Hi guys. I'm new here, but have been lurking and learning a lot since picking up a ’64 Valiant a couple months ago. I've got a couple questions to throw out as I prepare to make some initial improvements to this car. These questions have probably been answered before, so I'll apologize in advance if they seem redundant.

First, I'm tracking down parts to do a disc brake conversion, and am hoping to switch to the LBP for better wheel selection. A friend of mine has an A-body 8-3/4 rearend that will be going in to change the pattern in back. My question is, what's a safe size for 15-inch tires and wheels to fit on this car? I'm not necessarily looking for maximum width, but something wider than stock. I'm thinking 15x6 in front and 15x7 in back, but I'm unsure about how much backspacing to look for. The car will probably be lowered a little bit eventually. Is the 8 3/4 rear wider than the stock rearend?

Also, in a somewhat unrelated question, are the spindles and wheel bearings different between 9" and 10" drum brake cars?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I hope I can return the favor as I dig further into this project.

You can use a 15x7 front and rear. The backspacing should be from 4-4.25".


Try for a tire diameter around 25" and a width of 205-215mm.
(that's 205/60 or 215/60 15's..... a 205/65 15 would be about 25.5")

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

wheel bearings are different between 9 & 10" brakes

"A" body 8 3/4 rear, will not change the bolt pattern, it is 4 inch small bolt pattern.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Depends on the year model and brake package on the car from which it comes. '73 and up A-bodies with disk brakes had the large bolt pattern.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

All A-body 8.75 s are small bolt pattern. BBP A - body diffs are 7.25 or 8.25.

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Thanks for the feedback. The only reason I was thinking 15x6 in front is because I hope to lower the car 1-2" in the future (keeping in mind many of the suggestions and warnings I've read on this board). Will I have problems with 15x7s rubbing on a lowered car?

Regarding the 8 3/4 rear, I should have clarified that I plan to buy new LBP axles. But that brings up another question: can the stock axles be re-drilled with the LBP?

Thanks

I don't think you'd have problems with rubbing. You could always goto a 195/65 15 tire up front on the 15x7 rim if you had too..........

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Ahhhh... well ya learn somethin' new everyday.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

ALL 8 3/4 "A" body rears were small bolt pattern. 73 and up "A"s did not have 8 3/4 rear available.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

While I wait for a LBP rear, I did the disk brake conversion up front on my '64. Right now, I'm running 205/60-15 on a 15X7 rim up front. The backspacing's a little wrong, but it fits and does look good. Until you notices the skinny tires out back, that is.

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

What wheels are you using? Do you agree with the 4-4.25" backspacing recommendation?

Thanks guys, this is all useful info to have.

Cheap white spokes for now. I needed some LBP rims, and these were available. Bear in mind that I hadn't set the ride height when I took these photos.



There is very little offset, so the rims sit out toward the fender edges a bit. Factory 15X7's have a bit more, bringing the tires in. I'd prefer to keep the scrub radius about stock, but these fit, clear my brakes (10.87" disks, Volare calipers mounted to the back, with Volare hoses) and I haven't noticed any handling problems yet.
Here's the difference in tires:



185/80R13's are very close in height to 205/60R15's

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO