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Wheels/Rims 17x8

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einbier View Drop Down
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    Posted: Apr/08/2018 at 11:10am
Is anybody running a 17 x 8" wheel in the front of a 70 Javelin?
If so what size tire are you running and what is the back space on your wheel?

Trying to determine what size tire and back space I could run.


Thanks


1970 Javelin Mark Donohue
1970 Hornet Shirley Shahan
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WesternRed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WesternRed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/08/2018 at 5:17pm
Mine is a 69 so you would have to account for the suspension difference, but 17x8, 4.5” backspacing, 235/45/17 tyres.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote einbier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 5:06pm
Nobody else is running a different wheel tire combo than factory hard to believe.
1970 Javelin Mark Donohue
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 5:51pm
Not hard to believe - you have to be careful about changing how things are set up or you make it dangerous - bump steer, brake steer, and so on. SAI, for example, the factory calculated exactly where the steering axis line would intersect a line through the tire - too far above the road and you have trouble, too far below the road and you have trouble. Almost all were designed for the intersection to be a bit below the surface of the road. Move the wheel out and you shift that line intersection and change how the car brakes, steers and behaves in emergency situations. 
That's the technical reasons I won't do that sort of thing - I know too much about suspension and steering design......
the other reason is personal opinion so I'll just not mention it ;-)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 6:06pm
And the rubber band tires.....changes everything... backspace, offsets...be careful...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 304-dude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 6:31pm
Contact CamJam, i think he runs 8 wide rims.

If not shootenist, as he has a custom 70 Javelin.
71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads
NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons
78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low
50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension
79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles
Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 6:42pm
Originally posted by purple72Gremlin purple72Gremlin wrote:

And the rubber band tires.....changes everything... backspace, offsets...be careful...

I was in a tire store waiting for some tires I had bought to be mounted and was reading an interesting article in the tall wheels, thin tires - it was a Tire industry magazine and guess what they were warning against....... yeah, their bottom line was be extremely careful using them on older cars with steering and suspension not designed for them.
They gave far more technical reasoning and information than I can even remember, but it stuck in my mind because here was a tire shop with a car/tire magazine suggesting to not be so quick to use the short sidewall tires on older vehicles..  They were talking about emergency handling, emergency braking, etc. and the stresses that were often applied to parts not designed to handle said stresses.
They of course said what I believe - it's done for the "cool" factor - not to improve anything about the car (because it won't, according to them) - it was all about looks and style. 
So in that case - it's all opinion because technically, it's a "no".
Some folks like the looks, others not so much.

Since it's an absolutely not recommended thing technically, it's up to those who have done it to suggest sizes, etc.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 7:21pm
Originally posted by billd billd wrote:


Originally posted by purple72Gremlin purple72Gremlin wrote:

And the rubber band tires.....changes everything... backspace, offsets...be careful...


I was in a tire store waiting for some tires I had bought to be mounted and was reading an interesting article in the tall wheels, thin tires - it was a Tire industry magazine and guess what they were warning against....... yeah, their bottom line was be extremely careful using them on older cars with steering and suspension not designed for them.
They gave far more technical reasoning and information than I can even remember, but it stuck in my mind because here was a tire shop with a car/tire magazine suggesting to not be so quick to use the short sidewall tires on older vehicles..  They were talking about emergency handling, emergency braking, etc. and the stresses that were often applied to parts not designed to handle said stresses.
They of course said what I believe - it's done for the "cool" factor - not to improve anything about the car (because it won't, according to them) - it was all about looks and style. 
So in that case - it's all opinion because technically, it's a "no".
Some folks like the looks, others not so much.

Since it's an absolutely not recommended thing technically, it's up to those who have done it to suggest sizes, etc.
Fine for a car that was designed for them....but...can't compare a 2000s car to a 1972 car. I don't mind different wheels to a point, but tires that I call rubber bands, dont belong on our old AMCs, but that's my opinion.....lol
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WesternRed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/11/2018 at 10:18pm
So in the 70's you would happily put 245/50/14 up front and 265/50/14 out the back on a mix of 7" and 8" rims. I can't see that 235/45/17 and 275/40/17 is much of a stretch in terms of sidewall and not a massive change in overall diameter either. "Most" classic muscle car guys are not looking to go crazy with wheel and tyre size, just something that has slightly more modern wheel and tyre sizing for better appearance and wider availability of tyres, particularly if chasing something with more grip and performance use in mind.

I can buy a 235/45/17 for $100, the old 245/50/14 is now a specialty tyre and costs $250-300 each.

One of the biggest benefits I have obtained from the 17" wheels is a little more ground clearance up front so that the headers are not getting smashed on every bump in the road.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 343sharpstick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/13/2018 at 10:02am
einbier, There are many people running 17's on AMC's. I've never had any other size on my car since I've restored it.
The 70 and later front suspension will easily fit a 17x8 with 4.5 Backspace as WesternRed has mentioned. As stated overall diameter with modern tire size is no different that a fat side-wall 14 or 15.

I would make sure that with the added grip of modern tires, be sure all of your suspension bushings are in good shape, especially the strut rod bushing as that get's the most abuse.
Also, I would try to dial in more caster than originally specified.



Edited by 343sharpstick - Apr/13/2018 at 10:08am
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