DB> On 01-08-98 Landon Robinson wrote to Jack Schwendener...
DB> LR> to
DB> LR> turn the thing into one of those muscle car era street machines with
DB> LR> the back
DB> LR> bumper about three/four feet off the ground.  Plus having big tires 
n
DB> LR> the
DB> LR> back will up the final drive ratio to make the thing seriously launch
DB> LR> at
DB> LR> take off (it does that anyway but more is better :)  ).
DB> LR>
DB>As mentioned, the big tires will be slower off the line. but
DB>they will also increase the area of the rubber on the road,
DB>so you will find after market ring & pinion gears, or perhaps
DB>an antique rear end... with a higher ratio, lower RPM output.
DB>presumeably you will install long shackles on the back end of
DB>the leaf springs to get the height to clear the fenders for a
DB>pair of big tires. You might wanna consider adapter plates to
DB>fit other rims on your hub. the adaptor will also widen the
DB>stance of the rear tires, which may be needed to fit the tire
DB>into the fender anyway.  JC Whitney?
DB>But: when you raise the rear end, you change the angle of the
DB>drive shaft into the yoke on the pinion. UNLESS: you also go
DB>and change the angle of the engine mounts as well, or shim the
DB>rear axle mounts, *so as to keep the axis of the crankshaft/
DB>transmission* PARALEL with the axis of the pinion shaft, you
DB>get odd harmonics in the u-joints, chew the little buggars up
DB>on a regular basis, and possibly scar the surface of the ring
DB>gear. That scarring don't actually damage the ring gear over
DB>the short term, but the whine that arises out of it will drive
DB>you nuts.
DB>I would consider whether front dual wheel cylindar brakes will
DB>fit on the back axle if the rubber area and the leverage from
DB>a larger diameter tire are such as to roll right past the rear
DB>brake single cylindar drum brake design.. or whether you could
DB>fit the drum from a two ton truck chassis... or maybe whole
DB>rear end.
DB>*all* of the heavier truck rear ends will use floating axles,
DB>which I expect are also larger in diameter, and won't shear
DB>every time you floor a big V-8, probly come with higher gear
DB>ratios, and larger brake drums.  Remember that even if one of
DB>the floating axles does shear, the wheel still stays on the
DB>car, the brakes still work, and you can tow it with a rope.
Along with the excellent advice of Day Brown, the front end will
change it's geometry and possibly give you a problem. I know from
experience that with my 69' Chevelle that was raised 7" before I
bought it that the front end caused me headaches. It changed so
to the point that it failed the basic inspection and was beyond
the adjustment limits and I had to lower the rear that day to
get it to past the test...Best of luck, just remember, you might
need lower gears for the rear-end assembly. If it's only for the
street I would suggest no higher than maybe 3.73:1 if you can
find them, anything in the 4's for the street would be murder on
the engine.
Keith.............................................
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