Re: [AMC-List] Disc rear interchange/now Eagle Fender Flares

["John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ah! But!
 
Snip
But, we are talking about an XJ rear diff and not an Eagle one into the
Spirit. That narrow width may be for the SX4 and not the Eagle
wagon/sedans.
The flares were added (and required) to cover the tires from throwing
stuff
onto the vehicle behind them. Front suspension was lifted to make it 4x4
because that was the closest they could get to the oil pan with a diff
and
have the axles level.
Snip
 
The tread widths I referred to were Concord Sedan to Eagle Sedan so one
could make (hopefully) an apples to apples comparison. Thus suggesting
that on the rear of the Eagle Sedan and the Rear of the Concord sedan
there was no need for the flares if the object of them was to keep the
tires from throwing road grunge onto the sides of the car or the car
behind them. Much the same that a low rider does now with the extremely
widely spaced wire wheels and the comically narrow rubber tires ;-)
And as you point out the object of the lift was to fit the front
suspension under the engine which was relocated anyway a bit and the
floor pan modified to clear the bell housing, xfer case and transmission
leaving you with front seats that would not interchange between the two
cars, however that is a different story. 
So if you have to lift the front, you there for have to lift the rear to
level the car out some what anyway. 
Which brings back to the point I was trying to bring up. I believe the
purpose of the flares were to fill in the gaps between the now raised
body and the tires and ground to give the allusion of being lower to the
ground as a cosmetic function pretty much only. 
 
The rear tread on a Spirit and an AMX was 57 inches in 1980. I do not
have a figure for an SX4 but the 2 door, 4 door and wagon for the Eagle
was 57.6 inches. 
The AMX of course had flares also. Supposedly I guess to cover the
performance oriented rear tires which were the same tires as offered on
the regular Spirit thus when so equipped looked a little funky by them
self as they sort of stood out from the fenders a little like Prince
Charles ears.  The Standard tire for a Spirit in 1980 I believe was a
P195/ 75 R 14. Even with the optional Tire of  DR70 14 which I believe
came with the magnum 500 style wheels, the tire did not project far
enough out from the rear fenders to require the flares which were
standard on the AMX. 
The optional optional tire of ER60 -14 for the AMX using the "Dukes of
Hazard  turbine type wheels filled up the wheel wells well enough to
make the flare look functional. On my AMX, I am using P205 -70 -14's and
the fit is still under the fender using the OEM syle Magnum 500 wheels.
While on my Spirit I am using P245-60 - R 14's on aftermarket aluminum
wheels and the fit nicely under the fender well with no rubbing anywhere
and I do travel with the car heavily loaded when Valerie and I make a
road trip as her mobility scooter is carried with us in the car. The
point is there is plenty of room under the fender well for some very
large wheel and tire combinations. The AMX Flare option really is
strictly cosmetic for the most part but looks better with bigger wheels
and tire fitted. Thus I would imagine the SX4 Eagle flare would be
basically the same way. Not needed for flinging grung but needed to give
the allusion the car was not raised. 
 
Thus I am suggesting maybe that with the wider axle you are
contemplating installing one might take a look at Carvan wheels and
tires which have a fairly deep offset that would space the wheel back
towards the center of the car. I have a set of  16 inch with a tire
mounted, I don't off hand remember the size of the tire but standard for
a 1996 town and country. I also have a set of 15 inch Bronco wheels with
a 75 series tire mounted and a 70 series tire mounted that are now on my
Town and Country. The off set is not as great with these wheels but all
of them mount on an AMC hub. (with minor modifications to the Bronco
wheels). I would bet that one of these combinations would allow you to
mount the axle in question with out having the need to raise the car up
so the fenders would clear the wheels and they would fit inside the
existing wheel well the negating the need to install Eagle Flares to
cover the protruding wheels or what ever. 
 
If this is an experiment in what fits I would be glad to take
measurements with any and all wheel combinations I have and feed them
back or !!!!! you could buy a set of wire wheel hub caps, let the wheels
hang out anyway and get a chrome chain steering wheel and when you drive
the car, slouch so you can just see over the dash board and under the
steering wheel. ;-)
 
My thoughts on the subject anyway. 
Later 
John.
 
 
 
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