what's the narrowest rear end you've used on a channelled A?

[forsakenfew]

just like the title asks.

need to know what i can get away with. i have a 10 bolt posi that id like to use, but it's 54 inches from backing plate to backing plate. if i run some tall skinnies in back, will i have enough clearance between the tire and the body?

[C9]

Not sure if this will help, but the commonly accepted rear axle width for 32's is 56".
That said, I'm running a 55" rear axle in the 32 and that with 4 bars between frame and 285/70R-15 tires.
Clearance is close, but sufficient.
Fwiw - rear axles are measured from outer brake drum to outer brake drum - IE: from the brake drum surface where the wheels mount.

I'm also running a 56" wide rear axle on my 31 on 32 rails roadster.
4 links are inside the frame, but there's lots of room between frame and tires to run 4 bars like the 32 if I wanted to.
The 31's rear tires are 235/75R-15 and fit under the bobbed rear fenders just fine.

A 55-56" rear axle, to my mind should just about do it on an un-channeled A roadster.
I think they would work fine on a channeled roadster - or coupe - as well.

[Eyeball]

It depends on what your definition of channeled is. On my brothers T we had an s-10 rear we planned on using but the backing plates were within 1/8" of the body on both sides so we had to move to a wider rear. The one we ended up using is out of a 63 Chevy. I don't have a measurement but I can get one in the morning if you want.

[Eyeball]

nuther pic

[67Imp.Wagon]

I had always heard that S-10 rear ends would work but like Eyeball said, it is real close to the body. I know a guy that put one under a 29 roadster and took it out because the tires were too close to the body and went with something a litle wider.

[k-member]

I've always used mustang, maverick ford stuff, but anyway hows that frame working out...?

[Dreamweaver]

Ive heard/read that the rear out of a 4x4 s-10/blazer is 4" wider than the 2 wheel drive, that may help.

[Antibilly]

what year S10's will work??/

[forsakenfew]

eyeball, my tudor will be sitting fairly close to where the one in the pics sits. maybe 3-4 inches higher. that puts the top of the tires at about the belt line. just wondering if they will clear.

[forsakenfew]

ok C9, from drum to drum i'm at 60.5", give or take. from what you've said, it looks like this may work.

if it was too close, i saw that wheel vintiques has 16x4.5" wheels that only have a 2.25" backspace. maybe that would help get em out a bit?

any ideas or opinions on that?

thanks guys!!

[TomH]

Use a 8" out of a maverick on my `28 roadster, offset on the wheels you use will make a difference. ( I made my rears, welded centers to the outside to give me the offset I wanted.)

[TexasHardcore]

The old man / Model A guru told me to use a rear end from a 55-57 Chevrolet. Not only does it have the traditional factor for being old school. It fits perfectly, it looks like a 9", they are cheap & easy to find, and parts are readily availible. I picked one up from a buddy of mine who's father owns a 55-57 restoration shop. He's got acres of parts laying around. I guess I lucked out.

[SlowLearner]

eyeball, your brother's T is drop-dead GORGeous! Love that evil chop!
Ooops, sorry, back to the thead http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[C9]

[ QUOTE ]
ok C9, from drum to drum i'm at 60.5", give or take. from what you've said, it looks like this may work.

if it was too close, i saw that wheel vintiques has 16x4.5" wheels that only have a 2.25" backspace. maybe that would help get em out a bit?

any ideas or opinions on that?


[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds a little wide, but I think you could make it work with some wheels having the right backspacing.
In my opinion, you want to bring the wheels in with the 60 1/2" wide rear axle.

I should have mentioned the 10" wide mags on the 32 have 3" of backspace.
The 6" steelies on the 31's rear have 2 7/8" backspace.

Looks like you are wanting to run a fairly narrow wheel and tire combo in the back and catch the trad look.
I think the 60 1/2" axle would do it here.
You've only shoved the wheels about 2" toward the outside as far as axle width goes.
The 2 1/4" backspaced Wheel Vintiques wheels you mentioned should work ok as well.

Narrowed rear axles and bringing the slicks or wide rear tires in out of the rain didn't happen until the mid 60's or so.
And even later for street runners.

If you are going for the very trad look, having the rear wheels stick out a bit would fit the look.

[hankcash]

Well, I dont know much about model A rearends, but this is the narrowest rearend I have seen on a model T!