Big brake swap wheel discussion

[1980c10]

Okay so I wanna do the big brake swap, with the rear disc swap. Now heres the question I plan on running 16'' police wheels on the street but I want a big and little setup for the strip, im lookin at the weld pro stars in a 15x4 will these clear the front and rear brakes? I know some of the stang guys runs a spacer to clear the caliper with the pbr swap, so that is an option also. I guess if it comes down to it I can just fork over the cash for some 17x4.5 alumastars or 17x4.5 magnum 2.0's

Please discuss

im very interested in what you all think. Also what backspacing would you all suggest?

[gadget73]

I guess if you stuck the wheels out far enough, you might get away with a 15, but you'd need some really wierd offset to do it. Heck, I have 16" Mark VII wheels on my car, and I had to grind the caliper down to fit properly with 1 1/4" spacers. With a less chunky 16" wheel, you don't have to do that but there isn't a whole lot of extra room in there around the calipers. You'd be better off just getting wheels that will clear.

[1980c10]

Interesting haha. I guess im gonna have to shell out the cash for some 17'' alumastars for the front. Any idea if 15's will clear the rotors in the back on a 92-97 axle?

[CheeseSteakJim]

I don't mean to question your decisions, but does your car really need big and littles? I mean, is that really a required purchase for it? Seems to me the police wheels and some widish tires should be more than enough for most Panthers here.

It just doesn't seem like it's that serious of a track car to be throwing money away on a set of "track wheels/tires"

[mrltd]

Interesting haha. I guess im gonna have to shell out the cash for some 17'' alumastars for the front. Any idea if 15's will clear the rotors in the back on a 92-97 axle?

factory 92-97 wheels were 15"... So that would be a yes.

[1987cp]

I don't mean to question your decisions, but does your car really need big and littles? I mean, is that really a required purchase for it? Seems to me the police wheels and some widish tires should be more than enough for most Panthers here.

It just doesn't seem like it's that serious of a track car to be throwing money away on a set of "track wheels/tires"

+1 ... at what ET do, say, Mustang guys usually buy a pair of slicks in the first place, let alone a full set of strip wheels? I highly doubt any benefit will be seen on a 15 second snoozemobile.

[P72Ford]

I had 15s on the back of my Dad's '99 P71 when the frame was out from under it.

The benefits of lightweight wheels are surprising. Less unsprung weight, rotating mass/ inertia, etc.

The rear wheels are what really matters, in this case, though.

If you're having a hard time hooking your car (due to too much power, or poor suspension design), slicks will do alot for your 60 ft times. Of course, eventually if the suspension is the problem, you're going to have to do something about it to maximize your performance.

[1980c10]

This is for the future guys, I am building a turbo 351 which should easily be in the 700rwhp range. A little off subject but speaking of which look what showed up at my door the other day. I didnt wanna tell you guys till I had gathered more parts. But as of right now I have a roller 351 block, the turbo, and a 351 super vic efi intake with the medium height elbow, and the edelbrock rails. Thats all I have collected so far, heads are the next on the list.

Here is a pic of my turbo
Borg warner S475 with a 1.32 A/R t6 exhaust housing



Not my baby by the way just a pic for size comparison

[gadget73]

LOL at using a baby for size comparison

[CheeseSteakJim]

If that's not your baby that you're using for size comparison... whose is it and do they know you're using them to showcase auto parts?

[86VickyLX]

Not my baby by the way just a pic for size comparison

[pantera77]

Not my baby by the way just a pic for size comparison

I don't know why, but that's the funniest thing I've read in a while.

[1980c10]

Hey, when you have a turbo this big sometimes you just gotta use a baby for a pic.

[johnunit]

LOL @ the baby.

It appears to be fast asleep too.

You should give that pic to the parents, it'll make a great addition to the photo album.

"And this is you when you were X months old beside a turbocharger. It went in a 351-swap Grand Marquis with purple wheels and 600RWHP"