gm A-body wheel spacing

Dion Hildebrandt · 04-08-2009, 10:08 PM

so......you guys with 68-72 gm A-bodies what backspacing are you using on a rear 15 x 10 wheel, with the stock width rear end, and stock wheel tubs? any problems with rubbing?

Jeff Kitchen · 04-09-2009, 07:12 AM

I have 15x10 with 5.5" backspacing on my '72 GS. All I've done is roll the outer lip up. The rearend is a stock width 12-bolt. I had a 9 x 30 Hoosier radial slick on it and it had lots of room. I also had a 295/65 M/T drag radial on there and it was close, but it fit. I also have 1" lowering springs in the back, so mine sits a little lower than some A-bodies, which limits the room.

Dion Hildebrandt · 04-09-2009, 07:49 AM

thanks Jeff, how close are your lower shock mounts to the inner lip of the wheel?

blasttime · 04-09-2009, 05:45 PM

And how are you now ? 15 / 10 /5.5 You can still take shock off washer is close 1/4 inch. This is 69 chevelle ss. 6 1/4 front end travel.

Jeff Kitchen · 04-09-2009, 07:23 PM

At the closest spot, the shock is about 1/4" to 3/8" from the wheel. I have QA1 shocks with the bigger shock studs.

I've been racing/tuning 68-72 GM A-body's for about 15 years, and that is the standard wheel that everybody uses. It's interesting, though, I had a '70 Olds Cutlass with the same rearend and suspension, and I could get a 29.5x10.5 bias slick in the wheel well with just a little "banging" on the inner wheel house and rolling the outer lip. On my GS, the outer fender is shaped different, so that tire won't fit up in the wheel well at my ride height. I think the Chevelle has enough room for a 29.5x10.5 bias slick on that wheel, though.

Hope this helps. Sorry for the ramble.

blasttime · 04-09-2009, 08:38 PM

If you put jack stands on frame a head of wheel then drop rear end down its easy.

Dion Hildebrandt · 04-10-2009, 08:22 PM

only reason i ask is that i got my new wheels and the back spacing turned out to be 5 inches, with a 28 x 9 slick it looks like they will be tight to the wheel well. even with 5 inch backspace the lower shock mount is really close to the wheel lip.

72Malibu · 04-10-2009, 08:55 PM

5.5" backspacing on 15x10 draglites. I've run 30x10.5x15 radial slicks, now 30x9x15 radial slicks, MT 295/65/15 drag radials were the tightest fit of all.

rallye bob · 04-11-2009, 08:14 AM

I run Hole Shot 15"X9" rims with 4 7/8" back space and 30x9 x 15 Hoosier radial slicks (94" roll out).
Outer fender lip has been trimed about 3/8" Car sits low in rear. Tire fits fine. ('70 Olds Cutlass)

04-08-2009, 10:08 PM	#1
Dion Hildebrandt Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 383 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	gm A-body wheel spacing so......you guys with 68-72 gm A-bodies what backspacing are you using on a rear 15 x 10 wheel, with the stock width rear end, and stock wheel tubs? any problems with rubbing? __________________ Dion Hildebrandt 6009 STK H/SA

04-09-2009, 07:12 AM	#2
Jeff Kitchen Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, FL Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing I have 15x10 with 5.5" backspacing on my '72 GS. All I've done is roll the outer lip up. The rearend is a stock width 12-bolt. I had a 9 x 30 Hoosier radial slick on it and it had lots of room. I also had a 295/65 M/T drag radial on there and it was close, but it fit. I also have 1" lowering springs in the back, so mine sits a little lower than some A-bodies, which limits the room.

04-09-2009, 07:49 AM	#3
Dion Hildebrandt Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 383 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing thanks Jeff, how close are your lower shock mounts to the inner lip of the wheel? __________________ Dion Hildebrandt 6009 STK H/SA

04-09-2009, 05:45 PM	#4
blasttime Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 43 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing And how are you now ? 15 / 10 /5.5 You can still take shock off washer is close 1/4 inch. This is 69 chevelle ss. 6 1/4 front end travel.

04-09-2009, 07:23 PM	#5
Jeff Kitchen Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, FL Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing At the closest spot, the shock is about 1/4" to 3/8" from the wheel. I have QA1 shocks with the bigger shock studs. I've been racing/tuning 68-72 GM A-body's for about 15 years, and that is the standard wheel that everybody uses. It's interesting, though, I had a '70 Olds Cutlass with the same rearend and suspension, and I could get a 29.5x10.5 bias slick in the wheel well with just a little "banging" on the inner wheel house and rolling the outer lip. On my GS, the outer fender is shaped different, so that tire won't fit up in the wheel well at my ride height. I think the Chevelle has enough room for a 29.5x10.5 bias slick on that wheel, though. Hope this helps. Sorry for the ramble. __________________ Jeff Kitchen 1972 Buick GS - Stock Susp, 462 Buick Stg 2, 3500 lbs 9.93@131

04-09-2009, 08:38 PM	#6
blasttime Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 43 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing If you put jack stands on frame a head of wheel then drop rear end down its easy.

04-10-2009, 08:22 PM	#7
Dion Hildebrandt Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 383 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing only reason i ask is that i got my new wheels and the back spacing turned out to be 5 inches, with a 28 x 9 slick it looks like they will be tight to the wheel well. even with 5 inch backspace the lower shock mount is really close to the wheel lip. __________________ Dion Hildebrandt 6009 STK H/SA

04-10-2009, 08:55 PM	#8
72Malibu Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Republic,Mo Posts: 93 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing 5.5" backspacing on 15x10 draglites. I've run 30x10.5x15 radial slicks, now 30x9x15 radial slicks, MT 295/65/15 drag radials were the tightest fit of all. __________________ * 72 Malibu * 1.329-3.99-6.28@106.71-9.98@131 best 60ft to date-1.2997

04-11-2009, 08:14 AM	#9
rallye bob Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Genoa, Illinois Posts: 488 Likes: 8 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: gm A-body wheel spacing I run Hole Shot 15"X9" rims with 4 7/8" back space and 30x9 x 15 Hoosier radial slicks (94" roll out). Outer fender lip has been trimed about 3/8" Car sits low in rear. Tire fits fine. ('70 Olds Cutlass)