Rearend swap just to fit wheels?

[2.0 Cabby]

I have a set of Dayton 100 spoke reverse knockoff wire wheels on my '73 Electra 225. I've had these wheels a long time now, about 6 years, and I spent almost $4000 for the set without tires:dollar: . About two months ago they were removed from the box and had tires on them and installed on any car for the first time since I've owned them. They are 15x8 reverse (high offset). With the rear skirts off, the tire nearly touches the fender, about 1/8" from touching, tires are 195/60/15. With the skirts on, they touch on slight bumps, I drive without skirts right now. I plan on severly lowering the car on Slam Specialties re-8 air bags, I mean I want it so low that the ants duck when drive. However the rear wheels won't allow me to lower the car and I refuse to pull the fenders and I'm on a budget, I can buy a cheap set of wheels with less offset, but the daytons are simply beautiful, and it would be a waste to just have them sit around in a storage shed. Is there a rearend comparable to the electra's rear, but about three inches shorter that will be a direct swap? Any other ideas?

[David G]

Sounds like quite a predicament you have there. I don't know of any members here that have actually slammed one of their Buicks, but you never know, we do have a group with pretty diverse interests. Maybe someone can give you some tips, good luck.

[12lives]

You can get your rear narrowed to any size you want. Check with any speed shop that does rear end work.

- Bill

[2.0 Cabby]

Speed shops in the Jersey and New York area want about $400 just to cut align and weld the housing, then if I take just an inch of each sides I can just cut my axles and use C-Clip Eliminators which run an additional $300, plus $150 for necessary machining to use the eliminators. So I am already up to about $850 with my factory pumpkin and only 2 inches narrower. If I wanted to get any narrower I would have to buy shorter axles and the price goes up to over a thosand dollars, all with me removing and reinstalling the rearend. I could buy the alignment rod and puck setup for about $250, and do the work my self, but then I still have to buy the eliminators. I was wondering which rearend was shorter with the same gearing in hopes I could find one at a junk yard. Or I should probably just buy a new set of cheaper wheels with less offset for around $500. Does anyone know if the rearend on an Electra 225 is a limited slip and what the gear ratio is?

[12lives]

Wow - that is rich! Contact MONZAZ (this board) and see if he can tell you what might fit. I'm thinking an earlier year might be smaller, but I'm no expert. In 90% of the time a tag will be on the cover bolt to indicate a posi or you can spin the wheels with the car in the air. If they both turn in the same direction its a posi. If one turns opposite its not. Also, you can count the turns of the drive shaft and the wheels and get a close estimate on the ratio. The manual should have a list of the available ratios. Hope that helps.

- Bill