Narrowed rear?????

I am getting a 9in rear for my car. I would like to have it narrowed due to the fact that the stock rear has a very odd offset for wheels. our cars have a very limited selection when it comes to wheels. I want a wide wheel and I want it to tuck. Has anyone narrowed their rear? how much can it be shortened compared to stock with out tubbing or moving shock mounts?

Third and fourth gens can't be "tubbed" in the traditional way. The rear "frame" is part of the inner wheel tub. You can sort of mini tub it by making the inner tub have less of a rounded corner to fit taller tires but the distance between the inner tub and the outer fender is all you'll have to work with.

Tubbing a third or fourth gen means a complete back half job.

i dont want to tub it. i dont even wanna fit anything wider the a 10 in wheel. with a 10 in wheel the req BS is 7.5. not many wheels come in a 7.5. i wanna use less of a backspace and poss tuck the wheel in a little closer. i figure since them rear end is custom made and it wont cost extra. i would like shorter axle tubes

Get the rear end to fit a 1982-92 F-body. All of the brackets are in the same place, but it is a little narrower. Remember to specify which brakes you are running. I would suggest a 12 bolt over the 9 inch because it takes less horsepower to turn. Back spacing will be 5". I have two cars and both run 15" x 10" wheels with this set up.

Daren

I had a body man put a 1" flar around my rear fenders. That way I could use the 6 1/2 backspacing. My 28" x 12 1/2" x 15" ET Streets fit (just barely).

I had to trim the lower outside fenders with a hacksaw so the tires don't rub at speed. The inside of the wheelwell just barely clears the 12 1/2 inch sidewall. If I had 7 1/2 backspace they would not fit.

Originally posted by tnthub
I had a body man put a 1" flar around my rear fenders. That way I could use the 6 1/2 backspacing. My 28" x 12 1/2" x 15" ET Streets fit (just barely).

I had to trim the lower outside fenders with a hacksaw so the tires don't rub at speed. The inside of the wheelwell just barely clears the 12 1/2 inch sidewall. If I had 7 1/2 backspace they would not fit.

I have contemplated the same thing, glad to know it works!

Rich Krause

Originally posted by GUMP
Get the rear end to fit a 1982-92 F-body. All of the brackets are in the same place, but it is a little narrower. Remember to specify which brakes you are running. I would suggest a 12 bolt over the 9 inch because it takes less horsepower to turn. Back spacing will be 5". I have two cars and both run 15" x 10" wheels with this set up.

Daren

How much shorter is the rear? There might be some problems with the brake fitment. Also, which 15x10 wheels are you running? I agree the 12-bolt takes less power to turn, but the 9-inch is stronger and easier to service. The big downside IMO about the 9-inch is loss of the ABS brakes. These brakes prevented me from a major accident a few months ago, now I would never go without them :eek:
Thanks,
Ed

A third gen diff is 2" shorter on each side compared to a fourth gen diff.

MBONZ28,

I know this post is kinda old but this maybe of interest to you. My car currently is at the chassis shop getting the some suspension updatesrearend and what not done and my chassis guy showed me a new rear end that he is making. The rear housing is a sheet metal chromoly ford 9". I know, this is not something new and there have been Fab-9 rear housing out for some time but the offset center section found on a standard ford 9" Well, his rear is fab up with the center section in the middle of the car and with out the offset. You should see it. The rear balances the weight more in the center of the car versus on the side.

I run 15"x12" Aluma Star rims with a 3" backspace. I run M/T ET Street tires 31x16.5x15

The chassis shop is Gun Lake Performance in Michigan.

Jim

wow....sounds awsome. i'd love to see pics. i assume they are on the west side of the state. i have never heard of them

MBON,

If you know where the new and rebuilt 131 dragway(Martin) is at, Gun Lake Performance is about 10-15 miles from there, take 131 to the Bradly Hopkins exit and then head east to for about 5-10 miles. Jeff Covey is the owner and has been there for I think 20 years. He builds anything but more so drag. All of his cages he does are custome bent either chromoly or mild steel what ever you prefere. Plus, builds complete from ground up jig built tube chassis cars to back half setups.

Right now he is doing a Promod Dodge Viper and a Promod 2003 Camaro. The Viper is 90% complete and the Camaro is 70% done. You should see the Viper and the Camaro, WOW The viper has a Schmidt 632ci N20 motor and the Camaro is a 706ci,Lenco car. Plus, there was a crazy looking Carbon Fiber body 68 Camaro all tube chassis car with the Incredable Hulk on the hood and the car is painted sparckl green with a 632ci N20 setup.

Pretty cool cars there but I guess I said enough already. If you ever need work he a great job very miticulas and is far with his prices.

Jeff Covey Gun Lake Performance and Engineering 269-795-9353


Jim