Wheels STYLE STEEL WHEEL KITS CLASSIC MUSTANG STYLING AT A GREAT PRICE! 65-66 65-66 65-66 67 67 67 68-69 Give your Mustang the factory mag look with a Style Steel Wheel Kit! Our Style Steel Wheel Kits are made in the USA and carry a Two Year Warranty on workmanship and finish! 65 wheels are fully chrome, 66-67 wheels use a chrome trim ring. Kits include 4 Wheels, 4 trim rings (66-67 only), 4 Center Caps, and 20 Lug Nuts! 65 66 67 14”X5”; Red Center Cap; Chrome; Set/4 (factory size) ...............................................................#1451 14”X5”; Red Center Cap; w/Trim Rings; Set/4 (factory size).......................................................#1452 14”X5½”; Blue Center Cap; w/Trim Rings; Set /4 (factory size) ..................................................#1453 65 66 67 14”X 5”; Chrome; w/o Center Cap (factory size) .........................................................................#1448 14”X 5”; w/o Center Cap or Trim Ring (factory size) ...................................................................#1449 14”X 5½”; w/o Center Cap or Trim Ring (factory size) ................................................................#1450 kit kit kit $149.95 $149.95 $134.95 ea ea ea INDIVIDUAL STYLE STEEL WHEELS 14”X6”; w/Red Center Cap ........................................... #533 14”X7”; w/Red Center Cap ........................................... #4690 15”X7”; w/Red Center Cap ........................................... #2551 15”X7”; w/Blue Center Cap........................................... #2550 14”X7”; w/Blue Center Cap........................................... #348 14”X6”; w/Blue Center Cap........................................... #5005 15”X7; w/Center Cap .................................................... #3562 $769.95 kit $786.95 kit $823.95 kit $823.95 kit $806.95 kit $784.95 kit Call for Price CHROME STYLE STEEL WHEEL KITS These fully chrome wheels come available in non standard sizes for those who want to give their Mustang the factory look but in a wider/larger size wheel! Kits include center caps and lug nuts! #348 CHR INDIVIDUAL WHEELS Individual wheels are sold as bare wheels only, less center cap and lug nuts. Perfect for those who want a matching spare wheel and tire. 65-67 65-67 65-67 65-67 $744.95 $808.95 $828.95 14”X 6” .......................................................................... #1445 14” X 7” ......................................................................... #1446 15” X 7” ......................................................................... #1447 15”X 8” .......................................................................... #4814 $148.95 $153.95 $157.95 $164.95 ea ea ea ea MAGNUM 500 CLASSIC STYLE WHEELS These wheels will give your Mustang the classic Magnum 500 look and are a must for your Boss or Mach 1! Individual wheels are sold less center cap and lug nuts. 14”X 7”, w/2” center hole for 1969 .................................. #3566 14”X 6”, w/2 1/8” center hole .......................................... #10055 15”X 8”, w/2 1/8” center hole .......................................... #3551 14”X 7”, w/2 1/8” center hole .......................................... #3564 15”X 7”, w/2 1/8” center hole .......................................... #3565 15”X 7”, w/2” center hole ................................................ #3567 17”X 8”, w/2 1/8” center hole .......................................... #7463 15”X 7”, With 2” center hole; includes center caps and lug nuts!.................................................. #4613 17” X 8” HOPSTER WHEELS These top quality Hopster wheels will look great on your restomod! Buy a complete set of four at at great price! 17” x 8” with 4 ¾” back spacing ................................................. #4380 HOPSTER WHEELS WILL GIVE YOU A “JUMP” ON THE COMPETITION! $359.95 ea $219.95 $153.95 $169.95 $164.95 $164.95 $183.95 $297.95 ea ea ea ea ea ea ea SET OF 4 17” x 8”, 4½” backspace 5 x 4½ bolt pattern ................................#14014 SET OF 4 ONLY $1295.95 The classic slotted mag is back! Get classic muscle car looks with this great looking wheel! 15” X 7” 4” back spacing, 4lug. #12047................ $174.95 ea SAVE BIG! SET OF 4 ONLY $629.95 #12047 15” TORQUE THRUST ORIGINAL WHEELS 65-73 15”X 7” 3¾” Back Spacing .......................................#10855 $234.95 ea 65-73 15”X 8” 3¾” Back Spacing .......................................#13377 $244.95 ea SET OF 4 ONLY $845.95 $ 229.95 ea HOT BLACK FINISH! HUGE SAVINGS! ANSEN SPIRIT SLOTTED MAG WHEELS ONLY $829.95 SHELBY 17” TORQUE THRUST M WHEELS 65-73 #3562 OME! CO OL DISCOUNT! SET OF 4 ONLY $827.95 Other Sizes Available. Call for more information. www.mustangsplus.com SET OF 4 ONLY $881.95 Try on these 5 spoke original design 1 piece wheels! Features a light texture painted center and machined lip. Center caps included. WHEELS 159 Wheels TORQUE THRUST II - TWO PIECE WHEELS 65-73 14”X 6” 3 3/8” Back Spacing .............#11425 $234.95 $234.95 65-73 15”X 6” 3 3/8” Back Spacing .............#7469 65-73 15”X 7” 3¾” Back Spacing...............#5809 $249.95 65-73 15”X 8” 3¾” Back Spacing...............#6025 $264.95 65-73 15”X 10” 3¾” Back Spacing.............#11828 $284.95 65-73 16”X 7” 4” Back Spacing..................#5996 $264.95 65-73 16”X 8” 4” Back Spacing..................#5995 $269.95 $269.95 65-73 16”X 8” 4 7/8” Back Spacing .............#5997 65-73 17”X7” 4” Back Spacing...................#5125 $314.95 65-73 17”x 8” 4¾” Back Spacing ...............#5281 $324.95 65-73 18”X 8” 5” Back Spacing..................#11818 $449.95 (#5997 back spacing will not work with stock application) ea ea ea ea ea ea ea ea ea ea ea $ 845.95 $ 845.95 $ 899.95 $ 953.95 $1,025.95 $ 953.95 $ 971.95 $ 971.95 $1,129.95 $1,169.95 $1,619.95 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 Two-piece aluminum design, fully polished, includes aluminum center cap. Uses tapered style lug nuts. BUY MORE AND $AVE MORE! CHECK OUT OUR GREAT PRICING ON WHEEL SETS OF 4 15” x 7” #5809 18” x 8” #11818 ‘65-’73 TORQUE THRUST D WHEELS ‘65-73 CHROME TORQUE THRUST D The classic is back with American Racing! Get classic muscle car looks with this great looking wheel! Uses tapered style lug nuts. Price includes center cap. #1455 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 VINTAGE 40 14”X6” 3 3/8” Back Spacing .......... #1454 15”X6” 3 5/8” Back Spacing .......... #2388 15”X7” 3 ¾” Back Spacing .......... #1455 15”X8½” 3 ¾” Back Spacing ....... #1456 15”X10” 3 ¾” Back Spacing ........ #1457 15”X4½” 2 1/8”” Back Spacing ...... #6487 16”X 8” 4” Back Spacing ............. #12509 $204.95 $214.95 $191.95 $239.95 $259.95 $214.95 $259.95 ea ea ea ea ea ea ea $737.95 $773.95 $691.95 $863.95 $935.95 $773.95 $935.95 Classic design in both in one-piece and also two piece wheel. Perfect for the finishing touch on your Mustang project. Surely to make your pony an eye catcher from the ground up! Price includes lug nuts and center caps. Featuring the same winning design and quality you’ve come to expect from American Racing. Guaranteed to impress! set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 set/4 SET OF 4 ONLY $1,187.95 15”X7” 3 ¾” Back Spacing .... #7298 $329.95 ea SS WHEEL - IT’S ENORMOUS! Includes lug nuts only. ONE-PIECE WHEEL 15”X7” 3 7/8” back spacing..............................#10603 16”X8” 4 ½” back spacing................................#7681 $199.95 $249.95 ea ea $349.95 $369.95 $389.95 ea ea ea 65-73 17x8, SS chrome aluminum with 4.75” back space .......... #13796 $ 349.95 ea TWO-PIECE WHEEL 17”X7” 3¾” back spacing.................................#13915 17”X8” 4½” back spacing.................................#10602 17”X9½” 5 ½” back spacing..............................#10601 VINTAGE 45 17” X 8” & CLASSIC DESIGN! More muscle car styling in one-piece and also two-piece wheel. Perfect for the finishing touch on your Mustang project. Surely to make your pony an eye catcher from the ground up! Price includes lug nuts and center caps. ONE-PIECE WHEEL 15”X7” 16”X8” 3 7/8” back spacing ........................#10607 4½” back spacing ...........................#4834 $199.95 ea $249.95 ea Bill Croxton Mustangs Plus’ April Car Show TWO-PIECE WHEEL 17”X7” 17”X8” 17”X9½” 3¾” back spacing ...........................#10606 4½” back spacing ...........................#10605 5½” back spacing ...........................#10604 VINTAGE 48 AGGRESSIVE 8 SPOKE DESIGN! $349.95 ea $369.95 ea $389.95 ea WE CARRY CLASSIC WHEELS FOR YOUR PRIZED PONIES! Designed in the tradition of the Mini-Lites, this 16”X8” wheel is destined to be an instant classic. Take advantage of this great wheel at a great price! Place your order for a set today! Price includes lug nuts and center caps. 16”X8” 4 ½” back spacing......................... #5850 16”X8” 4 ½” back Spacing (4 Lug)............ #7536 17”X8” 4 ½” back spacing......................... #14299 $249.95 $249.95 $369.95 160 set/4 set/4 set/4 CONFUSED ABOUT BACKSPACING? DON’T BE! A Beautiful Reproduction of the Original 10-Spoke Wheel! The very best from Vintage Wheel Works! WHEELS $ 995.00 $ 995.00 $1,449.00 POWDER COATING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. VINTAGE 50 65-73 65-73 ea ea ea 15”X7” 3 7/8” back Spacing ......#10608 16”X8” 4 ½” back spacing .........#7535 $199.95 ea $249.95 ea $749.95 set/4 $995.00 set/4 SEE OUR INFORMATIVE ARTICLE IN THIS WHEEL SECTION ON PAGE 163-164 CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-999-4289 MUSTANGS PLUS 1964½ - ‘73 CATALOG Wheels 10 SPOKE WHEELS THEMED VALVE STEM CAPS WITH KEY FOBS INCLUDES CENTER CAPS AND LUG NUTS! 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 65-73 14x6, 10 spoke aluminum with 3.88” back space ................. #13791 $ 299.95 14x8, 10 spoke aluminum with 3.88” back space ................. #13792 $ 319.95 17x8, 10 spoke aluminum with 4.75” back space ................. #13793 $ 324.95 17x8, 10 spoke aluminum with 4.75” back space blk ............ #13794 $ 349.95 17x8, 10 spoke aluminum with 5.30” back space, ................ #13795 $ 324.95 What a Wheely Cool Product! Choose from Running Horse, SVT, Cobra Logo, Coiled Cobra, or Ford themed valve stem caps! Kit comes complete with 4 caps and a themed key ring fob that doubles as a valve cap tightener. CENTER CAP SCREW REPAIR KIT One kit repairs one wheel, screw kit see part # 11414. Repairs screw holes for Torq Thrust wheel center caps. ALL .................................... #13543 $ 3.95 kit VINTAGE 60 SPINNER CAPS ea ea 65-73 Set of 4 ........................ #12342 ea ABSOLUTELY FOBULOUS!! ea ea BOYD CODDINGTON MAGNETO WHEELS CHROME CAP SETS WITH BILLET KEY FOB 4 Caps; Ford logo ....................... #10874 4 Caps; Coiled Cobra ................. #10875 4 Caps; Runing Horse ................ #10873 4 Caps; SVT ............................... #10872 4 Caps; Cobra logo..................... #10876 $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set $299.95 set SIMULATED STYLE STEEL WHEEL COVERS BLACK CAP SETS WITH BILLET KEY FOB 4 Caps; Ford Logo ...................... #10897 4 Caps; Coiled Cobra ................. #10896 4 Caps; Runing Horse ................ #10878 4 Caps; SVT ............................... #10877 4 Caps; Cobra logo..................... #10879 Boyd Coddington/American Racing 0 offset. Requires use of lug nut #13777 and Socket #13776. 17x8 wheel, 4.5 B.S, 5x4.5, 2 piece polished alloy .................................... #13778 $ 375.95 ea 18x8 wheel, 4.5 B.S, 5x4.5, 2 piece polished alloy .................................... #13782 $ 460.95 ea $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set $26.95 set VHT POLYURETHANE WHEEL PAINT Gloss Black..................