Fat or skinny Poll!

[alan]

Just curious! I have a project waiting in the wings, and I know the look I like, just wondering what others think.

[Bobb Makley]

:bglasses:
Alan
I like the big tires that fill up the wheel wells and have the stock inners ( no tubs). I have my car setup to take a 13.5 X 30 et street its tight but it will go. This winter I have dropped the car a little so they might not fit any more but I still have the 10.5 30 slick in there for racing. I may try a little narrower wheel to fit those et streets in but it's hard telling if it will go. The big problem with et streets they have a lot of cross section. I like to race the street tire races here in Mi. so i need a set of street tires. I may just have to go to a little narrower tire.

[GS Kubisch]

FIRST AND FOREMOST!
A Racecar should sit low,small tire cars even better,Parachute on said car 'cause it goes that fast,real cool.Add wheelie bars to save over-priced NOS bumper,we understand....

[Kerry s.]

Hi Guys,

Bobb......You have 13.5X30 Mickey ET Streets under stock unmodified wheels wells?? I have the 12.5X30 ET's and they almost touch (MAYBE 1/4" from touching the lower corner of the rocker panels at rest). I want to use them but do not want to modify and do any body work for extra clearance there. What's your secret???? Also I have the Centerline Auto Drags 15X10 with 4 7/8" backspacing. What rims and sizes are working for you?

Thanks in advance!!!:)

[alan]

Regardless of how fast you can go with "skinny" tires, I've always liked the way a well done tubbed car looks. Not too many people choosing the "steamroller" look! (zero so far!) :D I wouldn't reccommend cutting up a GS (mine is a skylark) but my next project will be one that got rear-ended by a truck! :eek2: Since the entire rear half needs replacing anyway, I won't feel so bad about it. And it will be eaiser to hook with the larger tires!

[Bobb Makley]

Kerry
I run a set of 15x10 conv pro's with 4.5 back spacing the houseing is a little narrower than stock that's why the 4.5 back spacing. I did a little tapping on the lower section of the wheel tubs so they did not rub and just a little on the frame in front of the axle but just in the high spot of the frame ;) . I'm not saying they didn't rub going around the corner a little but not enough to cut up the tires at all. I'm here to say it was a tight fit but it did go but I haven't tried it since the drop of the rear end. before they came to about half way down the side wall obove the rim. So the car sat over the tires but I droped it an inch or so and that might scew me up.

[RACEBUICKS]

I like a narrowed car once in awhile but most of them arenot done well I prefer a 10 inch tire look with Bad.Attitude.

[Michael Evans]

I would never cut up a 30-year-old GS or Skylark. Trimming is a different story.

[jimmy]

:stmad:

Tub it Slam it and Cram it full of Buick power.

Personally I like mine with fat tires and frame rails so low that you can't roll a drink can under them!!!!!!

Of course if I don't get my car done the frame rails will rust due to sitting on a wet floor.

The first step to getting the race car done should be not to get married and have kids.

Later, Jimmy

[alan]

First item on the list, checked off! :TU:

[Darryl Roederer]

...'Tub the HELL outa that puppy, Alan:laugh:

[alan]

:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

[RACEBUICKS]

I like em in the stock appearing stance less some cool wheels !! :laugh:

[Adam Whitman]

Widened stock-type wheels. The faster and stocker-looking the car, the better. Sleepers all the way... Though a 241+ duration cam and 3"+ exhaust kinda give it away...

[alan]

Wow, time flys when you are having fun! My "next project" got pushed to the back burner and my "new" next project will be a non-tubbed sleeper. I guess if I alternate tubbed, non-tubbed ect I'll keep everybody confused! (me included!)

[Greg Gessler]

Stock, All Stock!:Brow:

[heffs72]

Make it look like Gary Kubisch's car, but with a stock gs hood(no scoop).:beer

[Guy Parquette]

Both tubbed & low and nontubbed....veriety is the spice of life! In a perfect world, tubbed for clone cars and not tubbed with any combo for real GS's... my two cents
Guy

[Gr8ScatFan]

STEEEEEEEEMROOOOOOOOLEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRS!!!!!!! Man does that ever look good with 15+ inches of sidewall tread underneath the rear end of the car. Ever since I went to my first car show here and saw the Pro-Street cars I have dreamed of having one just like them. But hey, thats whats in the works, a Pro Street Regal.

[GBUICK]

I like 'em pure stock, stock appearing(F.A.S.T. style) and un-cut with aftermarket wheels. Also the cut just a bit "ALL IN GOOD TASTE" look, Kubisch style! Just as long as it runs harder than it looks like it should, I like it!

[alan]

Looks like steam rollers are in a close race for 2nd!


Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) 35.11%
Mostly stock (aftermarket rims/tires) 20.21%
Cut it up! (steam rollers!) 19.15%
Cut it a little (Mini tubs, larger tires/rims) 13.83%
Stock (with stock rims/tires) 11.70%

[alan]

Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) is still way out in front, but Cut it up! (steam rollers!) has taken second place! (just don't be cuttin' up any nice original GS's!!!) :error: :laugh:




Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) 33.33%
Cut it up! (steam rollers!) 20.72%
Mostly stock (aftermarket rims/tires) 18.92%
Cut it a little (Mini tubs, larger tires/rims) 15.32%
Stock (with stock rims/tires) 11.71%

[mechacode]

If the car was already killed and needs a new back half, and has the power to back up the steamroller look, go for it.

[BirdDog]

Need to add: All of the above. I like em all, every car has it's own personality.

[Buicks4Speed]

10" tire ALL the WAY! whether its cut or not.
It puts more of a challange and skill to the game. Plus you'll never line up the fence line with people like you do with a wheels up small tire car action. When was the last time you seen a big attendance of spectators at a bracket race? ( Just pickin' at the bracket racers :Brow: ) Maybe every once in a while but nothing like you get with good "Heads-Up" action. I've been paid to show up and qualify along with some of the guys I race with. Its made me partial but its also made me give it alot more respect for the time, money ,and effort it takes to make a fast small tire car.


Small tires get my vote and respect! :TU:

[alan]

It puts more of a challange and skill to the game.

Just what I need, something else to cause me to pull my hair out! :Dou: :laugh:

[Buicks4Speed]

Just what I need, something else to cause me to pull my hair out!

Well, if you stop pulling on your hair and get to workin' on that car.............:laugh:

I know what you mean, but I got it figured out now. I just have to get back to get it straightened out. THe end result? I'll either break it or go really FAST! I'm getting it set up to use a 400-700 hp shot of Nitrous. Sounds like fun.......:blast:

[loc8tr]

my $.02
I like a small tire car...........whats more impressive at the track? A tubbed pro streeter with 3/4 of the engine sticking outta the hood running 11s, or a stock appearing 10" tire car with a 'chute, hangin the frt wheels, runnin 9s?
I like'em both but if your gonna show your muscle you better have the Muscle to back it up..................GO SLEEPERS!!!!!!!

[mygs462]

If it already needs cut why not go for it. cut it, stuff it with huge meats and a twin turbo bulldog big block.. and have fun :3gears:

[StreetStrip]

That is so hard. I like the NASCAR look with the same size tires all around.
Tame stock looking rims with mean tires.

But if your going to do real drag racing. You got to slap on some monster meats.

[alan]

Un cut is holding it's own, but Mostly stock has moved up to second. Stock is still last but is gaining ground!



Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) 34.76%
Mostly stock (aftermarket rims/tires) 20.00%
Cut it up! (steam rollers!) 16.19%
Cut it a little (Mini tubs, larger tires/rims) 14.76%
Stock (with stock rims/tires) 14.29%

[GSX-Rated]

I tend to agree w/Greg, I like the stock look, but here is my advice...Build the car you want to build, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, as long as you like it & you think it looks cool, then everybody wins!!!

Just don't put oversize 20 inch chrome rims on it that look out of place. :laugh:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250211738514&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

[Stage2Scott]

Kerry-I have 15x10 weld pro stars with 315-60-15 bfg drag radials under my 72. 5 1/8 back space, outer lip is rolled up on the horizontal section, no rubbing. about 12 inches of tread on the ground and 30.5 tall. although its a ford 9 inch, it is standard width.

[Tom Rix]

I prefer 9" tires, Stocker style!

Tom

[alan]

Wow! It took 2 1/2 years, but stock came up from last place to take third! Un cut is still way out front with mostly stock in second.



Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) 34.60%
Mostly stock (aftermarket rims/tires) 20.25%
Stock (with stock rims/tires) 16.03%
Cut it up! (steam rollers!) 14.77%
Cut it a little (Mini tubs, larger tires/rims) 14.35%

[carmantx]

How did your project turn out?

[alan]

How did your project turn out?

I haven't started on it yet, but I have started 3 others! :Dou: :error:

[mrgransport]

I run 295-65/15 BFG Drag Radials on Centerline 15 x 10 in the rear under stock wheelwells and 15 x 5" Centerlines in the front with front runners. Car sits low and mean. Love the look of a lot of tire under the rear of a car. Not big on the huge rim craze. Too much bling for me.

