how narrow do i need my beam?

[beetletom]

ive got a 4" narrowed beam for my 66, i went this narrow originally as i was going to run enkei 5 spokes, with dropped spindles and disc kit, but now have a change of wheels....

but now i have a set of bbt sprintstars, but as they are narrower upfront (4.5") and the offset isn't so much, what would be a good width?
i'll be running 145 f560's upfront too. and 4 lug to wide 5 adaptors.

[gizago]

What spindles have you got ? They differ in the track they add. What disc set up are you running? What width do your adaptors add?What is the offset of your wheels? And do you want the car to look like a wheelbarrow or a baja??

[Rocket Ron]

What's wrong with a stock width beam ? just don't go too low or run stupid width tries

[leec]

If you have all the bits why not just bolt it all in as a mock up? That's the only real way of seeing if you like the look of it.
If it's too narrow you can then work out what width beam you need to make up next.

If you are running 4 stud disc to wide 5 adapters that's an inch each side (I have machine 7 versions) plus the dropped spindles, can't see it being miles out?

Lee

[beetletom]

thanks guys, yep i guess the adaptors will add a bit of width

got cb performance spindles, with stock 4 lug discs

stock width might be too wide...? especially if i run wheels with a silly offset in the future

[speedwell]

narrow beam are for resto cal  ... ....wrong forum 

[Jesse/DVK]

I needed a 4 inch narrowed beam to get away with dropped spindles, csp disc (5x205) and flat 4 BRM's.

[beetletom]

I needed a 4 inch narrowed beam to get away with dropped spindles, csp disc (5x205) and flat 4 BRM's.

do you have any photo's of your car please? thanks

[Jesse/DVK]

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[beetletom]

thanks, that looks perfect!

[AntLockyer]

You sure a 3 inch wouldn't have worked there?

[beetletom]

i had a 3" narrowed beam on it previously, if you look at the top pic in my readers rides thread, the offset on the AE 5 spokes made them close to the wing lips

[hotrodsurplus]

Wheel offsets (ET):

Enkei Five: 12mm
BBT 4.5:    25mm
Flat 4 BRM 5mm

Going from the Enkei Five to the BBT will narrow the track 26mm (basically an inch) or 13mm (basically half an inch) each side.

If you use the BRMs as a reference:
Wheel track with the Enkei Five would be 14mm narrower than it would be with the FF BRMs.
Wheel track with the BBT Sprints would be 40mm narrower than it would be with the FF BRMs.

I know the following does not pertain to your question but is there a way that you can choose a front brake with less offset? That four-to-five-lug adapter increases the offset by about 25mm on each side but that is not the only thing that increases the offset. The distance between the four-lug wheel-mounting faces is 5mm greater than it is between the five-lug mounting faces. So 25mm+25mm+5mm= 55mm greater track width and 27.5mm increased offset on either side. The aftermarket wheels compound the problem. A stock wide-five wheel has 35mm ET so using the BBT Sprints increases the offset by another 10mm on each side and widens the track 20mm.

The four-lug brakes, five-lug adapters, and BBT wheels have widened your track width by at least 75mm or 3 inches. The dropped spindles may have increased the track width by another 20 or so MM if not more. You have at least two choices.

1) narrow a stock beam by whatever amount that the wheels/spindles/brakes/adapters increased the track width/offset and the wheels will end up in the stock location. But that does not account for the 37.5mm (or more) increased scrub radius caused by the greater offset. Scrub radius is the distance between the center of the tire contact patch and the point where the steering axis intersects the ground. Excessive scrub radius increases the leverage on the steering and reduces braking stability. It also transmits more of the road imperfections to the driver through the steering wheel (a function of the increased leverage). Great offset also wears bearings prematurely.   

2) get zero-offset front disc brakes and spindles and live with the 20mm that the wheels increase the track width. A look at any real Cal Look car from the day will prove that the tires will fit under the fenders. You will not notice the 10mm that the wheels increases the offset/scrub radius in either the handling or steering.