I am planning a disk brake conversion for my 63 Valiant.

I will be changing the bolt pattern from the small to the large bolt pattern.

I know that I need at least 14 or 15 inch wheels to clear the disk brake calipers.

I would like to use a stock steel rim, preferably 15 inch, with a tire that has an aspect ratio of 60.

What I am wondering is how big (Wide) of a rim can I get onto the rear of a 63. I’m not as much worried about clearance once everything is bolted up, but about being able to physically get the wheel in there. Will a 6 inch rim be safe, or can I go a bit larger with a 6.5 or 7?

I’m not planning anything too wild here. This is for a street car.

Can anyone give their opinion from practical use here?

Thanks,

John Killin

john,

i just went out and looked at my two '63 convertibles. one a valiant, the other a dart. the signet has sbp 14" wheels off a '73 duster and 205/75-14s in the rear and clear everythig ok. the dart on the other hand has 15x7 cop wheels with 245/60-15s and just barely clear the wheelwell and leaf spring. up front are 205/60-15s with identical wheels and i recall some clearance problems around turns. the dart has large bolt discs and 8 1/4 axle from a '75 dart parts car if that matters.
the wheel wells appear to be similar though the sheetmetal is a tad different but i think the 15x7 cop wheels would fit the valiant. i have no idea what the backspacing is and i think more clearance could be had with a smaller tire like say 225s or something.
hope this helps.

-james

_________________

Of course you'll only be able to put one rear tire on at a time, jacking under one of the frt spring perch 'box' areas at a time.

_________________
'66 Cuda 225/4spd
'66 Dart GT convertible 225/auto
'64 Dart GT 340/4spd

On my '65 Dart I currently have 15x6.5" rims with a 225/60 tires. They fit without any problems. These are plain steel rims from a Dodge van. I am going to go to 15x7" rims with 235/60 tires. All indicataions are they will clear just fine. These rims are from a Cordoba.

My '66 Dart has 225/50R16 tires on 16"x7" wheels all around, with 3/4" backspacing. I need spacers in the back, and I had to roll the inner fender lip up front, but they fit with no trouble otherwise.

_________________
"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

hey matt-
any pics of your '66? hey, that sorta rhymes... uh, anyway, what sort of wheels are you running? what backspacing, etc? i would like to make an upgrade someday and am curious. thanks!

-james

_________________

Stock Mopar 15X7s should be fine with 215/60s or so, but may need some fender trimming with 225/60s or bigger (from '80s 5th ave or Diplomat at junkyard - maybe trucks too?). I have 16X8s on my '64 Dart with 245/45ZR16s and there is plenty of room with a small front lower fender trim. I ran the Mopar 15X7s with 225/50s and no fender trimming - fit fine.

For my current setup, see: http://www.slantsix.org/galleries/richm ... dracer.jpg

Cheers,

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I meant 3/4" offset, not backspacing (it would look really weired with 3/4" of backspacing!). The backspacing is 4.25". The wheels are American Racing Spinnakers. A little heavier than Center Lines, but cheaper. Here's a picture of it from the front, before I'd switched the rear to large bolt pattern:

<img src="http://home.cwru.edu/~mac9/Spinnaker1.jpg" width=544 height=334>

_________________
"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair