Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing
#1
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Car: 92 camaro
Engine: 409 sbc
Transmission: TH 350
Axle/Gears: 4.10, mini spool, camaro housing
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Car: 92 camaro
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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.
#6
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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.
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Car: 92 camaro
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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.
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#8
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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
#9
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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)
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)
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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
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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.
it fits like a glove.
#12
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.
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Car: 92 camaro
Engine: 409 sbc
Transmission: TH 350
Axle/Gears: 4.10, mini spool, camaro housing
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?
Any gain from running coil overs in the rear?
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Car: 92 camaro
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Axle/Gears: 4.10, mini spool, camaro housing
#16
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Car: 92 camaro
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Axle/Gears: 4.10, mini spool, camaro housing
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.
#18
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.
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.
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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?
#23
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
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Re: Trying to setup the back end of my car for drag racing
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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.
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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.
Beeman, Is the location of those arms on the SSM kit narrower than the stock LCA location? Thus allowing more clearance for wider tires.
#28
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.
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.
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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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