MGB: What Wheel Works with sebring flares ?

Will 15x7 wheels with 0 off set work with sebring flares? With 235/50 tires.

Definitely maybe.
I have 245/50/17s, but I also have a ford 8" that's a little wide and wheels w/40mm offset. There's a bunch of variables - not just with wheels and axles, but also your flare width, lip or no lip on the flare - are they the same side to side (pretty common that flares don't always end up as symmetrical as you would think)???? FWIW, pick your wheel/tire combo and work backwards to make it fit. Also leave room for sidewall flex or more (depending how firmly your rear is anchored side to side). Mine's got tight clearance, but running a triangulated 4-link.

I looked at your home page and saw a gray gt , I guess that is the car you are talking about. It looks like the front tires stick out a little on the front with you running about 1 1/2 inches of + off set. With 0 off set mine would stick out 1 1/2 inch further.
I don't know if that would look good. I know I can adjust the back but the front is a problem. Thanks for your help.
Will

do a search on this forum, I have it bookmarked somewhere 'coz I used to get asked a lot.

You probably have seen an old photo - everything is within the wheel wells now - offset on the fronts are different than the rears - fronts are 225/50/17s on 17 x 8, (rears are 245/45/17) there are only a handful of parts on the car that haven't been replaced or altered, so take any of my dimensions with a grain of salt if you're using stock pieces. If I recall I think there's about 20mm of front offset - which was helpful on having less scrub radius with the spindles I used - the track width is 54 1/2" - more like a miata than mg in width

here's a link to more build photos - I'm still working on compiling photos - used 2 or 3 cameras and 2 or 3 computers.

t.lay's photobucket mg pics

Brit site on wheels and such

http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/upgrades4mgs/Drivetrain/wheel_rims_alternatives.htm

I have 16x8 with 0 offset and they fit OK
Regards
Tony

Tony ,
Is your front stock?
Thanks everyone , I will take a look at everything and hope my head doesn't explode.
Konig Rewinds look like the minilites and go for 99.00 each but they have 0 off set. I can make them work in the back when I narrow the rear end and some adjustment on the front. I guess I could always sell them if they don't work.
Will

Currently the front is stock with neg camber lower arms. I will be changing to a Moss coil over but that won't alter the track.
Regards
Tony

I have 15 X 7 zero offset konig rewinds with 225 X 60 X 15 tires...you can barely get your little finger between the tire and the rear flare..just the way it should be :-)

Tighter fit between tires and the flares like Mike's looks a lot better than a big gap - at least to my eyes. Pinky width is a good guage. :thumbup:

Tony,
Great the wheels I want to use should work . Do you have the 0 off set wheels on in this picture?
Thanks Will


Looks like it's coming along real well, nice work.

Sweet Mike,
Nice looking GT. Thanks everyone , one more problem worked out. One other question Mike what is the width, mounting point to mounting point on your GT's rear end.
Thanks Will

Will, the rear axle assy is standard mgb (albeit with a clive wheatly 3.07 gearset) not sure exactly what that is...52"??

Thanks Mike,
51.5 inches I think for the bolt on wheels. Great info Mike !
Will

Hi Will,
Thats an old photo with the standard wheels. Don't have any photo's with the new wheels yet.
Regards
Tony

I didn't think that looked right Tony, like what you got going there. What are you powering her with.
Will

It has a 4.2L Rover. Still not running, life took over :-(
BTW, the front would be better with 7" rather than 8" if you are not going to use neg camber lower arms as it's very tight. Your 15x7 should be perfect.
Picture is after painting the empty shell, Old wheels and suspension
Regards
Tony

Another pic

15x8" Minilites with 205/60-15's. About a finger-width between the tire edge and the flare lip. No idea of offset. Never asked.

Simon ,
Looked at you pictures on the sebring fenders and quarters. You did a great job and I got some good pointers. Did you lower your car?
Will

Thanks Will. I did lower it using 550 lb front springs and "reverse-loop" leaf springs in the back. The height came down comparable to a CB car. Don't know if you looked here http://www.britishv8.org/MG/SimonAustin.htm but there's a couple of photos of the leaf springs on there.

I tried the lowering blocks first but wasn't satisfied with the look. I needed new springs anyway and my supplier told me about the R-L springs.

Simon,
Thanks for the extra info, I was wondering about the reverse-loop springs. I missed that you had them, so you used a RB car as I am.
So did you use the 264-395 front springs or the 264-387 ?
I really was looking at your body work on your car and I need to go back and look at the other fine work you did.
You have been a great help Simon as I am building a similar car.
Thanks Will

Always happy to help when I can, Will. I used the 264-387 springs. You can always try them and if not satisfied, swap them for another set.

Cheers
Simon

Simon,
They list rear springs with a 2 inch drop, are those the reversed eye springs cause they don't say.
I'm going with the 264-395 so that will make mine 1/2 inch lower, should be just about right.
If I want any lower I will cut the lower spring perch, add 1/2 inch and weld it back on.
Will

If you do not have the flares installed in the car, then it is best to pick the tires and wheels you want, put them on the car and then fit the flares to the wheels and tires.
May hacve to modify the fares.

The part number I have for the reverse-loop leaf springs is #MGS40721. Here they are on the Moss-Europe site: http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/SearchResults.aspx?SearchText=mgs40721&WebCatalogID=0

They don't show up on Moss-US. Interesting that in the picture they show as a regular-loop spring.

I agree with Bill on fitting wheels first, then the flares. Wheels and ride height is fairly fixed but flares can be adjusted easily enough.

