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

[Mark Price <markprice242@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As an attachment to this, IIRC, The Late model Mustang Bullit wheels run 17X8" with a 5.75" Backspacing!  That's why they are so popular for this swap, the backspacing allows wheelspacers to be used for fine tuning if needed. Not a big fan of spacers and they are illegal in many states and won't pass most safety inspections, but the billet ones seem to hold up fine in street duty.
--
Mark Price
markprice242ATadelphia.net
Morgantown, WV


---- John Elle <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
>  
> 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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