Re: [Amc-list] AMC Turbocast II Wheels

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

All I can do is echo Tom on this! The brakes aren't really a concern, the steering arms are. As long as the brakes clear the steering arms they're fine. 11" rotor disc brakes (stock 79-83 AMC Concord/Spirit) clear just fine, but as Tom found out drums over 9" don't. Rotors don't protrude back where the steering arm rests. The steering arms have to be where they are to keep steering geometry correct (specifically, the outer tie rod end point). You can't reverse the arms or move that point at all and still have proper steering. Pull a string from the center of the rear axle housing along the centerline of the axles to an outer tie rod end. The tie rod end has to be on that line for the steering to work properly. You can't shorten the arms with drum brakes because of the drum (could with discs though!), and can't lengthen if because of the wheel (not without bigger wheels). 

If you could get 16" or large wheels only 7" wide they would work great, but you can't. Some 15" cast aluminum/magnesium wheels will fit, but may grind inside the wheel a bit when making turns. I had 15x7 cast aluminum slots on my 63 American. I  had to use 1/4" spacers but they still caught just a little inside on tight turns, especially when in reverse. They eventually ground down to where there was no noise... 

Any 15" steel wheel will clear with no problems. Due to the close proximity of the spring to the tire a 7" wheel with 3.75" back spacing (3.375-3.500" is better, 3.75 back spacing may need 1/4" spacers) is about as wide as it will take and not scrub anything. 

--------------
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:09:46 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

> >   I did not know about the one size issue...If they were 15" I thought that they might look cool on my new toy, a 1963 American 440.
>   

You gotta be careful, not many things fit the front of that car. No 14" 
wheel will fit, and some 15's might not. The two major issues are the 
9x2 drum concavity, and the steering arm/tie rod end placement.

http://wps.com/AMC/1963-Rambler-American/Drums/
http://wps.com/AMC/1963-Rambler-American/Tires/

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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