SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1966 Shelby GT350/GT350H => Topic started by: march66 on January 07, 2019, 12:37:51 PM

Title: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: march66 on January 07, 2019, 12:37:51 PM
6s299 has Cragar wheels. It's invoice shows "special alloy wheels" for $214 and rear seats for $40.

When I bought the car, I remember removing a 7.75/15 Goodyear (not a blue dot) from the trunk and buying (5) new 215/60 R15 to learn that the new spare would not fit in the trunk. So, for all these years, I've used a regular 14 inch wheel and tire for a spare. Now, with new tires, trying to put a new blue dot in the trunk and can't do it.

What did they do back in 1965?  Thanks in advance for your replies.  Gary

Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: NC TRACKRAT on January 07, 2019, 01:07:08 PM
In theory, if you removed a 7.75x15 from the trunk once, then you should be able to fit one in again since the Blue Dot is the same size 7.75x15.
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: Sfm6sxxx on January 07, 2019, 01:27:42 PM
Quote from: march66 on January 07, 2019, 12:37:51 PM
6s299 has Cragar wheels. It's invoice shows "special alloy wheels" for $214 and rear seats for $40.

When I bought the car, I remember removing a 7.75/15 Goodyear (not a blue dot) from the trunk and buying (5) new 215/60 R15 to learn that the new spare would not fit in the trunk. So, for all these years, I've used a regular 14 inch wheel and tire for a spare. Now, with new tires, trying to put a new blue dot in the trunk and can't do it.

What did they do back in 1965?  Thanks in advance for your replies.  Gary

It is probably the dot, scrape it off.  Sorry I could not resist.
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: kingchief on January 07, 2019, 04:17:36 PM
A Cragar wheel does fit.  Although mine is not original to the car, it does fit.  This is how I do it from a photo taken from the Concours Mustang site.  Others will comment if this is right or wrong.  I am just trying to be helpful!

Cheers,

Steve
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: 6s1640 on January 07, 2019, 05:51:04 PM
Quote from: kingchief on January 07, 2019, 04:17:36 PM
A Cragar wheel does fit.  Although mine is not original to the car, it does fit.  This is how I do it from a photo taken from the Concours Mustang site.  Others will comment if this is right or wrong.  I am just trying to be helpful!

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve,  I believe the tire in the image is a Blue Streak, 695/14 with a 24.83 inch overall diameter.  The 775/15 Blue Dot has a 26.27 overall diameter.  The difference of 1.44 inches might be enough such that Gary's Blue Dot does not fit.   (The diameter info was taken from Kelsey Tires Website.)  Both section widths are pretty close, but the Blue Dot is .20 inch wider which might be contributing to the difficulty.

Cory
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: J_Speegle on January 09, 2019, 12:13:49 AM
Quote from: 6s1640 on January 07, 2019, 05:51:04 PM
Hi Steve,  I believe the tire in the image is a Blue Streak, 695/14 with a 24.83 inch overall diameter.  ...

Correct but he may only be using the picture to illustrate how he makes his Cragar work ;)
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: Brant on January 10, 2019, 11:46:56 AM
Quote from: march66 on January 07, 2019, 12:37:51 PM
6s299 has Cragar wheels. It's invoice shows "special alloy wheels" for $214 and rear seats for $40.

When I bought the car, I remember removing a 7.75/15 Goodyear (not a blue dot) from the trunk and buying (5) new 215/60 R15 to learn that the new spare would not fit in the trunk. So, for all these years, I've used a regular 14 inch wheel and tire for a spare. Now, with new tires, trying to put a new blue dot in the trunk and can't do it.

What did they do back in 1965?  Thanks in advance for your replies.  Gary

Great question. I can tell you with a reproduction, new (full tread), 775 x 15 Blue Dot with air, it won't fit. Let most of the air out, and it will fit. As Cory states, there is a slight difference in size of the tires.
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: texas swede on January 10, 2019, 12:49:39 PM
Cory,
The overall diameter given for the 7.75/15 Blue Dot by Kelsey is wrong. It should be 27.61"
Texas Swede
Title: Re: Cragar wheel/tire fitment in 66 GT350 trunk
Post by: 6s1640 on January 10, 2019, 01:21:59 PM
Quote from: texas swede on January 10, 2019, 12:49:39 PM
Cory,
The overall diameter given for the 7.75/15 Blue Dot by Kelsey is wrong. It should be 27.61"
Texas Swede

Hi Texas Swede,

Thanks for the updated info.  That diameter is even larger than the Kelsey Tires website.   That now makes the Blue Dot 2.78 inch taller than the Blue Streak.  Yikes, that is big.  Is the Blue Streak diameter correct?

Cory