Thread: 17 x 7 wheels on my lark

I am not a fan of the spokes that curve outward, but for a modern wheel it looks good.

and

So many folks put the taller wheels on older cars but don't lower them like you did. The result is that the car looks like it is on its tip toes or that it's pants are too short and its socks are showing.

You did it just right. The wheels/tires fill the wheel wells with the car lowered.

Perfect stance (IMHO). Beautiful car.

Newish Mustang wheels?

That does look very good! Honestly, I was a little afraid to open this thread , but glad I did. And the Regal trim on the hardtop looks really good, better than a Daytona IMHO (and I've got a '62 Daytona hardtop.......).

What specifically did you do to lower the car?

What Dick said. The proportions are really good. I don't modify cars, but if I did I would start with the profile of your car as a guide.

That is a great stance!

The car looks good with the wheels. Any clearance issues up front?

I think the stance and the wheels look good, though I would personally have not lowered the front quite so much - what you have there is a slight "Dago rake". Of course with four people in the car, it would probably sit about level. I have 17x7 alloys on my 48 Starlite coupe, and we set the ride height at 1 inch below stock, although we will have adjustability both front and rear when it is completed. My wheels are from some kind of Nissan, apparently sold only in Japan. The suspension we are using is pretty wide and requires a lot of wheel offset. I am running 215x50/17 tires.

For fender clearance, I formed a block of wood to fit into the rolled edge of the fender, about 6 inches long, tapered slightly at the ends so it will not have any sharp edges pushing out. Then I jacked out from the frame with a Portapower hydraulic ram, massaged the rolled edge ahead and behind very carefully with a large rubber hammer, released the pressure, took measurements, and repeated until I have the desired 3/4 inch increase, which gives me 1/2 inch minimum clearance. Your car also has a nice rolled edge which would allow this procedure.

I do not like the popular "slammed" look, which always makes me think the springs have collapsed. I think that can only look right if the wheel well openings are raised accordingly. And of course anything lower than what you and I have makes the car impractical for a normal driver.

Unrelated to the wheels, but are you still using the roof rack? JUst wondered why you had the rack on. Regarding the wheels, I recently got an 89 Avanti with lowered front end and 18" wheels with 245/40 tires up front and 245/40's on 20" in the back. The front tires rub the anti-sway bar both directions right and left. I've started checking into some smaller tires up front. An afternoon session at the tire shop experimenting with some 225/40's and 215/50's to see what will give full turning and no interference issues is the next step.

Man, you nailed the stance! And the wheel style looks too sweet. Nicely done!

Sure looks like you will have major tire/fender rub if you hit a bump in a turn, I always advise
people when lowering a car to realize it effects drive ability. Looks great, but it sucks when
pieces of that rubber you paid good money for is flying off the edge of the tire. My Avanti is
lowered by age, any lower and the exhaust would not clear speed bumps.

I went with 17 x 8 on my Avanti back in 2006, and I can say the Board is much more lenient
these days, I recall getting emails from Members of this Forum on how I "ruined" the car with
the wheels. Words like "baby buggy" and some ethnic slurs were dealt. Funny how time has
softened the response. I also designed a modern disc brake setup that fills that wheel if its
something you want to also upgrade (I have one set left). My has Avanti graced the cover
of Avanti Magazine, so I guess I did something right.





Tom

Looks good to me,

Hope your fender rub delima gets solved,

Your car, wheels, and tastes are shared by the majority here but I don't care for the lowered car look on any make older car. I do somewhat appreciate the larger diameter wheels but think a wheel tire combo height should be close to the original tire and wheel combination diameter so the car doesn't look like something from Mattel. 16's with a proper sized tire/stock spring height so as not to cause fitment issues should be more appropriate. I won't modify a car to fit a set of wheels. MHO. Very nice car . cheers jimmijim

I fall into the build it how YOU like it personality. It is YOUR car. If someone would want it different they can throw me a sh** ton of money to buy it and then change it. I got blasted at a car show once for modifying my 1961 Mini Cooper into a Pro Street hot rod with a full cage and Buick V6 (rear drive). After taking the tongue lashing I walked around the show to lick my wounds. I came across the guy who bashed me and my car. Wouldn't you know it, his car was a heavily modified race car restoration. I proceeded to bore the guy a new rectum for "desecrating a historical vehicle" as he was so kind to describe my modifications.

Everyone will have their preferences and opinions. Whether it's politics, religion, Chevy or Ford, restoration for modification. The problem starts, and my hearing ends, when someone tells me their way is the right way and my way is wrong. Sven, your car is bitchin'!! I'd be damn proud to park next to it at a show.

Saw your Lark last summer at Caffeine and Octane. Wheels look great! Hopefully you'll be headed to the meet in July. Didn't see you there this June... Not many studebakers anyways... would love to see some more!

Local meets, gatherings, car shows and the like. Getting these Studebakers out there and seen. That
is really where its at. I finally got my Avanti out of the garage and drove it last night. The NOS throw
out bearing went the way of the ghost. Do what you like, enjoy the hobby, lets not beat each other
down over something as trivial as wheel choice. Well ... unless they are these :



Tom

Thank goodness my daughter didn't like those wheels. She'd have been grounded till her taste changed!

Awesome car! Stock or modified - you'd certainly be welcomed at any of our chapter meetings. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your car.
https://www.studebakerclubs.com/NorthGeorgia/ or https://georgiastudebaker.weebly.com/

Sven,
Your Lark looks so goood. As I have discovered the purists on this site express their disapproval often, However most of them have radial tires and different subtle changes that aren't readily noticeable. Do your car the way you want, you have to drive it not the purists! Here's a couple of thorns, My Champ P/U which has an R-1, Volare torsion bar suspension, 5 speed, american racing rims and a friends 37 coupe. It has a 327 Chevy, mustang front suspension and a 9 inch ford rear, We drive our cars, and we drive them long distances in comfort with arguably a lot lot better safety than stock ones. Don't get me wrong, I love stock ones as well, I just don't like driving them for long distances!

Originally Posted by 007

That looks awesome. Do you have Turner brakes on the front? I want to put 17 X 7 on my Lark wagon but so far I have not found a wheel that clears the front discs. I want to keep the same size on the front and the back, are your tires/wheels the same? I just read further into the messages and found that The wheels are Ridler retro thrusts with zero offset. Thats about 4" backset. 205/50-17. I always assumed that offset and backspace where the same measurement. Can you share with the forum the cost of the Ridlers and tires?
Regards,
Mark

A little primer on offset vs back spacing. https://tires.tirerack.com/tires/Whee...%20Backspacing

My Avanti has 2000 (1999 to 2004 are the same) Mustang Bullitt 17X8 wheels on the front. Similiar to a Lark. They clear the Turner brake setup but need an 1/8" spacer to give full lock to lock clearance. Later than 2004 wheels have to much back spacing. I'm not sure why you would have a brake clearance problem with 17" when the OEM 15" clear.

Bob