Tire and axle width ?

[2Tall]

Hi guys. I've been lurking on here for a good while now. Just now getting around to making my first post. My uncle has a 47 5 window chevy short bed that he plans on starting on soon. A couple of weeks ago at the street rod nationals he bought a super slam front and rear suspension from Scott's hotrods. So now he needs to find a rear end for when he starts on the rear suspension. He is planning on running 18's and 20's on the truck, so I'm wondering how wide a wheel he can run on the back without narrowing the factory frame? They will probably be a deep dish wheel, so I was also wondering what width rearend to use? Any info or pics of your trucks would be great. Thanks. Kyle

[2Tall]

Okay, anybody running a 20x12 wide wheel? Or even a 20x10 inch wheel that can tell me what your axle width is?

[JR25]

Welcome!
I am by no means a seasoned truck builder, but saw your post and it made me think about being in your exact same place when I replaced my rear axle (used one out of a '76 trans am). I dont plan on using a wheel that big, but soon realized that the axle width is not too critical, as long as it is not too narrow! There are so many wheel sizes with so many different back spacing out there, that it would almost be easier to buy the wheels first! The key is going to be to know the exact distance between the frame and the inside of the outer fender, unless you plan on spacing out the fender as well as putting tubs in the bed. Also dont forget to account for radials vs bias ply tires!
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[2Tall]

Thanks for the response JR25. I agree that it would help with buying the wheels first. The only problem there is when it's a total frame up build, they tend to take a long time to do, and by the time you do get finished, you want a different wheel than what you have. My uncle lives about 45 minutes away, so I haven't had a chance to measure for wheel and tire clearance between the fender and frame. I was hoping that somebody here could give me a ball park idea with a 20 inch wheel 10 or 12 inches wide. I know a 10 inch wide wheel will work with small tubs in the bed, just wasn't for sure if you could squeeze in 12 inch wheels. I guess we will figure it out eventually.

[JR25]

I agree to not actually buy the wheels yet, but awful tempting! You could see what common backspacing is available, and also dont forget about the ability to put spacers on the hubs! Much easier than cutting down an axle. Let me find a pic with a lot of rear widths and Ill post it for you!
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[JR25]

Pics, address in bar up top of pic if you want to go to the pages on a couple of them!



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[2Tall]

Thanks JR25, that will help when looking for a rearend. Anybody else want to tell me about their rearend?

[mr48chev]

Well, that is going to end up about like a 15x12 with a big drag slick on it size wise. That being the overall diameter of the tire x the section width of the tire.

I'd find a tire chart that gave the different heights and widths for 20 inch performance tires and go from there.