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Old 08-05-2020, 04:21 PM
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Default 1969 Differential Width vs Shortening Option

A question for those who have altered rear end widths in a 69 Camaro?

I am ordering a new Dana 60 S from Strange and plan to keep the stock spring widths and locations. Knowing I am planning to run an N50 rear tire, I am wondering if I can cheat a bit and maybe cut a 1/2" from each side of the total width to better accommodate an 8.5" wheel with a 3.75 backspace. Knowing that, will 4.25 back space with a wider section width tire create rubbing issues with stock shock absorber locations ot the mounting locations a pair of early Lakewood slapper bars?

I'm wanting to squeeze it in as much as possible using the stock springs and wheel housings and not have the tires rub.

Any advice is appreciated from those who have altered differential widths?

Thanks...G.
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Old 08-05-2020, 04:35 PM
Lynn Lynn is offline
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Pretty sure that unless you mini tub, you will not gain anything from going to a narrowed rear.

Wide tires with lots of back spacing hit the inner wheel housing before, or about the same place they start rubbing on shock mounts, etc.

Of course this is coming from a guy who never mini tubbed or tubbed a 69 Camaro. However, I have seen tires rub on the stock inner wheel housing that were not rubbing anywhere else.
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Old 08-05-2020, 05:50 PM
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Roger that Lynn. I know I'm running some air suspension on the rear to get the height needed for the N50's. but was hoping that aside from the wheels having 3.75 BS, I could maybe cheat another inch or so by narrowing the diff just a smidge or two. (lol)
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Old 08-05-2020, 09:46 PM
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I've narrowed many rear ends. The place to start is with the tires mounted on the wheels that you want to run. Put them under the car with no rear end in it. Get them in exactly the location that you want them to run and then measure the distance between the mounting surfaces. This will be your total rear end width including the brakes.
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Old 08-06-2020, 03:10 AM
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Yes Freddie,

Fully aware of that and have done that before. I'm not looking to fit the tires inside nor do I plan to relocate the springs, add mini tubs or squeeze the tank out so I need a fuel cell. Just looking to see if I can cheat a half inch and maybe not have the inside of the N50's rub on the leaf spring or have the rims interfere with the shock mounts. Kinda like having 4.25 backspace is what I was hoping?

Rob or Vince might know as they have both run N50's and might be able to chime in on what rims were used and what kind of room they had left towards the inside?
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Last edited by NorCam; 08-06-2020 at 03:13 AM.
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Old 08-06-2020, 02:59 PM
marxjunk marxjunk is offline
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call their tech line...they do it all the time, they will have some definite answers
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