#12280 Ford Argent Silver ........#12281 Aluminum.....................#12282 Satin Black...................#12283 $ $ $ $ 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 These covers are a quick and easy way to dress up your Mustang without investing your life savings! Give your 4-Lug 6 Cylinder wheels the 5-Lug V8 look. 65-66 65-66 14”; Set/4 .................... #14599 $229.95 14”; Single Cover ........ #14600 $ 64.95 set ea ea ea ea ea 1965-68 WHEEL COVERS BOYD CODDINGTON CROWN JEWEL WHEELS VHT FLAME PROOF PRIMER CAPS SOLD SEPERATELY 65 STANDARD 14” Flat White; Flame proof primer. #12269 $ 11.95 Boyd Coddington/American Racing 0 offset. Requires use of lug nut #13777 and Socket #13776. 18x8 wheel, 4.5 B.S, 5x4.5, 1 piece chrome alloy .................................... #13779 $ 409.95 ea 17x8 wheel, 4.5 B.S, 5x4.5, 1 piece chrome alloy .................................... #13780 $ 324.95 ea 17x7 wheel, 4.5 B.S, 5x4.5, 1 piece chrome alloy .................................... #13781 $ 324.95 ea ea 65 VHT CALIPER, DRUM AND ROTOR PAINT 65 Racing Red; Temps to 900° ...... #12274 Bright Blue; Temps to 900° ....... #12275 Gloss Black; Temps to 900°...... #12276 Cast Aluminum; Temps to 900° #12277 Bright Yellow; Temps to 900° .... #12278 Satin Black; Temps to 900°....... #12279 LUG NUT SOCKET & LUG NUTS $ 3.95 ea 1/2” spline closed in lug nuts .....................#13777 $ 1.25 ea* 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 ea ea ea ea ea ea STYLE STEEL WHEELS ACCENTS KIT BOYD CODDINGTON Lug nut socket ...........#13776 $ $ $ $ $ $ 68-69 *requires lug nut socket #13776, requires key socket 50 pice kit; snaps on to your style steel wheel .................................... #12665 $ 99.95 kit www.mustangsplus.com Without emblem .... #394 $ 59.95 ea Mustang emblem .... #12529 $ 19.95 ea 66 STANDARD 14” 66 66 Without emblem ...... #395 $ 59.95 ea Center emblem ...... #12444 $ 19.95 ea 65-66 STANDARD 14” 65-66 Wheel cover. .... #12539 $ 79.95 ea 65-66 Cap Wire Spinner with Crest. .... #4880 $ 56.95 ea WHEELS 161 Wheels 65 SPINNER FOR 14” WHEEL COVER 65 #3358 ........ $ 58.95 WHEEL CENTER CAPS #1021 67 14” x 5”; Set of 4 ...... #2421 $129.95 set 14” x 5½” ...... #11381 $ 32.95 ea 68-69 7½” CAPS #4 66-67 67 All 69-70 69-73 67-68 69-70 68-69 Standard cap for style steel wheels .................................... #4904 $ 32.95 GT center hub cap for style steel wheels .................................... #3518 $ 35.95 68-69 #1215 #6743 #5932 Shelby for 10 Spoke Wheels .................................... #1021 $ 19.95 Blue star & horse ........ #2 $ 31.95 GT 350 ........................ #1215 $ 49.95 Magnum 500; for 2 1/8” center holes .66” tall ....................... #4 $ 32.95 Magnum 500; for 2 1/8” center holes; 1” tall ........................... #5 $ 32.95 Cougar for style steel wheels .................................... #6743 $ 34.95 Cougar for style steel wheels Blue center cap........... #5932 $ 34.95 ea ea ea ea ea ea ea ea BILLET ALUMINUM CENTER CAPS EACH CAP IS NOTCHED ON ALL 5 SIDES TO MATCH THE FACTORY MACHINING OF THE FORD WHEELS! $ 99.95 $ 99.95 kit kit 65-66 65-66 65-66 .................................... #11260 $ 24.95 .................................... #390 $ 28.95 .................................... #7623 $ 24.95 EACH CAP IS NOTCHED ON ALL 5 SIDES TO MATCH THE FACTORY MACHINING OF THE FORD WHEELS! ea ea ea The wheel center caps that come with new American Racing Torque Thrust and Torque II Wheels are designed to work with the wider CHEVY bolt pattern. This means that trying to get a socket on the lug nuts, with the wheel center caps on the wheel, is very difficult. Unless you remove the cap, the socket has to be inserted at an angle which damages the lug nuts and can also damage the center cap. Removing the center cap is time consuming and tends to strip the holes. Our Billet Wheel Center Caps have the correct “notch” made in them to let the socket go on the lug nut correctly! Machined finish matches original Torque Thrust D, easily polished for use on Torque II’s! 65-73 162 WHEELS set of 4 set of 4 set of 4 set of 4 set of 4 NOT FOR WHEELS LARGER THAN 16” 1” Wheel spacer; 5-lug 5x4½” to 5x4½” .................................... #10217 $ 68.95 pr 65-73 65-73 Front w/drum; V8 ........ #2430 Rear w/drum: V8 ......... #2431 3.95 4.95 ea ea 65-73 65-73 Front set of 5. ............. #10209 $111.95 Rear set of 5. .............. #10210 $ 15.95 Billet Center Cap .........................#7191 $104.95 SET OF 4 $ $ set set RACING WHEEL STUD SETS 65-73 Clear RESTOMOD ....... #10567 $ 95.95 set CENTER CAPS FOR FORD WHEELS Dress up your Mustang’s Style Steel Wheels with style with your choice of either black, red or blue! set of 4 #2431 RESTOMOD BILLET RUNNING HORSE CENTER CAPS set of 4 WHEEL STUDS ® STYLE STEEL WHEEL set of 4 UNIVERSAL 5 LUG WHEEL ADAPTERS All Dress up your Mustang’s Style Steel Wheels with, well, style! The kit includes 4 black and chrome caps plus the hardware to install them! Black ........................... #4495 Blue ............................ #6912 No Emblem Caps for Torq Thrust wheels .......................... #10557 $103.95 No Emblem Caps for Vintage type wheels .......................... #10558 $103.95 GT for Torq Thrust wheels .......................... #10555 $110.95 GT for Vintage type wheels .......................... #10556 $110.95 Cobra for Torq Thrust wheels .......................... #10561 $151.95 Cobra for Vintage type wheels .......................... #10562 $151.95 Horse Emblem for Torq Thrust wheels .......................... #10559 $110.95 Horse Emblem for Vintage type wheels .......................... #10560 $110.95 ea ENGRAVED RESTOMOD® STYLE STEEL WHEEL CENTER CAP KITS 65-66 65-66 FOR VINTAGE & TORQUE THRUST WHEELS ea STYLE STEEL TRIM RINGS 66 BILLET CENTER CAPS #2 1965-70 LUG NUTS #4323 65-73 65-73 65-70 65-70 69-70 69-70 #2787 #12115 #4376 Standard ........................#4323 Acorn .............................#2787 S.Steel Wheel; Drake ....#4376 Style Steel Wheel ..........#997 500 Wheel .....................#10376 Vintage Wheels, 5 pc .....#12115 #10376 $ .95 $ 1.95 $ 2.95 $ 2.95 $ 2.95 $ 8.95 ea ea ea ea ea pk 1965-73 WHEEL LOCKS #2497 #4201 65-73 65-73 65-73 Acorn style ................... #2497 $ 49.95 set Magnum lug ................. #4201 $ 22.95 set Chrome Acorn Style ..... #10428 $ 23.95 set CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-999-4289 MUSTANGS PLUS 1964½ - ‘73 CATALOG Wheels BACK SPACING You’ll Sleep Better After Tucking Your Tires and Wheels In! TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RON BRAMLETT OF MUSTANGS PLUS As many of you know, my wife, Cindy, and I drive this Restomod Mustang to shows all over the country. This April, we made the 5,000 mile round trip to the 40th Mustang Anniversary Show in Nashville, Tennessee. By the time you read this, we will have driven it to Wells, Nevada for the Wells Fun Run, to Park City, Utah for the Northern Utah Mustang Owners Association’s MCA Mustang Car Show, to Santa Barbara, California for the Beach Cities Mustang Club’s Show at the Queen Mary and will probably be getting ready to drive it to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Mustang Club of Las Vegas’ Bright Lights City Cruise and Show. Each time we go on one of these long distance drives, our poor little pony is loaded down when we leave the house and loaded even more, thanks to the fact that Cindy just loves to shop, by the time we get home. One thing we can’t have on our trips is tire rub. Having wheels with the correct back spacing is what allows us to run the nice wide tires and wheels you see here without having to worry about tearing up the tires that we’ve paid hundreds of dollars for; and enduring the agony