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mini tub or not?

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Old May 1, 2018 | 03:02 PM
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mini tub or not?

im looking at buying some C7 wheels. my question is would i need to mini tub my wheel wells? or can i get away without a mini tub?
C7 wheels are 285/30ZR20 for the rear and 245/35ZR19 for the front.
my car is 100% stock. i know i will need 2 inch spacers for front and rear.
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Old May 2, 2018 | 06:35 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: mini tub or not?

The only way you're going to know how well they fit is to install them and check distances.
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Old May 3, 2018 | 12:06 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

once i get more money coming in, ill be buying some 2 inch spacers. than ill go from there. hopefully everything goes smooth.
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Old May 3, 2018 | 09:01 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: mini tub or not?

With 2" spacers, I doubt you would have much of a turning radius before the front tires hit the inner fenders.
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Old May 3, 2018 | 09:54 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

what size would you recommend?
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Old May 8, 2018 | 12:48 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

What is the backspacing of the C7 wheels vs what you have now ?
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Old May 8, 2018 | 05:26 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

C7 wheels front 7" and rear 8 3/4"
my gta rims i think are either 4 3/4" or 5"
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Old May 9, 2018 | 03:19 PM
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From: Brainerd, MN
Car: '84 Trans Am
Engine: 357 SBC
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 3.73, Torsen Diff
Re: mini tub or not?

It seems to me that by the time you purchase the wheels, the adapters, and do a mini-tub, you could just buy proper sized wheels that you can run without all of the hoopla.
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Old May 9, 2018 | 03:30 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

im getting the wheels fairly cheap. like $400 cheap, from my boss. scratch free rims and fairly new rubber about 1000 kms on them
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Old May 9, 2018 | 04:24 PM
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From: Brainerd, MN
Car: '84 Trans Am
Engine: 357 SBC
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 3.73, Torsen Diff
Re: mini tub or not?

To each their own, but I think you're just going to create a bunch of trouble for yourself. 17-18" wheels are about perfect for these cars. Anything bigger means compromising something, whether it be ride height, turn radius, bumps\rubbing, etc.
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Old May 10, 2018 | 08:05 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

If you do decide to mini-tub be prepared for a laundry list of decisions to make. It is not as straight forward as it seems and can be really expensive if you cannot fabricate/weld yourself. Decisions that would need to be made.

-Interior design changes and OEM panels no longer fit
-Should really put in a roll bar since you cut into the side structure of the car
-Say goodbye to the backseat unless you get really creative.
-Prepare to buy Offset LCA's.
-Rear bump stops are eliminated and you'll need to fab new ones or live without them.
-May not have room for spare tire/jack

After all of this, you will gain a few inches but not magnitudes more wheel space.
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Old May 10, 2018 | 04:42 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

i can do the welding and fabricating myself, also have a plasma cutter too.
i dont have a spare tire or jack to worry about either
LCA? is that the lower control arms?
rear bump stops i can live without.
dont really use the back seats. thought about taking them out and making a custom dual sub box to take its place.
probably in the next year or so i will be joining the rear and front frame together. also thought about a roll bar.
this car will only be a daily so nothing to serious.
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Old May 10, 2018 | 04:46 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by Jorlain
To each their own, but I think you're just going to create a bunch of trouble for yourself. 17-18" wheels are about perfect for these cars. Anything bigger means compromising something, whether it be ride height, turn radius, bumps\rubbing, etc.
if i can make it so it doesnt rub or bump anything going down my driveway i should be fine. since my driveway has the worse bumps ever.
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Old May 14, 2018 | 10:13 PM
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Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: mini tub or not?

you can fit 29x12.5x15 under your car with a few mods..

this is a 15x10.25 rim 6.5 back space. this rim will fit MT sportsmen tires. as well as
325/50/15..note..pan rod mount..getting close.

same rim with tire on it MT 12.5X29X15

founder LCAs with offset bushings. a tad over 1/2inch clearance.

you do have to remove bump stops. and smooth out some things.. you can do this with out mini tubbing. after all if ya want to go wider then this.. your going to have to relocate your pan rod mount on the rear end housing..(note pic above in post)
they will tuck under the car.. with no mods to the plastic inside..


forgive the bluish pics..photobucket..sucks I had to take pics of my pics to post them...lol.
Like A Glove

note car in on jack stands under the rear end housing..the car is sitting on stock springs..not jacked up.
the gap at the top of the wheel well is in fact..how it would sit...this is before the rear coil overs..so ya can drop it down just a tad..

