Question
Still trying to find out the diameter of a 6.70x15 bias ply tire. Want
to replace with radial ply on my 63 Avanti and keep dia. close. Also what
is the largest I can put on a stock 5in wide rim. I remember in the old
days we could go 2 sizes over recommended without problems. I have been
told from tire people 195R65 15, and 195R75 15 are direct
replacements, can't be both!
Answer:
195 specifies the width of the tire
65 or 65 specifies the height of the tire as a percentage of the width.
Therefor, a 195R65 tire will have a substantial smaller diameter
than a 195R75. Generally, most people use 205R75 to replace 670x15. Some
prefer the 195R75 as a more appropriate replacement mostly due to fender
rubbing at extreme wheel positions (front) on Lark type automobiles. The
reason or the wheel well interference is due to the fact that modern tires
are considerably wider than than the original tires.
I used 205R75 radial tires on my Avanti without any problems .
Question:
How do I remove and reinstall the inner front wheel bearing racing without a special tool?
Answer:
Here's a good tip for driving in those front wheel bearing races- It's
pretty easy to get them in "most" of the way, but to "seat"
them below the surface of the hub is kind-of tough without damaging
the race. Of course, a full set of bearing drivers is the
best, but this works GREAT!
After making sure you have the right parts, Put on your Safety Glasses
and take the old bearing race out and cut an 1/8"
wide slot icompletely through it- it works best to cut it at a slight
angle- I use a die grinder with a cut-off wheel on it- It'd be
hard to do with a hacksaw... File the "rough" edges and remove any
burrs from the piece.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Now take your new "tool" and heat it RED HOT- Let
it cool down naturally- do NOT
throw into a bucket of water! This method will remove the "hardened"
aspect of the bearing, and reduce the chances of a
chip or shard from breaking off and heading for your eyeball!
You can then safely use this to drive the new bearing race the rest
of the way into the hub. It's VERY easy to grab this "tool"
with a pair of pliars...twist, and it'll come right out! Save your
new "Bearing Driver" in the box the new bearings came in- A
piece of masking tape or mailing label and a magic marker, and put
it with your "special" Studebaker tools.
Question:
What wheels will fit my Studebaker Avanti.
Answer:
Original Avanti rims are 15 X 5", not really designed for the wider
tires of today with stiffer sidewalls, low profiles or radial ply
construction.
Mid 70's Chrysler Cordoba rims fit but do not have the same backspacing
as
the Avanti. Mid 80's Chrysler rims from a New Yorker with Disk Brakes
will fit if you
need to CLEAR the Turner Brake System Calipers
The rims outlined below will also clear the Turner system Calipers:
I recommend that you get new Ford 15 X 6 rims. Why buy another set
of used
rims that already have metal fatigue and rust? And if you
get them at a junk
yard, thaey are hard to match and you are never quite sure exactly
what you
are getting--I know, I learned the hard way. A set of 4 new ones
will run you
$120-$150. Go to any wheel and rim shop and they will have them.
Better tire
stores should have them also, or be able to order them. Here is
the
information on these rims copied from my website.(NWRA 40273 is
the
aftermarket name and #, though I suppose there are other brands
also):
"Here is how the Ford 15 X 6 NWRA 40273 rims compare to the Avanti
rims.
Offset from the center line of the rim: Avanti, 7/8"" and Ford 1/2".
Bolt
hole pattern is identical. Ford bolt holes are a little larger,
and you may
want to use the larger Ford nuts (they require a 13/16" socket rather
than a
3/4" socket. Width between bead sealing surfaces:Avanti 4 1/2" (supposedly
5") and Ford 5 7/8" (officially it's a 6" rim). Weight: Avanti rims
weigh
about 16 lbs., the Ford rims about 21 lbs. The advantage of the
greater
weight is that the rim will flex less. But there is a slight disadvantage
that may or may not be noticeable. The extra rim weight increases
the
"unsprung weight" at each spring by 5 lbs., and that will make bumps
slightly
more noticeable when you hit them, though I have to confess that
I have not
noticed a difference."
Your wheel covers will fit just fine on these rims, and the only
way that
others might be able to tell that these are not stock Avanti rims
is that the
205 radials will appear to fit on them better.