Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Drivetrain Tech => Topic started by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2007, 12:09:28 AM

Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2007, 12:09:28 AM
When I FINALLY get the insurance check for the damage done to my 'Bird,I'm going to apply it to my project car and part the daily driver out.I was thinking about a set of Cobra R wheels.There are two sets I was looking at,1. the 17 x 9 set for Mustangs,and the second set comes with 17 x 9 and 17 x 10 wheels.Will the 17x 10's fit on the back of our cars?If not,why?What would it take to make them fit?If there's really no way with the factory rear,then I'll stick with the 17 x 9's,but the 10 inch wide whels would REALLY be cool.

Also,with 17x9's up front,has anyone experience any tire rubbing?If so,what did you do to fix it?Thanks.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: jncocowboyx on January 26, 2007, 11:55:20 AM
depends on whatcha got already. 8.8? i'd go ahead and get some 94-98 mustang axles and disc brakes if ya haven't already. as for the front, there's one place to go to to order 5-lug rotors that are a direct swap for the 4-lug rotors, but i'd do some measuring to see if the centercaps will still fit. i hope i'm on the right track with this post.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2007, 12:34:34 PM
I'm not concerned with a 5 lug swap.the Cobra r wheels can be had in 4 lugs as well.I just need to find out if there's rubbing in the front,and will 10 inch Cobra r wheels fit out back.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: Ether947 on January 26, 2007, 05:30:46 PM
Depends on how low your Bird will be, how wide of a tire you are going to ride, which brake setup are you going to use, etc... Chances are you are going to rub some. The question is how much. And how much do you want to spend (time and money) to remedy it.

46Tbird put some 17x9 Bullitts on his Bird and experienced rubbing. But his car is pretty low too. I have some rubbing with 17x8s and 245s in the front. My TC is kinda low. If I rolled my fenders I would be ok. I would like to run the same wheels as you are planning (Cobra Rs 17x9//17x10.5) but I really don't want the hassle of an 9-inch wide wheel in the front. Plus I won't run anything larger than a 245 tire in the front of my DD so a 9-inch wheel is kinda pointless for me. So I'm either going to get my rear wheels widened by Weldcraft or go with the Bullitts as they are available in 17x8 and 17x10.5 versions.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2007, 06:20:23 PM
Will 17x10 wheels work in the back?Also,My Sport doesn't sit real low,and I'm not lowering it at all.I live in southern Oklahoma,and the raods aren't always the smoothest.I don't mind rolling the lip a little on the front if I need to.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: Ether947 on January 26, 2007, 08:48:25 PM
I'll let you know when I get to that point.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2007, 11:59:05 PM
I need to figure this out by Monday.That's when I'm ordering wheels.Surely someone here has Cobra wheels on their car.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: Dogcharmer on January 27, 2007, 07:02:46 AM
I've got 17X9's with 275's in the back with no rubbing issues. The quad shocks have been removed though.

The front of my car probably wouldn't apply to your set up though because all my parts are tubular. However, even with tubular Mustang A arms on the front and a Mustang tubular K member 245's on 9" wheels are a tight fit. They dont rub but thicker rack limiters are mandatory.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 27, 2007, 07:27:31 AM
Where do you get the rack limiters?Thanks.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: dominator on January 28, 2007, 11:16:22 AM
Are you sure you can get 4lug 17-10s,i,ve looked and have only found 5 lug 17-10s,like the deep dish rears in my photshop thread.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: JeremyB on January 28, 2007, 11:26:14 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;125980
Where do you get the rack limiters?Thanks.

Your friendly neighborhood Ford dealer.

Part # --Thickness

N804842 --6.5mm
N808506 --10.65mm
N807853 --2.4mm
W705003 -4.25mm
W705004 -7.25mm
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 28, 2007, 10:47:48 PM
I was mistaken on the 17x10 wheels.I thought they could be hd,but I suppose not.My options areas follows......17x9 front and back with 255/40R17 tires all around,or,17x9 in the back and 17x8 in the front with the same size tires as the set of 17x9's.I just really don't know.The idea of 4 17x9 wheels is very appealing,while the 17x8 up front sees a safer decision.I need someone who has done this for info.The 245/45R17 tires seem slightly small for these wheels.Any more ideas?
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: 46Tbird on January 29, 2007, 12:27:53 PM
This car has 17x9s up front with 255/40-17s, and 17x10.5s out back with 315/35-17s.

I had to roll the fender lips a bunch, especially up front.  It rubs very little; in fact I don't think it would rub at all if I put new struts on it, these are so incredibly bad that you can move the base up and down the shaft by hand, and it doesn't have any resistance at all.  It has a ~2.5" drop from Eibach Sportlines for a '94+ Mustang convertible.

The front is stock '94-95 Mustang GT spindles, brackets, and calipers.

The rear is the stock Tbird 7.5, with (shorter) Bronco II axles and drums on the stock brakes.  That means it's about 3/4" narrower on each side than before.  But I had to put a 1/4" spacer at the back to keep them from rubbing on the INside.

So put all you want under there, it can hold a pretty big tire, even up front.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: 46Tbird on January 29, 2007, 12:30:07 PM
I can't believe no one has snapped up this car for $1900. :rolleyes:  It's a great deal, I was hoping someone from here would want this car.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: Innes on January 29, 2007, 12:41:01 PM
Don’t no how true this is but I heard there’s more rear wheel clearance in our cars then mustangs.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 31, 2007, 02:24:52 PM
If I could find 10.5 rear wheels for a 4 lug,I'd have them.I can only find the 17x9 for the Cobra R wheels,which,are the only kind of wheel I'll settle for.My car isn't lowered,and won't be,so,I think I'll have plenty of room.Nice pics.Thanks 46tbird.By the way,I was stationed at carswell for a while.I liked Ft.Worth.Good place.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: 46Tbird on January 31, 2007, 04:44:46 PM
Vinnie,

Swap it to 5-lug.  Took all of about 3hrs, and that was with an SN95 brake swap up front.  Rotors and drums/axles would take about an hour.  Could be DIRT cheap too, axles and drums cost me $30 from a local wrecking yard.  Rotors would be cheap if you went used, still pretty cheap if you went new.

You have INFINITELY more wheels to choose from that fit better.  Well worth it IMO.

This could be you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AFS-Mustang-17x8-10-5-Cobra-R-Wheels-Polish_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43957QQihZ013QQitemZ230084183281QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-10-5-Chrome-Mustang-bullet-wheels-rims-DEEP-DISH_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43957QQihZ019QQitemZ290076158296QQrdZ1
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: vinnietbird on January 31, 2007, 05:01:10 PM
Those are nice wheels.BUT,I'll stick with 4 lugs for now.I still have paint,window tint,interior swap and an engine swap to deal with.Besides,after running turbines for 6 years,then Turbo Coupe snowflakes for a year,the 17x9's with the 255/40R17 tires seems like a huge jump forward.I'll be happy.Yes,the 10.5 wheels are even more killer,but,with everything else I have going on,I feel like I've made progress.I hope to have the car done by March,or the end of March at the very latest.I'm selling all my old parts,model kits,everything,to build this car.I'm in it deep.I love it though.Again,I have to say thanks for posting those pics.The car looks great,and,gives me an idea of what to expect.I appreciate it.
Title: What would it take to make wheels fit ???
Post by: daboss351 on January 31, 2007, 05:12:48 PM
if i lived in tx id buy that car in a snap, but i live in ri waaaay to far