A
week with 17 Torque Thrust II wheels (thanks Sean)
These wheels and tires were ordered by Sean Krasan for
his 68 Barracuda Convertible.
Seans car is undergoing body and paint we
collaborated on choosing the offset and rim for the front and I have been really wanting to actually see one of these rims on my
car.
Each car is a little different and my
combination of parts is no where near stock, so caveat
emptor!
Front: Wheel is 17x8 American Racing TT2 w/
5.5 backspacing; tire is a Kuhmo 712 in a
245/45ZR17. Suspension is stock 75
Valiant lower control arm, spindle, and ball joints. Upper control arm is the non-adjustable
tubular that I purchased from Magnum Force Racing many moons ago. Brakes are 11-3/4 discs from a 78 Fury
police car. Wheels are a perfect
fit with the right upper ball joint.
Rear: Wheel is 17x8 American Racing TT2 w/
5 backspacing; tire is a Kuhmo 712 in a 255/50ZR17.
Suspension is Mopar SS 002-003 springs, with a Mopar spring relocation kit. Rear axle housing was from a 69 Dart,
axles are 4-1/2 bolt circle from a C-body which were shortened and resplined by Moser.
If I dropped the rear of the car a few inches the result would be just
over ½ clearance on the outside between the tire and the factory wheel
lip. That is a bit close. I would be inclined to roll the lip up a
little if it was that close. On the
inside I had just over 4, it is hard to say how this
will fit with the stock spring location.
First impression: I want wider tires for the rear, like
335/35-17. Ride was amazing smooth
and steering response compared to my current front tire, the 165R15, was
awesome. I would want more camber
and make sure the toe is correct, it was a little twitchy. Car could use an alignment I am
sure. Traction was non-existent.
Maybe the front suspension was
lowered too much, or maybe the tires are just not wide enough. Engine probably has something to do with
it as well. I like the TT2, but
they do not come in 17x8-1/2, 17x9, 17x12 or 17x13, so I may end up with
something a bit different to get the wheel sizes I
want. With a little work on the front fender and the wheel lip, a little more backspacing, maybe I can sneak a 275/40-17 under the front.
Well, the ball joint zerk
fitting did not let the rim go all the way on.
Worked w/o zerk. I swapped
to the newer style ball joint. New
style is on the right.
But, for the rest of it,
no problem. Picture exaggerates how close on the tie
rod clearance; it is probably a little over Ό. The tie rod is closer to the rim, not
the sidewall bulge of the tire as the picture would
suggest.
Tire just barely clears the front edge of
the fender when turning in, might need trimming.
More pictures around the
front:
And some of the car with all four tires and
wheels mounted:
E-mail:
mosley"at"mail.utexas.edu