maybe I could order it 1.5" narrower per side to make up for the backspace.

These are the wheels
http://www.jegs.com/i/American-Racin...oductId=753741

For tires Im considering these M/T DR 28x12.5x15's
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompso...rentProductId=

Also, Would I need to run offset LCA's and a different rear spring setup? I want to set it up for drag racing. I just need a good starting point here. Trying to coordinate all this to work in the end with the look I want is wearing me out. I've been searching stuff for weeks. Im still trying to decide on what gear ratio, posi unit, and disc brake setup also. Its a small block car with a TH350 for now until I get a glide.
Old 02-02-2012, 08:03 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

You could always go with a 6" backspace

http://www.jegs.com/i/American+Racin...16560/10002/-1
Old 02-02-2012, 08:53 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Wow! How did you find that? Unless I use the link you posted. I still cant find it on Jegs website.
Old 02-02-2012, 09:02 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Also, I only see it with a 5x4.5 bolt pattern.
Old 02-02-2012, 10:41 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Ok, I just found the part number on weldracing's website. I always looked on American Racings website. Go figure.
Old 02-02-2012, 10:43 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

narrowing and those rims would be fine, you would need offset rod ended LCAs. The bumpstop would need to be gone for sure, you'd have to see spring clearance, on mine with a panhard bar adjusted for max clearance it was close. I'm doing mini tubs and the narrow spring setup this winter though.
Old 02-02-2012, 11:15 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Originally Posted by xpndbl3
narrowing and those rims would be fine, you would need offset rod ended LCAs. The bumpstop would need to be gone for sure, you'd have to see spring clearance, on mine with a panhard bar adjusted for max clearance it was close. I'm doing mini tubs and the narrow spring setup this winter though.
Which rims? The 5" or 6" backspace? I think the deep dish look of the 5" backspace would look good. However im more worried about it fitting inside the wheel well.
Old 02-03-2012, 12:57 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

5" without a narrowed rear end would stick out. 6" would not stick out but not be as tucked as my 6.5" obviously. If you don't want to mini tub or do the spring mods then the 6" is the safe bet or 5" and 1" narrowed. But tucking them more will look better IMO
Old 02-05-2012, 11:23 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

does anyone know for sure if the 295/55 will fit in our wheel wells without minitubbing? I know that an old school BFG 295/50-16 on a 16x8 which should be about the same size by the numbers is _really_ tight without major clearancing (I was able to make it work with just the right backspacing, hammer work and rolling the lips, but it still rubbed in turns, it was fine in a straight line), but a drag tire tends to be a bit beefier than a similar sized street radial. Anything that needs offset control arms is going to need major cutting to clear, but I'm not positive you'd need them unless you use more offset than the stock 16's (which you'd need to run a 1/4-3/8" spacer with the 6" bs to get).

If you're ordering a rear it's a non issue, you can either get it narrowed or you can get the axles drilled for the 4.5" bolt circle. I love those wheels and debated the same thing, but I already had my axle at stock width so I didn't end up with them.

Another thought is that you might want to check with a good speed shop. AR used to do "custom shop" orders with them where they could mix and match existing stuff. If they still do then you should be able to do a custom shop order of the 15x10x6" bs wheel with a 5x4.75" bolt circle. I don't see why the raw wheel couldn't be drilled for either, it's probably just a market thing, that there are a tone more mustangs (and that covers some mopars in the process) then 3rd gens out there (though I'm always surprised that the rest of the GM intermediates, first and second gens, c3 vettes... don't add up to enough of a market for that 1/2-1" offset range that they don't seem to make them)
Old 02-05-2012, 12:26 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

a 295/55 is basically a 28x10.5 MT 10.5 slick. whatever mods you'd need to get that to fit are what you'll need for the 295
Old 02-05-2012, 01:33 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

i got a standard width rear, with a 15x10 5.5" bs and a 29x10.5 on my car.

it fits like a glove.
Old 02-05-2012, 02:34 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Is this a 7.5" rear? If so that's the weak link and where you need to start. Otherwise all of this will be for nothing as you will need a 9" Ford rear eventually. Mine has a 9" from a Torino, works out the same width.
Old 02-05-2012, 07:47 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

I did end up finding a part number for the 15x10 6" backspace with a 5x4.75 bolt circle. It was on weld racings website. Im leaning towards the 5 inch backspace with the fab9 narrowed 1.5" per side. Im hoping this will give me the look I want while keeping the wheels tucked under the car. I'll run some offset LCA's

Any gain from running coil overs in the rear?
Old 02-05-2012, 07:48 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Originally Posted by daturbosix
i got a standard width rear, with a 15x10 5.5" bs and a 29x10.5 on my car.

it fits like a glove.
Any Pictures?
Old 02-05-2012, 10:57 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Here's a pic of the car. Tires are 29x12's on 10 inch Welds with 5.5 backspace. Name:  008.jpg
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Old 02-05-2012, 11:43 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Wow! That looks killer. Mini tubbed im assuming.

