[leldai73]

Just got a 1972 Vega, the plan is to back half the car, 4-link, coil overs, huge tires the whole deal and make a fairly serious race car. I'm thinking for the wheels and tires to look right, and to fit at all, the wheel openings need to be enlarged, not just the tubs but the openings in the fender. If I enlarge them evenly in the front and the back its going to, IMHO, make the car look shorter and kinda goofy. so since I'm back halfing it any way, and I can put the rear end where ever I want it (I assume) I want to just stretch the opening further to the back and move the rear end back so the tires are centered in the openings. so my question is, for a drag car, are there any pros or cons to moving the rear wheels back? thanks in advance for any insight.

[timothale]

what are the rules where you want to race. In the olden days changing the wheelbase moved you into a different class. Race cars were too expensive for me. My son and I work in our 5 k sq ft shop and do rat rods, antique restorations. street rods and have 10 years of projects lined up.

[NEW INTERIORS]

You shouldn't have any problem's.I think it will handle a little better.You will also have to make your drive shaft a little longer.I don't think you are moving it enough that the race track will say anything.Check with you race track.Our track has never put a tape measure on a car.

[Vortech 4.3]

i don't think you should move it. it would look better the stock wheel base.

http://www.v8monza.com/album/vega-71.htm

[speedydeedy]

I don't think it would look funny opening the wheel well evenly but if you want to lengthen it there would be no problem if you are running ET bracket .Only in stock classes would it be a problem.Just my opinion but I think it would look funnier longer than keeping the same wheel base.With the right suspension it should have little to no effect on traction either way.

[curtis73]

Moving the axle backwards will negatively affect traction. There will be less weight transfer onto the rear. If traction isn't a problem (but it always is) then move it back. Many old-school racers used to move the axle forward to get more weight on it.

If you're really serious about racing it, then the looks will have to take a back seat to functionality.

[BillyShope]

My immediate reaction was the same as curtis73, but then I realized that, when the Ramchargers were moving the axle forward back in the sixties, drag slicks had miserable traction compared to those available today. When I consider the more common problem today of excessive wheelstands, I'm inclined to encourage you to move the axle assembly back.

http://home.earthlink.net/~whshope