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  1. #1
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    Default Draglite sizing for 1989 LX

    Hey guys & gals. I was wondering if any of you know the correct sizing for Weld Draglites on the front of a 1989 Mustang LX. Currently, I have the 15" x 3.5" "Skinny" rims on the front with 155-80-15 B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A's.

    This combination is not ideal for daily driving and the tires don't last long at all. I'm sure this is because these tires were designed for the older Volkswagon Beetles and they're not designed to handle the weight of a V-8 powerplant nor the flexing of the aluminum Draglites, which are not as strong as steel wheels. As a result, the inner & outer edges of the tires are worn through and the inside sidewalls are delaminating from the inner membrane. This is after only 18,000 miles on them!

    I now want to sell these rims and purchase the correct rims and tires. I've tried to install my 15" x 7" Weld Draglites from my Cobra but with the 4.5" backspacing, they would not clear the caliper of the larger 11" brakes that are on the '89.

    So, I need to know which size Draglites I need to order. I would like either a 15" x 7" or a 15" x 8" but I'm not too sure on the backspacing for either. If any of you know what size will work, please chime in. Also, I'll need tire sizing for the rim as well and I don't want any rubbing!

    Thanks,
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member CapriGT's Avatar
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    Ever consider switching it up? You have Draglites on the Cobra and they give it a great old school look, but I think the 89 would look even better with a more modern style wheel. (which one I have no idea)

  3. #3
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    15x8 w/ 5.5" BS on the rear and I have 15x5 with 3.75" or so BS with a 1/8" spacer to clear the caliper - all drives great on the street- 205/65's on the front- rear tires depend on what you have and what you'd like to fit...
    Last edited by zac_f83; 04-25-2012 at 05:24 PM.
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  4. #4
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    Thanks for the help but I'm really not wanting to use a spacer either. If I have to, I will but I'd rather get a 7" or an 8" wide rim with the proper backspacing.

    Ken,

    I've thought about it but I'll stick to the "tried and true" even thought it's boring.
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  5. #5
    FEP Super Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hissing Cobra View Post
    Thanks for the help but I'm really not wanting to use a spacer either. If I have to, I will but I'd rather get a 7" or an 8" wide rim with the proper backspacing.

    Ken,

    I've thought about it but I'll stick to the "tried and true" even thought it's boring.
    Well I have Prostars and I'm not sure they're different from the Draglites but they must be

    I had to use a spacer and a 1/8" is nothing- my rears look the same from the back as the fronts

    so I doubt making the fronts wider is going to get the hub of the wheel away from the caliper
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  6. #6

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    If you have 87-up V8 spindles you can use 93 cobra rotors on the front which is effectively a 3/4" spacer. I recall Paul (mustang4life85) saying he did that to fit 15x7 draglites on the front of his notch. I ran them on my 85 too but in my case it was to match the track width out back for the 93 cobra wheels.
    86 Notch under construction

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  7. #7
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    Ken,

    Are '93 Cobra rotors 4 lug?
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  8. #8
    FEP Power Member CapriGT's Avatar
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    Pete, I realize you were talking to the other Ken, but the answer is yes.

    If you recall I suggested this option Sunday

  9. #9
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    I don't remember that but a lot of times, things go right through me without me retaining anything.

    So, I could order the '93 Cobra front rotors and take the 15x7 Draglites from my Cobra and put them on the '89, correct? That's an option but I'd still have to find new rims and tires for the front of the Cobra as I don't really want the "skinnies" anymore. They're only good for track use and while they look cool on street cars, they're not practical at all.

    Decisions, decisions, decisions.
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  10. #10
    FEP Power Member CapriGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hissing Cobra View Post
    I don't remember that but a lot of times, things go right through me without me retaining anything.

    So, I could order the '93 Cobra front rotors and take the 15x7 Draglites from my Cobra and put them on the '89, correct? That's an option but I'd still have to find new rims and tires for the front of the Cobra as I don't really want the "skinnies" anymore. They're only good for track use and while they look cool on street cars, they're not practical at all.

    Decisions, decisions, decisions.
    Must have been the paint fumes

  11. #11
    FEP Super Member DRAGTOP89's Avatar
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    Pete,I wish I saw this last night. I have 15x6s that I ran on my 92. I can go home after work,take the wheel off(it's on my 84 project car in the garage which ow has my 92 spindles rotors calipers on it)I can give you the part number off the wheel if you'd like?
    putting together a little something special......stay tuned!