Last edited by A.Delaney; 02-05-2012 at 11:47 PM.
Old 02-06-2012, 12:28 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Originally Posted by Beeman
Tires are 29x12's
Drag or DOT size? When I stuffed 29.5 x 10.5 drag tires under my fenders, the inner fenders needed a bunch of modifications.
Old 02-06-2012, 08:02 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

I started with 29x10 Hoosiers on 10" wheels with 6.5 backspace. It took 3/8" spacers behind the wheels but they fit the wheel wells after some sledgehammer massage. I ended up cutting out the frt part of the wheel well and making a box for a mini tub. After that I went to 29x11 Hoosiers same wheels and same spacers. I then traded for wheels with 5.5" backspace and removed the spacers and went to 29x12's which is what is in the picture. I have quite a bit of room behind the rires now.
My rear is from a 71 Torino. It was jigged up and all of the original brackets were transferred to it from the factory 7.5. I never ran a torque arm, I have the SSM kit under it.
Old 02-07-2012, 12:50 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

How is the with of that rearend compared to the stock 7.5" camaro rearend?
Old 02-07-2012, 09:05 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Originally Posted by A.Delaney
Any Pictures?
i cut the bump stop off, welded up the inner wheel well, and clearanced some places with a BFH.
and thats a stock height rear spring too.. ill be cutting a coil or 2 off eventually.

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Old 02-07-2012, 11:03 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

here's mine:

28x10.5S on a 15x10 with 6.5" backspacing

Old 02-07-2012, 11:35 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Originally Posted by mw66nova
here's mine:

28x10.5S on a 15x10 with 6.5" backspacing

standard width axle? what did you do to your wheel wells?
Old 02-07-2012, 12:12 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

standard width moser 9" for thirdgen (non-narrowed, factory width). i cut the bump stops out, rolle the fenders, and bfh'd. ended up cutting a small part off the bottom of the wheel well near where the lca mounts to, but nothing so major to require boxing, etc. offset lca required
Old 02-07-2012, 04:47 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html

Here's some specs http://dfwmotorsport.com/Fairlane/9inchrearends.htm
Old 02-07-2012, 08:13 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

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Here's some pics. If you look in the frt. of the wheelwell shot you can see the mini tubs I made.
Old 02-07-2012, 08:51 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Best part of that kit is the subframe connectors. They fit great when I had them on my car years ago. I just sold the rest of the kit after installing them.
Old 02-08-2012, 12:36 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

Thanks guys for all the pics. These are some really good examples of what im looking for. What do you use to "roll" the fender lip?

Beeman, Is the location of those arms on the SSM kit narrower than the stock LCA location? Thus allowing more clearance for wider tires.
Old 02-08-2012, 07:09 AM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

I just used a body hammer to roll the lip and a hand held sledge to massage the inside. I cut the spring pocket as much as I could also. My tires were tight to the spring pocket with the 6.5" backspace even with the 3/8" spacers. I've thought about going to coilovers or the Wolf adapters to use the small springs. I plan on turning the lower shock mount before the season starts to help eliminate the bind there.
If you look at the pic. from the back of the rear you can see the bracket for the lower control arm outside of the lift bars. In the pic of the wheelwell you can see the hole for the frt. mount point of the LCA that is empty, there's a yellow arrow in the pic, that's where I measure ride height which is why the arrow is there. This rear was mounted with solid lower control arms originally. Instead of a torque arm it has a pair of tabs on the top of the housing that had an adjustable bar. It went up to the hatch floor area and tied into the roll cage, if you look at the pic of the housing you can see 1 of the tabs sticking up. It was mounted in another car like that. I bought it out from that car when he backhalfed it. I mounted it like that and then used the SSM kit.
That isn't dust under my car, it's all white overspray from the paint job. It really looks bad in those pics.

Last edited by Beeman; 02-08-2012 at 07:15 AM.
Old 02-08-2012, 04:15 PM
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing

15x10 6.5" 28x10.5s Et drags .backspacing. Had to cut bump stops off and hammer the fenderwells

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