Old Picture

[383MERC]

I was looking through some old pictures the other day and found this. It was taken about 24 years ago when I was first putting the old girl together. WOW, what a flashback! HAHA Mark

[caseville cyclone]

Boy Mark I can imagine how excited you were when you brought it home!!! Your car has transformed into a beautiful drag car,that not only looks good but runs good also. Keep up the good work and keep posting,I need all the incentive I can get. Andy

[383MERC]

This picture was taken on the first day I took the Comet to the drag strip. Completely stock 351 Windsor. She ran 14.26 on her first pass. Only got better from there. A 10.48 @ 127 mph is her best so far. Once we get these tires under her, i'll be able to add some additional horsepower. Can't wait!

[Rarerat]

Great old Picture. Just curious what size wheel & tire you can tuck under a stock 63 rear end with out issues? That looks like a factory 14x6 granada wheel??

[SASSY]

. Just curious what size wheel & tire you can tuck under a stock 63 rear end with out issues?

I'm guessing an E78-14
Maybe a 15x7 depending on wheel offset. The wheel well is a decent size but the rear ends are wide.

[Tbart]

Good eye Rarerat. I have that type of wheel on my 64 Cyclone. I got them from a junked 77 Cougar XR7. They are 14 x 7 with a 4,25" backspace. Backspace is the key factor if you want a wide tire. I use 245-60 14s on my Comet and I like those kind of stock looking Cougar wheel. They have a little Merc center cap. These wheels were on Granadas, Monarchs, Mavericks, Comets etc in the late 70s. Most were 14x6. Some, on larger cars like the XR7 were 14x7. Whatever kind of wheels you get, back space is critical for good fit with big tires on a Comet. 14" Tires are hard to get these days. IMO the best fit and biggest tire will be a 15 x 7" wheel with 4.5" backspace and a 245-60 15 tire.

[Tbart]

Pretty good place to start 383. What was in the crate to the left of the car?

[383MERC]

At that time, i installed a 8" rear out of a Maverick. The wheels were stock 14x6 road/magnum wheels with a 4 1/4" backspace if i remember correctly. The tires were 235 60 14". Oh, the big box looks to be a washing machine. There used to be an appliance dealer next door.

[Rarerat]

Good eye Rarerat. I have that type of wheel on my 64 Cyclone. I got them from a junked 77 Cougar XR7. They are 14 x 7 with a 4,25" backspace. Backspace is the key factor if you want a wide tire. I use 245-60 14s on my Comet and I like those kind of stock looking Cougar wheel. They have a little Merc center cap. These wheels were on Granadas, Monarchs, Mavericks, Comets etc in the late 70s. Most were 14x6. Some, on larger cars like the XR7 were 14x7. Whatever kind of wheels you get, back space is critical for good fit with big tires on a Comet. 14" Tires are hard to get these days. IMO the best fit and biggest tire will be a 15 x 7" wheel with 4.5" backspace and a 245-60 15 tire.

Thank you I have the 14x7' Cougar wheels on my 66 Mustang with 245x60's on the rear and 205 60's in the front. I have a set of the 14x6 wheels here and I mounted a spare 235x 60 on it and wouldnt even come close to squeezing under the rear end of the Comet. I stuck an old 205x60 on one of the 6" wheels and it earlier this year, it clears but the tire is too small to look good.



I even mounted an old 70 series tire I had on one of the wheels and it wouldn't clear either. I forget the back spacing of those wheels but was curious what you all run as I would eventually like to run a set or torque thrusts on the car.

[383MERC]

Pretty sure i had to roll the lip on the fenderwell.

[Rarerat]

Pretty sure i had to roll the lip on the fenderwell.

That makes sense, thank you

[Lip Ripper]

This makes me miss my 62. I used rear steel wheels from a 62 Ranch Wagon. I was able to get 26 9.50 slicks in the well's with the wagon wheels.

[Tbart]

There is nothing worse than spending a fortune on your dream wheel and finding out they don't fit. Mustangs are easier to fit than a Comet or Falcon. Comets have a small wheel house not made for wide tires. Period. The lip will have to be carefully folded in slightly. The big rubbing actually occurs when the rear squats down during hard acceleration. The tires will rub in the upper wheel house. I use air shocks on my 64 with about 25-30lbs in them. This seems to work with 245/60/14s with 7" wheels that have 4.25" backspace. I'm not sure how a 63 differs. I'm happy but I wish I had a set of tq thrust wheels. I would have to lose some tire though. They [American] don't make them with 4.5 backspace. Other brands might but I don't know. This is an area that needs careful
study. Weld and Centerline both make good wheels in 15 x 7 with 4.5 BS. I would buy Weld Pro Stars if I were in the market. 15 x 6 or narrower for the front. You should be able to use a 235 or 245 60 15 with the right BS.Try fitting the rear wheels from your Mustang on the Comet for a test.

[SASSY]

IMO
Buy the wheels that turn your crank, press your buttons etc and do what it takes to make them fit.
Fred

[Comechero65]

I run 205/70R14's on a 14 x 6 Kelsey Hayes Magstar wheel. They fit the 65 Ranchero with no problem except the rears won't go on or off without lifting by the body and letting the rearend drop all the way till the shock stops them. I considered 215/70R14's but they could be a problem.
Ron