Last edited by articwhiteZ; May 14, 2018 at 11:15 PM.
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Old May 14, 2018 | 10:23 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

what kind of mods have you done to get those to fit?
these are the wheels ill be fitting.
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Old May 14, 2018 | 10:24 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

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Old May 15, 2018 | 12:20 AM
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: mini tub or not?

did a full post. a few years back...on the mods with pics ..but photo bucket took down all the pics.. ill see what I can do on posting some of them..the front is upto some body that likes the wide wheels up front...

Last edited by articwhiteZ; May 15, 2018 at 08:36 PM.
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Old May 15, 2018 | 06:54 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
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Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by 89gta420
these are the wheels ill be fitting.
So tires with no sidewall. You will not like the ride they give. Anything bigger than a 16" rim just doesn't look right on older vehicles that were not designed for a large rim.
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Old May 16, 2018 | 08:57 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by AlkyIROC
So tires with no sidewall. You will not like the ride they give. Anything bigger than a 16" rim just doesn't look right on older vehicles that were not designed for a large rim.

Different strokes for different folks. It depends on what you are trying to do with the car. For stockish appearance I agree, for a pro-touring look, larger wheels (when spaced and fitted properly) look great. It adds a modern touch to these cars that make them stand out. To each their own
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Old May 16, 2018 | 04:19 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
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Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: mini tub or not?

Big open rims don't look so bad when a equally large brake rotor is exposed. 18-20" rims showing a 10.5" brake rotor just doesn't look good.
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Old May 16, 2018 | 04:31 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by AlkyIROC
Big open rims don't look so bad when a equally large brake rotor is exposed. 18-20" rims showing a 10.5" brake rotor just doesn't look good.
i plan on getting a bigger brake set up, but other than that why so much hate? its not your car.
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Old May 16, 2018 | 07:27 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by AlkyIROC
Big open rims don't look so bad when a equally large brake rotor is exposed. 18-20" rims showing a 10.5" brake rotor just doesn't look good.

I do agree with this. Or worse, drum brakes with big wheels!
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Old May 17, 2018 | 07:37 PM
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: mini tub or not?

you can always dress up your stock brakes to look good..and the aftermarket is full of parts

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Old May 17, 2018 | 10:43 PM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by articwhiteZ
you can always dress up your stock brakes to look good..and the aftermarket is full of parts

is that drum to disc conversion? i already have disc brakes all around also. just need to get a big brake upgrade.
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Old May 19, 2018 | 01:02 AM
  #25  
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by 89gta420
is that drum to disc conversion? i already have disc brakes all around also. just need to get a big brake upgrade.
no standard 1992 GM rear disc (car came with) with a face lift.. and wilwood front end setup.
for street strip


got to have nice looking parts. to Compliment the all aluminum 615cid BBC..

and just enough room to get them in there



Last edited by articwhiteZ; May 19, 2018 at 01:16 AM.
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Old May 19, 2018 | 01:26 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

looks good. one day mine will look that clean.
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Old May 19, 2018 | 01:44 AM
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: mini tub or not?

hoping I still want to drive it...a lot of work..I think all the fun is getting the parts in a pile..
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Old May 19, 2018 | 02:04 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

i daily mine when i got the time. when something breaks or doesnt look good, than i fix it.
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Old May 19, 2018 | 09:17 AM
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Re: mini tub or not?

Originally Posted by articwhiteZ
hoping I still want to drive it...a lot of work..I think all the fun is getting the parts in a pile..
Ain't that the truth.
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