[alan]

I run 295-65/15 BFG Drag Radials on Centerline 15 x 10 in the rear under stock wheelwells and 15 x 5" Centerlines in the front with front runners. Car sits low and mean. Love the look of a lot of tire under the rear of a car. Not big on the huge rim craze. Too much bling for me.

Yep. Too much rim and too-short sidewalls don't do it for me, either.

[Hector]

I've been looking at this old thread for a while now and just selected the use of minitubs on the poll.I saw the pro street movement come and hang for a while.When the pro streets came I was turned off by the paint jobs,I didn't like them then and they look very dated to me today.Outside of that,I love a mean stance with big meats out back and too much engine up front.I would save the full tubs for an all out racer.I can see many who would like to stay down the stock road but someone has to modify some Buicks,I say go as wild with it as you want:Brow: .

[Running]

We see a bunch of really fat and seamingly stock framed street / strip cars up here. The wider the tire with the most stock appearing frame wins... Take Bobb M's car, the first time I brought one our local car guys over to see his ride the first and last thing he noticed were the tires. Cuz everyone has a Procharger on their Buick and why would you notice that.. lol.
:TU:

[d7cook]

Fat!

[Justa350]

Just found this old thread! I like 'em anything but plain stock. Muscle just needs some steaks to go along with it! Doesn't have to be tubbed (my first choice) but stock skinny rear tires look wimpy.

I liked Hector's statement about the paint jobs of old pro street. Lame. It's like the rice movement but with V8's. All bling no zing.

I like a classy looking car, like a mild restomod with tasteful paint, factory trim and emblems, but tubbed. Sorta like, if Buick offered "back halved" on the dealer options.

Someday I'll get it there!

[bean]

For me the steamroller look is where it's at, but for the realistic street car I would have to go for filling the stock wheel wellls just as tight as you can (with a lillte trimming of course).

[stage2man]

Big and Fat out back! Stage2 overflow out the hood!:Brow:

[stage2man]

http://www.v8buick.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=117693&d=1215816499

[Nothingface5384]

i like the 325 50 15s in the back with 10s with eithe ra 245/ or 235/60 up front on a 7

[alan]

Un cut (larger tires/rims, lowered) 35.31%
Mostly stock (aftermarket rims/tires) 19.93%
Stock (with stock rims/tires) 15.73%
Cut it up! (steam rollers!) 15.03%
Cut it a little (Mini tubs, larger tires/rims) 13.99%

[Bobb Makley]

I'm kinda partial to this look myself. Stock frame location minor work added 1 inch to stock inner wheel wells can't even tell unless you really look. 315-60r 15 MT drag radial

[Buicks4Speed]

I'm kinda partial to this look myself. Stock frame location minor work added 1 inch to stock inner wheel wells can't even tell unless you really look. 315-60r 15 MT drag radial

I'm with Bobb, diggin' this type of look.....:kodak:

[cowboydan]

i like the mini tubs. i like 12" wheels with 285 50 17 but they have to be tucked up under the car i'm a big fan of bfg drag radials, but they can not stick outside the body and if the car should sit 3" lower... i'd love the look.

[alan]

The car I've wanted to do for the longest time, a '67 Wildcat, will probably get mini tubs. An A-body rear frame is about 4" narrower (2" per side), and I'll be able to use the A-body parts I have. I'm thinking of doing the same thing in the front to get rid of the rear steer mid sump "problem".

[Jerry Derise]

I may be fat,old,and out of touch.. BUT the crap they are doing to muscle cars latley is a discrace!!!! I saw a post ,it was a guy with a 65/66 GS lamenting that no one woud bid his price... it had some goofy ass 18" foose lookin wheels a on a stock car..... maybe its me but hack up the 'larks and the malibus and the cutties but leave the "real " muscle cars alone... they are just too nice and too valuable the way they are... I run my GS on 10" drag radials and 3.5" skinnies at the track,but Buick wheels go back on for the cruise nights Hell foose was in diapers when rich kennedy was winning b/stock automatic with a 65 GS in Pamona.....

[N360LL]

I got to thinking about this question on my drive to work today if I were to do a street car with a lot of all around performance and a subtle look. I'm thinking pro touring that is Power Tour capable and willing. IIRC, there was an article years ago in the GSCA about a guy who had a Skylark set up to run SCCA Pro Solo or an amateur class. Another reference would be the somewhat famous Gotleib Camaro that did so many open road races in years past.

I know it takes a lot of money to make a dream into reality; however, I'm spending your money and not mine. Make it light weight, powerful and purposeful.

[68riviera430]

dang...read the title and i thought it was about women...:grin:
personally i like steam roller the rear end should look like the differential being eaten by rubber...in my opinion at least

[bigJayDee]

Tubb it, I love the look of the old cars with fat tires under the rear