The front fenders are all fiberglass and I don't see how I could adjust much. The rear quarters are all fiberglass and I believe I could make them flex a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. On the rear I will have complete control on the rear because I will be narrowing the rear end , just try the wheels with the stock rear and then work from there. As for the front I am making my own A-Frames (tubular) so I also will have control there too. I will get the stance and the look I want as well as the handling and performance. I want my B to scream street racer and to be as fast as it looks. I want it to look like it belongs on the track.

Hi Will,
My back axle is actually a 3.07 MGC axle from a wire wheel car )converted to studs) so like you I have a narrower axle and used 1" adaptors to get the wheel exactly in the middle.
Regarding the front wings. I fitted the complete fiberglass wings and in hindsight, that was a mistake. I was advised to cut the "flares" out of the wings and bond them onto the steel wings. That's what I should have done as the fiberglass wings fitted terribly and took major surgery to make them fit properly.
Regards
Tony

I know about the fit problem and have been shown a quick fix on the fit. I want all fiberglass for weight. I am making a carbon fiber hood and trunk lid. I also am making a custom carbon fiber dash too, nothing but gauges I need. I am shooting for as much under 2000lb's as I can. Nothing goes on this car that does not make it go faster or handle better.
Will

Tony,

That sounds like a discussion we may have had in the past. Anyone who's asked about the fibreglass front fenders I've suggested cutting the flares off and bonding to steel fenders. Sounds like you ran into similar problems I had during the build.

Since I had the windshield off my car, it got me thinking of replacing the 'glass fenders with steel and doing just that. Maybe sometime down the road.

Sorry to take this off the original topic but here's a photo of the quality of the 'glass fender and how...ahh...well they "fit" the corner by the windshield. You may think these were set up for a GT but I ordered the roadster ones. They've since been filled prior to the windshield going back in.

I'm debating with myself whether I want to spend the 8,000.00 to buy a Ford 302 aluminum block .
I guess I will build it and maybe upgrade to that later. I will see how much the whole thing weighs first.
Will

A Ford 302 cast iron block weighs 127 pounds. How much does the aluminum block weigh? Sounds like a lot of money for a little gain, unless there are other differences between the two block.

Other than 450 ci the over 40 lb savings is nice.

A 302 with 450ci? You did say a "Ford 302 aluminum block," didn't you? When you say over a 40 pound weight difference, what are you comparing to what? If you're comparing blocks, that means the aluminum bock weighs less than 87 pounds. Is that correct?

Still, on a dollar/pound basis, that's pretty steep.

YEP ! That's what they say it's weighs and it is available in up to 450 ci, I would say it's not the same bore and stroke.
I would also say it would make the little B go pretty good. You can google it or I will post links on what I read.
Will

Are you referring to the Dart block? http://www.dartheads.com/products/engine-blocks/ford-blocks/ford-aluminum-blocks.html
Yes, that would indeed make a B go.

Just not sure I'm wanting to spend 10,000 to build a engine. Little over kill !

pictures of my GT with sebring fenders, haven't finished yet, lots of fitting. front 245/45/17, rear 275/40/17. fronts fit nicely plenty of clearance. set the rear end up to yield .625 clearance tire to inside of fenderwell and am in the process of moving the outside of the fenderwell to give same cleareance, plan to go slightly wider with the next set on the rear

Jay,
Beautiful town San Antonio with the river walk and all. Do they still have that needle restaurant left over from the 65 worlds fair? You just go to show that you can fit what tires and wheels you want if you are willing to do the work. Who said building a custom car , hot rod or race car was easy !!! I grew up in Arlington and went to that 68 worlds fair , it was a shame they took down some of those glass buildings they had at the fair, guess they would have been hard to keep cool, no one wanted the big electric bills.
Will

Restaurant.

I may have just changed my mind on the wheels. I love 200s wheels, had them on my first car, a Chevelle .
I just found out ranger hubs fit the MGB and I am using a ford rear with 5 on 4.5 and vented disc.
Only thing is the off set, but like everyone has said get the wheels and adjust.
I can't wait to get started but I have to paint my Bronco first. My wife loves to roll the sides up on the top and go for a ride in the summer and I better have it ready for next summer. And I;m in the middle of painting two choppers, If I started anything before that my wife would grind me up in little pieces. So I guess I will clean out the shop and get ready for next summer, I guess I can plan and find hard to find parts.
Will

Will,

Tell us which Ranger hubs fit an MGB. Inquiring minds want to know.

Wayne

Here is the link to the guy who claims to have them on his car, I have not checked it out yet. Let me know if you ask him about it before I do. I would think it has to be the 94 or earlier.

Ranger Hubs

I tried the Ranger (83-92 two wheel drive hub/rotor)and they work but the rotor is very close to the tie rod end. You can get smaller tie rod ends.You would have to make an adapter bracket for the Ranger caliper. I also tried the S-10 Chevy which also worked but changed the trackwidth about 1" per side. I settled on the early Mustang (64-66) drum hub with Dodge Intrepid rotor and studs.I plan on using 90's 4 Runner 4 pot calipers.Here is a picture on my project car.

Jim,
Thanks for all that info. What year Intrepid were the rotors. Do the four runner calipers line up right , I know they will bolt on with the right bolts.
Thanks Will

Will, Rotors are mid 90's-2001 11.1". The spacing for MGB caliper is 3.25",Toyota 3.5".Offset bracket between the holes,thickness not determined yet.

11.1 " , I think I will play around with the Ranger's .

MGB rotor diameter is 10.75",Ranger 10.5". You would have to run 15" or larger wheels with the Intrepid rotors.