New wheels are on!

[Charger-Bodie]

Looks great Dirk! Did you get any free pens with the drum?

[loudmouthaussie]

Saw these on a med blue 70 elco yesterday down here in oz. Looked sweet :-)

[bill440rt]

Looks GREAT, Dino!! 
Sidewall is spot on.
You're first instinct is usually the right decision. All that matters is that YOU like them!   

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Looking good Dino!    Plenty of meat on those tires and looks just right.  

[Kern Dog]

Nice work. The wheel size looks great and the styling is classic enough to match the car and new enough to appear fresh. Your tires fill the wheelwells just right and give the car a more aggressive look. You will like these tires. I have the 555s on my Charger. I went with 275-40-18s up front on a 9 inch wheel and 295-45-18s on a 10 out back. These cars just beg for wheels with more offset. I have had some trouble with tire clearance in the rear due to the strange design of the outer wheel tub, but I love the look of wider tires on these cars. Although I like the Magnum wheel design, they are too small for the cavernous wheel openings of the B body cars.

[greenpigs]

Looks good Doc

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Looks great 

[Dino]

Thanks for the comments folks, I'm very happy with these!  Next up is disc brakes all around.  I know I can stick with drums on the rear but the whole drum shows and it's not something to brag about.  I had to paint the drums black since all 4 had a different shade of rust and the left rear was, of course, red.  I suppose it's time to contact Dr.Diff or have you guys figured out the best kits for these cars that fit a 17" wheel?  The car does not race, it's strictly being used as a ... car.  

Aww I just realized my speedometer's gonna be off again... are those little transmission gears still available?

Brian yes I did get some pens, how did you know?  

Bull the backspacing for the rear is 5.5" so that's an offset of 6.

[BIGBLCK11]

  Wheels look great!

YearOne lists some speedo pinion gears available as new Chrysler, but they are pricey.  They must have bought the license or remaining stock.  I didn't see them available from Chrysler in the Mopar Performance catalog either.  I bought a nice used one on Ebay($16).  The guy lists all the ones he has available and you just bid on the auction and pick the one you need.  They look like new, I don't think they really wear too much.  Also, He is only in PA, so you get it in like 2 days.  He also has a chart in the auction, even if you don't buy from him.  I also added another link for a chart below.  Somebody on the site probably has some as well. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-SPEEDOMETER-PINION-GEAR-GEARS-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-JEEP-727-833-SPEEDO-NP435-/151041741278?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item232aca11de&vxp=mtr

https://www.yearone.com/Catalog/1966-74-a-b-e-body/transmission/speedometer/pinions-.-new-chrysler

http://www.mymopar.com/speedometer.htm

[Brass]

Nice!  Looks way better. 

[Dino]

Wheels look great!

YearOne lists some speedo pinion gears available as new Chrysler, but they are pricey.  They must have bought the license or remaining stock.  I didn't see them available from Chrysler in the Mopar Performance catalog either.  I bought a nice used one on Ebay($16).  The guy lists all the ones he has available and you just bid on the auction and pick the one you need.  They look like new, I don't think they really wear too much.  Also, He is only in PA, so you get it in like 2 days.  He also has a chart in the auction, even if you don't buy from him.  I also added another link for a chart below.  Somebody on the site probably has some as well. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-SPEEDOMETER-PINION-GEAR-GEARS-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-JEEP-727-833-SPEEDO-NP435-/151041741278?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item232aca11de&vxp=mtr

https://www.yearone.com/Catalog/1966-74-a-b-e-body/transmission/speedometer/pinions-.-new-chrysler

http://www.mymopar.com/speedometer.htm

Thanks for the link, $21 shipped works for me so I ordered one!   

[bull]

Bull the backspacing for the rear is 5.5" so that's an offset of 6.

[chargerboy69]

Dirk,  The wheels look great, they really change the entire look of the car, nice choice.     I see you mentioned brakes.  I am also in the market for  a 4 wheel disc brake set up. After reading, searching for months I am ready to pull the trigger on this kit from Right Stuff. I have heard nothing bad about them.

http://www.restorationperformance.com/servlet/the-171337/62-dsh-%2772-B-fdsh-E-Body-Mopar/Detail

I talked to Cass (Dr. Diff) last week and his set like this one is $1930.00, almost $900.00 more. I was not really thinking of going with the 13" packages mainly because I have other sets of wheels.  And what if I want to throw on my 15" wheels for a weekend, I would not be able too with too large of package.

Best of luck.

Tim

[tan top]

      good choice !!  totally changed the look of the car     

[greenpigs]

Read this before buying anything.


http://www.moparaction.com/tech/archive/disc-main.html

[Dino]

Tim I was looking at the exact same kit, it's hard to beat for the price.  I'm uncertain at this point what to do about rotor size.  On one hand I want the biggest I can fit so my car will stop as effective as possible and on the other hand I have the same concern as you do; what if I want to install 15" wheels inthe future? 

Piggy I thought about going that route but I just don't have much time so I don't want to hunt for parts but order something and bolt it on.

At this point I'm open to options though.

[hemi68charger]

Lookin' Good !!! 

[Dino]

Now I still have the, new in the box, Wilwood front kit, it was bought by the po in '01 I think...

It's all there, the solid 10.75" rotors, billet 4 piston calipers and all the parts.

If I get bigger brakes then I'll just get a kit for front and rear but I 'could' keep this one and get a kit for the rear.  Thoughts?

Tim, I also found that with the right stuff kit, and likely others, it says you need the green bearings on the rear axle.  Any idea why that would be?  Since I actually take corners with my car I'm a bit reluctant to get the green bearings.

Btw, tested out the tires in the rain this morning, unfortunately the tires were still ice cold when those two deer crossed the road, almost forcing me into the ditch...but it stopped!  Still need better brakes but the tires did help at least.  Damn that was too close for comfort at 7 am. 

[Blusmbl]

That really sets off the car, and on top of that now you get a decent selection of tires.  I love 'em.

[SkiJogg]

Glad I could help make the day. Looks great

[greenpigs]

I didn't mean look through junk yards, but the rear disk kit is not really needed unless you want the "look". A track car may benefit from the upgrade but it may be a waste of $$ for a daily driver.

[Cooter]

Dino/Dirk, I gotta admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but those wheels do make that car. Awesome Choice indeed. Looks grea tfrom a 3/4 Profile shot.

It really is amazing what a set of wheels will do for the look of a car.

[Ghoste]

Isn't that the truth, and not to mention how personal a wheel selection can be as well.

[Dino]

Thanks again for the comments guys.   

Piggy I misunderstood, my bad.  You are right about the rear discs.  At this stage I do need to rebuild them so if the price is right I will opt for discs instead because frankly, the drums look tiny behind those wheels.   

I have to think about where to go with the brakes, the car stops fine for what I use it for so no rush.

[Dino]

When I turned into the parking lot at work I took a swift right and up a hill.  I'm ptretty sure the left rear tire hit the wheelwell when I did. 

I guess it's time to install the new shocks.  If that doesn't fix it what's next?  New leaf springs?