Wheel Spacers

[cudabob496]

Yo, I have Weld Prostars on the rear, with BFG Drag Radials. I want to go with a wider tire, but the tires are already close to the leaf springs. Is there washers or spacers I can put between the wheel and the brake drum to move the wheel father away from the leaf springs?

[4HUNTIN]

A lot of guys will say dont use them, but they make them.
Checks Summit and Jegs.
Never use the ones with studs on them, and make sure your
wheel studs are long enough.
Less back space on the rims would be better if possible.
Steve

[DJM]

Main thing is to use long wheel studs and make sure to keep them tight. Don't use spacers with stock studs there is not enough stud there to be at all safe.

[wilks3]

If your not going to gain at least 2" wider tire, I don't think its worth it.

[Ray Bell]

Or you could fit a rear end out of an early C-body?

[panama]

Are you going for traction or looks?

[peg leg]

Are running street slicks, I would definitely not use wheel spacers. Any added metal to metal interface is going to be runout and twist problematic. Get the right wheels to make it safe.

[aarracer]

Spacers cause a higher shear load at the stud's thread base! I saw a car launch a rear wheel before the 60' mark last year. No explanation for the sheared studs, but the wheel spacer went to about the 330' mark, and the car went into the wall.
"You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel" K. Rogers. lol.

[Ray Bell]

Sounds like an early C-body rear end is the go...

Assuming we are talking about a 'cuda A-body. If it's an E-body, the '65 - '71 D100 rear axle is the one to use.

[DJM]

Originally Posted by peg leg

Are running street slicks, I would definitely not use wheel spacers. Any added metal to metal interface is going to be runout and twist problematic. Get the right wheels to make it safe.

Sounds to me like somebody was taking the lug nut torque for granted and not checking it.

[mhenesian]

Even with 3" aftermarket wheel studs, I'd be nervous using wheel spacers in a drag race situation with BFG drag radials. On a hot track, the BFG's can really stick at presures of 14~18 psi. To the point of breaking parts with a 4-speed car. We just did this a few weeks ago. Mr Gasket makes 1/4" spacers that would give you a little more clearance, but IMO I wouldn't go thicker than this,

Mark

[cudabob496]

Ya, I agree, 1/4 inch max, as I have a 496 with a 3500 stall, so max torque at launch. It would probably be even worse on the studs with a 4 speed! Getting the correct wheels is always the best, but at $500, compared to a $10 spacer, I'll have to think about it!

[Ray Bell]

And what about swapping rear ends?

[cudabob496]

Originally Posted by Ray Bell

And what about swapping rear ends?

A good idea, but probably more effort than I want to tackle.

PS By the way, I took a can of Rustoleum black semi-gloss and painted my aluminum Weld ProStars for a different look. Don't worry, I can go back to the original. If anyone wants a picture, contact my email, which I assume you can get from this website. Looks pretty cool in my opinion! Always experimenting!