IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

General => IHADAV8 Playground => Topic started by: Steve Wood on July 11 2014, 08:35:10 PM

Title: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on July 11 2014, 08:35:10 PM
I bought four new wheels a few months ago.  Went 17x9" for the rear and 17x8" for the rear.  I wanted to go 275's on the rear but they were all 40 profiles which are too short so I went 255/50s in Nitto 555's.  On the 9" wheels, they fill the well up pretty well.

I wanted a taller tire to get the car up in the air a bit because the Hotchkis suspension had it way down in the weeds as well as to reduce the rpm a bit...sure miss an OD tranny in these old cars.

The front tires will be the same height as the ones that are on it in the picture.  I believe I can drive it on and off my lift now without pulling the bottom out.
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Scoobum on July 11 2014, 08:55:13 PM
I like the stance.
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: motorhead on July 11 2014, 09:01:01 PM
Looks great, Steve!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on July 11 2014, 09:08:01 PM
the good thing about torsion bar suspension is that you can crank the adjusters in or out and change the front end height...:)

It has a little rake to the front but not the air shock look that it did when I got it...still have to be careful on speed bumps, I think but I am not going to drive it anywhere that has speed bumps, I hope
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Scoobum on July 11 2014, 09:36:00 PM
the good thing about torsion bar suspension is that you can crank the adjusters in or out and change the front end height...:)

It has a little rake to the front but not the air shock look that it did when I got it...still have to be careful on speed bumps, I think but I am not going to drive it anywhere that has speed bumps, I hope

Cool! Jack the front end up and race 'er as a gasser. :rock:
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on July 11 2014, 09:56:45 PM
Lol, I did that in the sixties!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: SuperSix on July 11 2014, 10:25:59 PM
Very nice, Steve!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Shimy87 on July 11 2014, 10:41:43 PM
Sweet !!!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: xpander343 on July 12 2014, 01:18:48 PM
looks good!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: phil_long on July 14 2014, 09:17:14 AM
Nice!!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: daveismissing on July 14 2014, 11:15:29 AM
I think the 17 inch  is a perfect compromise between tire availability and maintaining a period correct appearance.
Very nice
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Forzfed on July 14 2014, 04:20:07 PM
Looks good and looks period correct!  So when are you dropping the 529 Hemi in it? :icon_lol:
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on July 14 2014, 06:15:21 PM
572 when I win the lottery
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Pyro6 on July 14 2014, 06:35:34 PM
Gotta play to win. Lookin good Steve.
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on July 27 2014, 11:30:54 AM
okay, added the fronts.  Accomplished that and discovered a gas tank leak...gotta maintain balance, I guess.  this car is about two inches shorter than the Buicks so I have a lot of fun crawling in and out in a hurry...
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: daveismissing on July 27 2014, 03:27:55 PM
sweet ride!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: gordyzx9r on October 29 2014, 12:17:15 AM
I love this car Steve, how is it coming along?
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: good2win22 on October 29 2014, 07:55:52 AM
Sweet ride Steve!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on October 29 2014, 10:24:19 AM
Dave, I have not done much on it lately because I ordered a stroker engine (440 stroked out to 522) back in September along with a new beefed up transmission.  The transmission is here but the engine is probably about three weeks out.   The engine is pretty mild-reminds me of a good RV engine... should make about 525 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.  It will be dyno'd before it is shipped...I went mild because it basically has an auto-x suspension and there won't be much weight transfer to try to hook it up.  Anyway, I am kinda spoiled by a flat turbo'd torque curve and that is what this engine should provide starting about 2000 rpm.

The current 440 runs good but it just ain't got the thrust I am used to.  I had originally bought a pair of aluminum heads for it, but then, I made some unexpected money when I sold the last batch of lambs and kids so I decided to put it into an engine and tranny.  Shipped the heads and other parts off to the engine builder as they are what they typically use on the engine I bought so it will be deducted from the cost.

I bought some rotors that are 11.75" in diameters to replace the 10.75" that are stock, as well.  Need to slap them on with the EBC pads that I got for them.  Older I get the more I want to be able to stop...funny how that works

In the mean time, after five years of being sitting with the front end ripped apart to install new wiring, I started trying to figure out how to put my Camaro back together so I can sell it.  I had walked away from it after an incident with a family member left me hating the car.  Putting it back together has been a three steps forward and four steps backward process as I bolt  it back together and then realize that the next part had to go on first!  Also, I discovered the paint shop had left a lot of bolts out and had left out/lost some other parts.  It would have been a lot easier if I did not have the factory assembly manual and realize what it should have...but I am getting over the top on it...doing the other underhood harness on now...damn those old starters are heavy.  Had to drop it yesterday to get to the two wires going to the solenoid.  Not looking forward to one handing it back in place.  Getting way too old and out of shape for that.

I think you have seen some of these pics before but I put this page together for my eye doctor who is interested in this...unfortu nately his wife just had twins and he is feeling poor for a doctor but anyway....

http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/doccamaro.htm (http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/doccamaro.htm)
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: tb3 on October 29 2014, 10:41:59 PM
I don't know that I've ever seen a blue one.
I sure like those green and purple ones though.   :cheers:
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: gordyzx9r on October 31 2014, 02:08:31 AM
A guy I work with has one similar, he called it a Secretary Edition or something like that...had a luggage rack on the trunk.
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: motorhead on November 01 2014, 04:16:58 PM
Looks great, Steve!
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: Steve Wood on November 01 2014, 07:29:09 PM
Thanks, Mike...amazing to see a garbage pile look good....:D   It actually drives very well as long as the road is smooth...
Title: Re: challenger wheels/tires
Post by: TexasT on November 02 2014, 04:21:08 PM
I believe just the big block first gen cars had the tail light panel painted black. I thought I needed one until I discovered GS big blocks.
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