Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 10:53:16 AM

Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 10:53:16 AM
When I rebuilt the rear end in the car, I put axles out of a 97 mustang in the factory housing. Along with 3.73 gears. I had been running 17X9 wheels with 275s, but I upgraded to 17X10.5s, with 315/30s on them. All I had to do was remove the quad shocks. But other than that, I cleared the exhaust, the parking brake cables and all. So, if anyone is thinking about it, it can work. I am running 97 stang axles though, so that may be my ticket to clear everything. But they look shagy!
XXX
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: Aerocoupe on April 09, 2015, 02:04:02 PM
Would you be so kind as to share the offset and back spacing on the wheels as well as the diameter and the specs on the tires?

Darren
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: Lodemia on April 09, 2015, 02:27:24 PM
Those are tasty looking!  What wheels are they?

Geoff
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: 50tbrd88 on April 09, 2015, 02:56:52 PM
Those are some wide meats!  It really looks great!  My tired old 5.0 HO has a hard enough time getting 245's to spin!  I'd have unlimited traction with those tires.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 04:16:35 PM
Quote from: Aerocoupe;446928
Would you be so kind as to share the offset and back spacing on the wheels as well as the diameter and the specs on the tires?

Darren

Sure thing Darren. I went to http://www.rimsntires.com and on the left side of the page there is a tab for size comparer. Once there I just put in the specs of the tires I have been running which were 275/40 on a 17X9 with a 24mm offset and a backspace of 6 inches. Thay was put in "package 1". Then package 2, I put in the specs for the wheels and tires I wanted. They are 315/35s on a 17X10.5 wheel with a 27mm offset and a backspace of 6.8 inches. After it compares them, it gives you how much close in the combo will be to brakes, suspension components and so forth, along with how much further out they will stick, and also how much the diameter will change (which mine did not change at all thus wheel speed should stay the same.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 04:19:52 PM
Quote from: Lodemia;446930
Those are tasty looking!  What wheels are they?

Geoff
Thanks Geoff, I like em too!! Hehe. Vinnietbird gave me the site he got his wheels from. Which was OEWheelsolutions, if I'm not mistaken. They are the 5 lug cobra r wheels. They are a deep dish rim with polished lip and a black face. Although I am planning on painting the face charcoal gray along with the front tires too. I only bought the black ones because they were the cheapest. Haha. I paid 89 a piece for them.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 04:21:57 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;446932
Those are some wide meats!  It really looks great!  My tired old 5.0 HO has a hard enough time getting 245's to spin!  I'd have unlimited traction with those tires.

Yeah I was worried bout them being too much...but screw it. I like them and I found out by accident yesterday that the freshly rebuilt and somewhat partly modified engine has enough guts to break them loose. Haha. They ride very nice though. No wheel hop yet without the quad shocks either.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 04:23:36 PM
And incase anyone wanted to know, they are Sumitomo HTR Zs. Paid 142 a piece on tire rack.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: Aerocoupe on April 09, 2015, 04:33:04 PM
Thanks for the link and the info!

Darren
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: 83TB on April 09, 2015, 04:48:32 PM
NICE!!  I am going to check out that site my self too.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: fast Ed on April 09, 2015, 10:08:28 PM
The 94-98 Mustang axles should be the same length as your originals, so that dimension would be unaffected.  A note about those Sumitomo 315/35R17, lots of the Mustang guys use them because the pricing is very attractive, and they will fit where other 315s wouldn't ... of you compare the actual dimensions on them to other manufacturers' 315/35R17 rubber, you will see that they are definitely smaller.  Which works out well in this case, looks great!

How much more clearance would there be to the inside, exhaust, brake cables, inner wheelwell?  Just wondering for myself for later, if I wanted to go with 10 to 11" wide wheels with some more backspacing to tuck them in a bit further.


cheers
Ed
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 09, 2015, 11:53:43 PM
Quote from: fast Ed;446951
The 94-98 Mustang axles should be the same length as your originals, so that dimension would be unaffected.  A note about those Sumitomo 315/35R17, lots of the Mustang guys use them because the pricing is very attractive, and they will fit where other 315s wouldn't ... of you compare the actual dimensions on them to other manufacturers' 315/35R17 rubber, you will see that they are definitely smaller.  Which works out well in this case, looks great!

How much more clearance would there be to the inside, exhaust, brake cables, inner wheelwell?  Just wondering for myself for later, if I wanted to go with 10 to 11" wide wheels with some more backspacing to tuck them in a bit further.


cheers
Ed

That's interesting about the axles. I thought they were a hair longer due to the abs exciter ring. I guess I never really checked into it further though. I definitely agree with the tires though. I saw places like latemodelrestoration have the Nitto NT555s for $218, and while I won't be daily driving it or racing it or anything, the price difference was obvious for me and the whole time sumitomo has a 4 star rating on the HTR Zs. So I ran with them.

As far as the clearance goes, once I removed my quad shocks, and mounted the wheel on, I hugged the wheel and ran my hands around the backside of the tire and my fingers had room the whole way. Now it is close to the parking brake cable. I would say under 2 inches. The exhaust is further than that yet. I'm unaware for running 11 inch wheels. If you were putting 315s on them, I would think they would have a good chance at clearing. But I'd be interested to know that as well. So if you do go that route, I'd like to know how you make out. Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Adrian
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: 351fox on April 10, 2015, 02:50:18 AM
I'm running 305s on 15 inch rims and they barely clear my exhaust before the rub so kudos to you
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: Ramos617 on April 11, 2015, 02:10:18 AM
Wow you didn't have to roll your fenders?
I have the same size tires but they are nittos and I'm using 96 stang axles (same as 97).  I had to roll the fenders to get em to stop rubbing but they haven't rubbed since.
You really can't beat the traction these tires have, sometimes I feel they have too much traction lol. I can still get them to spin with a hard launch though.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on April 11, 2015, 03:04:22 PM
Quote from: Ramos617;446981
Wow you didn't have to roll your fenders?
I have the same size tires but they are nittos and I'm using 96 stang axles (same as 97).  I had to roll the fenders to get em to stop rubbing but they haven't rubbed since.


No I didn't have to roll them. However, I forgot to add that I am running the 97 stang springs as well. Although I think they are a little lower than the factory springs. But yeah not close to my fenders.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: 93-in-a-55 on December 18, 2015, 02:02:59 AM
The old lady's looking good, man.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: 93-in-a-55 on December 18, 2015, 02:04:04 AM
The old lady's looking good, man.  Get her on the road.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on December 18, 2015, 08:43:44 AM
Hey 93! Bout time ya came round. Thanks dude, just trying to get her roadworthy. ;)
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: vinnietbird on December 18, 2015, 02:24:42 PM
I would like to go with larger rear tires, but the 275's will have to do for now.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on December 18, 2015, 11:38:04 PM
Yeah, just as long as you know it is possible to go bigger in the future!! :rollin:
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: vinnietbird on December 19, 2015, 09:50:50 AM
True. Waiting to see if I eventually go to 5 lug or not. Too early for me to tell.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: mcb82gt on December 19, 2015, 04:38:42 PM
Nice, get some better pics when you get time.  Love a fat cat.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on December 20, 2015, 12:26:10 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;453006
True. Waiting to see if I eventually go to 5 lug or not. Too early for me to tell.


Yeah, the 5 lug swap parts kind of fell into my lap at the right time from a good friend of mine, so I went ahead with the swap mid resurrection. Haha
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on December 20, 2015, 12:28:05 AM
Quote from: mcb82gt;453013
Nice, get some better pics when you get time.  Love a fat cat.

You know, now that you say that, I should take some better pics. And just more pics in general. To throw up on here for the guys to see. I'll take some early this week hopefully!!
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: Haystack on December 20, 2015, 03:12:49 AM
I had to ziptie my ebrake cables on my 86 cougar with 275/60's on 10 holes. I didn't have to do anything when i ran them in my 87 bird. They rub more on my 86 cougar and the springs don't sag at all. My 87 bird sagged and only rubbed on full deflection of one wheel.
Title: 315s on the cat
Post by: FOX-XR7 on December 20, 2015, 10:55:09 AM
Quote from: Haystack;453018
I had to ziptie my ebrake cables on my 86 cougar with 275/60's on 10 holes.
This is true in my case. I zip tied mine as well because they would rub. I think I forgot to mention that at beginning of this thread....