Changing Cragars on Black Betty ???

[BrianShaughnessy]

Owing to basically ignoring Black Betty for awhile do to working on Sinnamon..  I got a hankering to change something.   Like wheels and tires...  OK,  the rear BFGs are almost worn out anyway.    I love the Cragar look..   a couple years ago when I temporarily put Sinnamons' YO Magnums on Black Betty it was OK... but just not the right thing for Betty.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet but I'm thinking hard...  which hurts     I was urged to look at US mfg'd tires by somebody  otherwise I had some more BFG's picked out.

[JB400]

Have you made a wheel choice yet?

[BrianShaughnessy]

See the 2nd pic.   Haven't bought anything yet but the 612 Cragars  17x8 front /  18x9.5 rear would seem to work for me

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

The same wheels, just in a larger size?   nah not feeling it....tons of other choices out there if you just want a larger wheel combo

[BrianShaughnessy]

The same wheels, just in a larger size?   nah not feeling it....tons of other choices out there if you just want a larger wheel combo

All good...   I just don't like torque thrust or ET styles,  not anything that looks like modern wheels.   I just keep coming back to the cragars.  I'm old 

Here's from when I put the YO magnums on...    I just know Betty likes chrome      The look was OK but just Betty.

[tan top]

looks good with the Cragers      

[Lennard]

looks good with the Cragers      

I agree, but only in 15".

[tan top]

looks good with the Cragers      

I agree, but only in 15".

yep agreed 

[John_Kunkel]

If you want to change "something", keep the Cragars and get rid of those gawdawful RWL's.

[Ghoste]

Keep the Cragars and the RWL's. 

[rt green]

keep what you have.

[bill440rt]

The same wheels, just in a larger size?   nah not feeling it....tons of other choices out there if you just want a larger wheel combo

Same here. Then again, I was never a big fan of Cragars anyway. Torque Thrusts are overdone, too. 

Wheels are a TOUGH choice. Buy whatever pleases you. If it's Cragars, then so be it. 

[1974dodgecharger]

I say whatever you like  you will always get someone who hates whatever choice you pick.....if it makes you happy at the end of the day I say.....

[JB400]

Have you considered maybe doing a black spoke, polished hoop rim?

[VegasCharger]

Agreed with the Cragars

But if you decide that you want to go a different direction, can I have first dibs on your Cragars if you sell them lol.

[NickJ]

Brian,

   Any clearance issues with those rims/tires? I'm thinking about using the Hotchkis kit which will drop mine by an inch and I'll need larger wheels after the disc conversion. I've been looking at the bigger Cragars as well but wasn't sure what would fit. Thanks

Nick

[myk]

Pick the wheel that everyone hates, lol...

[BrianShaughnessy]

Pick the wheel that everyone hates, lol...

Apparently everybody hates my choice...  fuggit..    I'll post a pic when I get them mounted maybe next week   

[Ghoste]

I don't hate the Cragars, I'm old too I guess.

[HPP]

Cragars are a very period correct piece that has become timeless because they look good. Not everyone likes them, but unless they wanna pay for them, its just their opinion.

Unless you are looking to put some UHP tires on it, I don't see any big need to step up in diameter. Cooper Cobra, MT ST and MT SR are all available in wide 15" sizes. The SR even come in H speed ratings with a softer compound than the ST.

[JB400]

Nothing wrong with the Cragars, but I don't think just going with a bigger rim/ same wheel design is much of a change compared to the switch to the Magnums.  You could get the same effect just lowering the car a bit.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Well,  the place let me place and order then emailed me that Cragar won't have the wheels for 8 to 12 weeks...  in the meantime I'm gonna have a set of tires collecting dust unless I come up with a plan B.

Part of the reason for changing is to get rid of the spacers I have front and back for 4 wheel / 4 piston disk clearance.

I've been runnng these same 15x7 / 15x10 Cragars for 12 years now.    And I've been thinking of changing them for at least 5 or more years.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Herese some nifty Cragars that come in 17" as well...

[charge69]

If you need to go to 17" wheels to get rid of the spacers, so be it!  However, I and just about anyone who sees the Charger in person, think this look is classic on a muscle car and you just would have a hard time improving on it!  Mine are just one-piece aluminum and chromed (specifically drilled @ 4 1/2' centers for MOPAR) 15x7/15x8 Cragars with 225x70x15 B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A front and 275x60x15 Nitto Extreme Drag Radials rear. I do not take the Charger out if it is raining, look like rain or soon after a rain so, the fact that the Nittos are very slippery on wet pavement does not bother me. They grab wonderfully on dry pavement!
I have manual drum brakes as it came from the factory and the drums are actually painted with engine paint and are hemi-orange! Done on a lark as the Charger was being finished up on the restoration but, it looks great and I will leave them painted this way! The rears look and feel wide enough for me.

[Dino]

Shameless plug for 17" rims that have the old vibe to them.  Former MB Old School wheels.  They are B&G now I think.

[Ghoste]

That's not a bad look, I don't think I've seen those rims before.

[Dino]

That's not a bad look, I don't think I've seen those rims before.

I threw them on there almost two years ago now.     There's a thread about it somewhere.  I think it's called "New wheels are on."

These really fit the look of the car because of the classic design, and the size to me looks absolutely fine.  By maximizing the sidewall on the rear tires I think it's far enough from the rubber band tire look and the size of the rims seems to fit well with the size of the car.