68 EL CAMINO REAR END INSTALL
68 EL CAMINO REAR END SERIES

and I really like the wheel but want it wider and if I am going to spend the money I want to know my options rather learn after a purchase because making a wise purchase is saving money in the end to be happy.

I am running from what I think is a 20x8.5 5.25' bs. Really if I am not clear on what i am asking please ask me what you need to know about my question. I have found a couple 66-67' 12-bolts at a decent price and I was thinking of picking one up for my car or if this is really something way out of left field and will really make my wheels search hard then I will just find a 68-72' 12-bolt for my 70'. I was looking to see if this has been thought about of done by anyone.

68 EL CAMINO REAR END INSTALL

I know about backspacing and wheel width, but my idea because I have to purchase a complete axle (some I think thought I was buying 66' axle shaft to install in a 70' housing, maybe?) If i was to purchase a 12-bolt complete axle housing and installed it on my 70' I should be able to fit lets say a 10' wide wheel with 5/8' less backspace to get a deeper lip due to the 66' axle being 5/8' shorter on either side.

The only thing I read here was the red above that was on the direction I was trying to figure out. Sorry I have the handicap of being a newbie here. I don't want to come off on the wrong foot to a more seasoned member here but really help me if you know other wise let me search by asking in my own way. What are you thinking the question was that was asked because really this had more answers than even what I was looking for so it may have been my fault of not being clear on what I was looking to achieve, but if I wasn't clear no one really asked to clarify myself, so you go ahead with your horse and beat it:thumbsup: or because you have been here sense 1999 and have well over 6k worth of post show me the great wisdom of where I need to see the light. To say there is absolutely NO gain in tire clearance is IMHO a little too definitive a statement. Like the EPA fuel ratings 'Your mileage may differ'. In my case the shorter rear gave me just enough room to make it work.

68 EL CAMINO REAR END SERIES

Like so many things weather this 'early rear for added tire clearance' swap works depends on the degree of width you want to add to the tires / wheels, the tire series and the backspacing of the wheels. I agree that the right wheel tire combo will hit the ctrl arm with the tire sidewall. If you want gonzo width wheels and tires I am sure you can get to where the tire is gonna rub the ctrl arm. I cannot say how close the ctrl is to the tire on the back side running the combo I now have.never measured it. On the other hand I now have a nice comfortable amount of clearance at the ctrl / tire closest point AND I have sufficient clearance at the wheel lip molding and the side of the tire. I don't know if I could make that same wheel / tire combo work with the standard 68 to 72 width rear. I can run H-70 15 tires on Corvette 8 inch wide wheels with that 66 rear in the car. If you don't have more than 1/2 inch between the ctrl and the tire back sidewall with the wide rear you are outta luck.Īmong other cars I have a 72 Monte Carlo that has a 66 rear in it. My assertion assumes that with the wide wheels and tires you have MORE THAN 1/2 inch clearance between the backside of the tire and the crtl arm from the get go.

That 1/2 inch can be all the difference some guys need. Remember we are only moving the tire inward toward the ctrl arm about 1/2 inch. If you have sufficient clearance at the ctrl arm when running the wide wheels and / or large tires BUT there is insifficient clearance on the front side of the tire at the wheel lip molding there might be a clearance gain to be had. Yes the ctrl arms mount in the same place: agreed on that.

The gains in clearance are minimal and the workability fo this swap depends on the tires /wheels you want to run. Click to expand.As to 'absolutely NO tire clearane advantage' I am gonna beg to differ.

68 el camino rear end