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  12. #12

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    The only thing that sucks about the 93 cobra rotors is they are usually quite a bit more expensive than regular 11" rotors. But Will may be onto something. A 15x6 with a 205/65/15 would probably be fine for daily driver especially if they fit with the stock brakes. I ran 205/65 snows on the 86 I had back in the 90's.
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  13. #13
    FEP Super Member DRAGTOP89's Avatar
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    B home in an hour or so,I believe I have a set of 215s on them that I bought off the side of the road a while ago,like new for $20 lol.
    putting together a little something special......stay tuned!

    92 notch-WIP
    87GT-S Trim,4:10s,AOD=12.70@107
    89vert-sold
    84SVO-WIP
    84 notch-aka-FREAKSHOW
    85GT shell-for sale
    78 Zephyr-WIP
    86 Capri RS-WIP

    Finally,the list of fox wants is complete!!!

  14. #14
    FEP Power Member STL79Coupe's Avatar
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    I like the look of the 15x8 5.5 outback with 15x6 up front, but I don't know what backspacing my fronts had. All I had to do was round off my caliber bots to clear my fronts. I lived on a back curvy road and all was fine with those wheels and no front swaybar.
    Keith formerly STLPONDS
    '79 V8 coupe in the works!
    Build thread http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=89153

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member DRAGTOP89's Avatar
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    Pete here are pics of mine



    Here are the only numbers I can find,they are on the front , there are no numbers in the backside


    Hope this helps,hard to measure with a tire on the rim,actually appear to be a 15x7,with a 4.5 backspace. Tires are actually a 205/65/15, hope this helps my friend!
    putting together a little something special......stay tuned!

    92 notch-WIP
    87GT-S Trim,4:10s,AOD=12.70@107
    89vert-sold
    84SVO-WIP
    84 notch-aka-FREAKSHOW
    85GT shell-for sale
    78 Zephyr-WIP
    86 Capri RS-WIP

    Finally,the list of fox wants is complete!!!

  16. #16
    FEP Power Member STL79Coupe's Avatar
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    I think that is a date stamp IIRC.
    Keith formerly STLPONDS
    '79 V8 coupe in the works!
    Build thread http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=89153

  17. #17
    FEP Super Member DRAGTOP89's Avatar
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    It's quite possible. Could not find any other numbers on there,which I thought was strange,figured it would be stamped on the back side. Probably under the tire
    putting together a little something special......stay tuned!

    92 notch-WIP
    87GT-S Trim,4:10s,AOD=12.70@107
    89vert-sold
    84SVO-WIP
    84 notch-aka-FREAKSHOW
    85GT shell-for sale
    78 Zephyr-WIP
    86 Capri RS-WIP

    Finally,the list of fox wants is complete!!!

  18. #18
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    Will,

    Are you sure those are 15" x 6"? If so, do you know the backspacing? I have 15 x 7's with 4.5" backspacing on the front of my Cobra and I tried those on the front of the '89 and they rubbed. I can't remember if it was the caliper bolts that were rubbing or if it was the brackets for the brake pads. All I know is that when I went to spin them, the screeching didn't sound good.
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  19. #19
    FEP Super Member DRAGTOP89's Avatar
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    Pete,I think they are actually 15x7 with a 4.5 spacing. They seem to be very close,but there is no scarring on the backside of the rim. My buddy had these on an 89 LX before he put them on the 92 that I got from him. Only noise they are making is the rubbing of the now rusty rotors going through the caliper area,lol.


    Like I said,hard to measure wheel width with a tire on. I will call my friend who actually bought them in the AM to see if he remembers.
    putting together a little something special......stay tuned!

    92 notch-WIP
    87GT-S Trim,4:10s,AOD=12.70@107
    89vert-sold
    84SVO-WIP
    84 notch-aka-FREAKSHOW
    85GT shell-for sale
    78 Zephyr-WIP
    86 Capri RS-WIP

    Finally,the list of fox wants is complete!!!

  20. #20
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    No problem Will. I think when I get more time, I may try my 15x7's on the front again and see exactly where they're rubbing. Maybe I'll try the Cobra rotors or some spacers, even though I really didn't want to use them. At this point, anything will be better than the skinny's.
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  21. #21
    FEP Power Member CapriGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hissing Cobra View Post
    No problem Will. I think when I get more time, I may try my 15x7's on the front again and see exactly where they're rubbing. Maybe I'll try the Cobra rotors or some spacers, even though I really didn't want to use them. At this point, anything will be better than the skinny's.
    Just steal Dragtop's when he's not looking.

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