Technical > Roo Man's Room

rear wheel back space

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denverflatheader:
Roo, I been reading the post here, had a question.  Do you have a preferred back space for your chassis (pretend wheel spacers don't exist).  What do you like between tire sidewall and body panel.

Blind Mule:
I think they look better close but that's my opinion ;)

  Randy!

rooman:
I am with Randy on this one, I like them close to the body which is how the majority of cars were back in the day. Most of the older wheels are around 3.75" backspace (Halibrand, Torque Thrust etc). I usually set the wheel and tire package up against the car and work out the rear end width from there. My cars are narrower at the lower rails than at the top so I usually put the upper sidewall of the tire about 1/2" out from the body. If the car does get sideways and distort the tire it will move more at the bottom and there is more room there with the narrow lower rails. If the tire does get into the body you end up with those donut shaped scuff marks that were common in the 60's if you saw the car with the rear wheels off.

Roo

denverflatheader:
I slowly moved from one setup to another.  My newest project has modern wheels with back space of 5" and just under 0.75" clear.  I like as close to the chassis/body panels too, in fact if they were just one big wide slick back there, I'd be more happy.......  but then I'd be on a motorcycle : )    Thanks Roo.   DF

wideopen231:
Ironic reading this tonight. I was just thinking today about Richard Holcombs TF(3rd in the 4's) car from early 90's. Clayton Harris his crew chief had it snaked in and ran the tires way in,as matter of fact he flipped the wheels backwards. Winston Cherry our old chassis builder had built a funnycar for freind Melinda Green King that he pulled rear wheels in ny snaking chassis. It worked pretty good too.

  I agree they look better when in close.I hate seeing cars doing burnout with enough room to stand between the tire and teh car with what  looks like foot of clearance.

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