of having to listen to it as it happens! As Restomods become more and more popular, we are constantly asked the question “How big of tires and wheels can I get on my early model Mustang?” The answer is, it depends on the back spacing of the wheel that you are trying to use. Back spacing is the X-Y factor that determines if your Mustang will suffer from that acute affliction we call “Tire Rub”. And, none of us want our ponies to suffer from this nagging type of hoof disease! In real terms, back spacing refers to the distance between the back face of the wheel, which is the area that is bolted against the brake drum or brake rotor by the lug nuts, and the back side of the rim of the wheel. When comparing the same width wheels, the greater this distance is, the further the wheel and tire set into the fender. Getting this measurement right is the difference between having a smooth driving Mustang that’s a joy to drive or having a Mustang with a tire rubbing problem that drives you crazy. It takes a lot of fun out of driving if you constantly have to cringe in the seat every time you hit a bump or pull into a parking lot, waiting to see if one of your tires is going to rub. Cindy and I have owned our 1965 Black Restomod Coupe for 24 years. It has been a test bed for many of the Grab-A-Trak suspension products that Mustangs Plus sells today. It has had many different tire and wheel combinations tried on it with these suspension products. As it sets today, it has been lowered 2” all the way around from the stock height. It is equipped with American Racing 17” x 8” Torque II wheels with a 4 3/4” back space. The tires are 235/45-17” BF Goodrich g-force T/A’s. This is the best fitting wheel and tire combination I’ve been able to find for my 1965 Restomod Mustang. The 235 size fits the 8” rim very nicely and the tire doesn’t get lost in the wheel well. Because we put so many miles on our Restomod Mustang, I prefer to have the same size tires on all four corners. This way I can rotate the tires and wheels for better tire wear. Going to a 245/45-17” tire makes it necessary to roll the fender lips, something I find most Restomod builders prefer not to do. I know this will sound strange, coming from someone who is so closely associated with Restomods, but as I stated above, I didn’t want to roll the fender lips when I put the first set of 17” x 8” wheels on my 1965 several years ago. So I started looking at how to get a larger wheel under the car that would extend in towards the frame, not out towards the fender. I found that the biggest problem that all the 1965 to 1973 Mustangs have with the front end is upper ball joint clearance. Did you know that a 17” x 8” wheel will fit these cars much better than a 16” x 8” wheel? The reason is that the upper ball joint is almost right in line with the edge of the rim on a 16” wheel which limits the amount of back space that the wheel can have. And that means that on an 8” wheel with less back spacing, the front of the rim is moved closer to the fender and can create tire to fender rub, especially on 1965 and 1966 Mustangs. But the extra 1/2” of height that a 17” wheel has on the top and bottom allows the rim to just slightly pass over the top of the upper control arm. So 17” wheels can set further into the wheel well allowing more clearance to the tire and fender. Of course 18” and larger diameter wheels are even better, if you can find them with the correct back space. As an added note, 1967 to 1973 Mustangs have much larger fender openings so tire rubbing is a lot less of a problem. But, too much back spacing can allow tires to rub on the frame when turning, especially when parking. This can be worse than rubbing on the outside of the tire because you can be totally unaware of a rubbing problem until you have ruined a tire. Be sure to check the tire to frame clearance if you use a wheel with a lot of