I need help finding out what back spacing I need for a 65 Skylark with a 68 8.5 rear.I'm looking to get Weld Wheels that are 15x8 for the rear.ANY help appreciated. Thanks, Philip
Philip i run 255/60/15 tires on factory buick 15 inch rally wheel in the rear of my 65. the backspacing is 4 1/2 inch. the 68 rear is 1 1/2 inch wider so if you got a 5 1/2 backspacing you could run the 255 series tires with a 68-72 rear. i still have about 1/2 inch clearance on my 65 with this combination.
To the best of my knowlege the 68 rear end is only 1" wider 54" backing plate to backing plate 65 and the 68 is 55" backing palte to backing plate, I can mesure if you want I have a spare of each sitting in my back yard I use 68-72 A body rear ends in my 64 Special Race car ( 69 olds 442 12 bolt 3.42 posi ) and the rims I use are (street) stock Buick 15x7 with 255R60/15 but I did have to clerance the outer wheel wells a little with MR hammer just on the ribs on the inner side. When I go to the track I use stock 15 X 7 rims widened to 15 X 9 1/4 ( inside bead to inside bead) with M/T 26X10.5 ET streets but I need 7/16 spacers to keep them off the frame rails. I have run this conbination for 10 years now and have had very little rubbing excpet when I am on a very sharp angle and even then very slight and never with the ET streets. I did have to move the lower shock mount up about 1" when i put the widened rims on the car to clear the rim. These rims have been dead true even at over 120 MPH I would do it again in a heart beat On my 64 Gold Skylark I use a 1970 Chev 12 bolt 3.31 posi rear and 15X7 stock Buick rallys with 215r70/15 tires and also have very slight rubing on the inner wheel wells only on big bumps or if I have a heavy load in the car! I will be modifying the inners ( Mr hammer again ) in the spring I hope this helps. Ken K o No:
Yea,if you could check the measurements that would be great!Why is the 70-71 model rear end preferred over the 68?I've had many people I should get a 70-17 rear-end.
I mesured from the mounting flange to mounting flange on both my 1964 rear end as well as my 1970 rear end the 64-67 rear is 55" and the 68-72 rear is 56" so only 1" wider since all rear brakes except sportwagon are 2" the total differance would only be 1/2" per side. If you select the right wheel and tire combo you will not have any troubles. The new 15X7 Buick rallys from the full size Lesabe with the small bolt pattern ( 5 on 4 3/4 ) are more offset than the earlier wheels. As for using 71-72 rears they have more part for them as they were use for many more years up til the 80's in cars and trucks so would be easier to rebuild if needed. Some of the old crap I have is not possible to find parts for ( why I have spares ) Hope this helps Ken