back spacing. www.mustangsplus.com ARTICLE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ----> WHEELS 163 Wheels On the rear of our little ponies, most of us look at the rear leaf springs and see that there is a lot of distance between them and the tire. So we assume that a wider tire and wheel will fit. But the leaf spring is not what will interfere with the tire first. The first place your rear tires will rub is on the front inside inner fender wheel well housing. Be sure to check this area for rubbing when using wheels with a lot of back spacing. The second place is on the back of the wheel well housing. Also, when changing from drum to disc brakes in the rear, remember that the brake drum you’re taking off the car will be thinner than the brake rotor that you’re putting on the car. This will move the rear tires just that much closer to the rear fender lips so you could have some tire rub where you had none before. Remember, I said that you could have some tire rub, not that you will. So what is the correct back spacing for our early Mustangs? Check out the chart for the most popular sizes of wheels and tires. Use this chart for a rule of thumb, not as fact. Tire shape and the condition of your Mustang can also effect tire clearance. And the condition and type of your suspension will also have a effect on tire rub. A worn out stock 3” 5” This diagram shows exactly what back spacing is. The left edge of the wheel is the front of the wheel that faces the fender. The right edge of the wheel is the inside of the wheel which faces the frame of the car. The line through the wheel shows exactly where the face of the wheel, the area that bolts to the brake drum or brake rotor, is. As you can see, on this 8” wide wheel, 3” of the wheel is towards the fender while the remaining 5” of the wheel, which is the back space, is to the inside. suspension that has a lot of travel and bounce will be a lot more likely to rub than a new firm suspension system that is designed not to let the body of the car roll. The Mustangs Plus catalog has over 50 different Spring and Handling Kits for you to choose from so there is one that’s right for your Mustang, how you drive, and which wheel and tire you want to run. So remember. Tuck them in and sleep tight! These pictures show the distance between the ball joint and the wheel on a 1966 Mustang. The wheel on the left is a 16” x 8” with a 4 1/2” back space. As you can see, it just barely misses hitting the ball joint. If it had any more back space, it would run straight into the ball joint. The wheel on the right is a 17” x 8” with a 4 3/4” back space. As you can see, the wheel sits over the ball joint without hitting it. The extra 1/4” of back spacing means that there is an extra 1/4” of tire clearance to the fender well and when it comes to tire clearance, that’s a bunch! Measuring the back spacing on any wheel can be accomplished by laying a straight edge across the wheel and measuring down to the surface that bolts to the brake drum or brake rotor. This 17” x 8” wheel has a 4 3/4” back space. The first place your rear tire will rub in the rear is not on the leaf spring. It will first rub on the front inside inner wheel housing that is shown here. This is a sharp edge that can be bent inward to clear the inside edge of the rear tire. But don’t get too wild with those 5 pound hammers! What a difference a set of 17” tires and wheels can make! My nephew, Greg Bramlett, and his wife, Kim, just bought this 1964 ½ convertible, complete with 1966 spinner hub caps. So something had to be done. By simply bolting on a cool set of wheels and tires they now have the best of both worlds! A stock convertible Mustang that’s also a neat Restomod! AND AFTER! 164 WHEELS CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-999-4289 MUSTANGS PLUS 1964½ - ‘73 CATALOG
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