Right tire hitting the fender in the front

Dear Eugen,

             I had this problem on both of mine after I increased the positive caster to +4.5 and +5 degrees... without the spacers and 245 and 255 tires.  I didn't want to change the suspension set up so I visited an expert body man and friend, who gently and discretely tweaked that area of the fender where the tire kisses the metal. 

             How much positive caster do you have?

            Other than that option, you can:

--go to narrower tires and/or lower profile tires, but the aesthetics wouldn't look right

--reduce the positive caster a bit

-- if the fender lips are only a little rolled, then more might be better

                Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

The first thing I’d do would be to have your front fenders rolled properly and completely.

Also, your front tires are too tall. Try a 205/60. A 215/60 or a 225/50 would probably work too.

Yes, it is the increased caster causing it. Apparently the original chassis jig was off or there is a significant difference in the sheet metal between the right and left front fenders.

My car did the same thing. I had to limit the castor to the stock maximum. The interference showed after swapping in 8" Campi's and 225-50-15 P7 Pirelli's.

You actually need to "stretch" the right front fender out.

Everything will go but what has happened is you have "modified" the car from it's original configuration.

Earlier cars could use more caster because they used the skinnier front tires and 7" rims.

The Ford engineers making these decisions for Detomaso weren't stupid but they never did divulge any secrets. Don't forget Ford was paying to warranty the car, not Detomaso.

...You should have gone with 50 Series Tires, you wouldn't have this problem. 60 series are too tall, I rarely hear of anyone still using them.

I went with  205/50-15 on 8 inch rims, No problems. When I put on new tires, 205's are no longer available, went with 215/50-15. The lower tires make for a beautiful (slight) nose-down attitude, and the shocks are adjustable to where I want it. And, as a bonus...Smaller Diameter tires Increase the 'Brake Torque'!

MJ

P.S. do yourself a favor and get rid of the Shock Spacers, and have your front end re-aligned.

Would removing the shock spacers (if installed) lower the nose slightly, and perhaps help with this issue?

That could be a no-cost (except your own labor) improvement!

Rocky

...Taking the Spacers OUT, might make the problem worse! I would take them out, finish rolling the Fender Lip, and work from there. Go to 50 series on 8 Inch rims. 'Stretching' the tire out Wider on 8 Inches, may 'Cause' the needed clearance. Just My Opinion.

MJ

Thank you all for your quick replys! Wow, valuable information! I bought the Pantera recently in this configuration and have never driven it - I am now fixing all things necessary to get it street legal here in Austria. Tires hitting the fenders are a no-go for sure :-)

Thanks, best wishes.........Eugen

I could go with AVON 215/60 -R15 tires. I could not find any /50 historic tires. The change would lower the car 0,6 cm  /1/4 inch). Maybe that helps and is enough, very pricey though. Or with 225/50 VR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO P7 that lowers the Pantera almost an inch!

...Historic Tires?? Do You insist on staying with the 60 Series? Just going to 50 Series will give you (at Least), 1/2" More Clearance On the Radius! Go with the 50's! Yes! They Are Expensive...Welcome to the Pride in Pantera Ownership! What about the 8 Inch Wheels??

MJ

What tires do you have on the rear? I assume the rear wheels are the OEM 15” x 8”?

50 series lo0ks goofy , on a stock pantera 215/60 will fitt the best on 7" front.

225/60 on 8"rubbs the fender , needs little steel work and paint , but looks better .

just my 2 c ,

Simon

Simon,

If it were me, and I was determined to use a 60 series tire, considering the fender interference problem, I'd use a 205/60-15 (24.7" tall). You gain nearly 1/2" of clearance, which should eliminate the problem. With a 215/60-15, you gain less than 1/4" of clearance, which might not be enough to solve Eugen's rubbing problem.   

@davidnunn posted:

What tires do you have on the rear? I assume the rear wheels are the OEM 15” x 8”?

I got 295/50 tires on 15x8 inch in the rear

@marlinjack posted:

...Historic Tires?? Do You insist on staying with the 60 Series? Just going to 50 Series will give you (at Least), 1/2" More Clearance On the Radius! Go with the 50's! Yes! They Are Expensive...Welcome to the Pride in Pantera Ownership! What about the 8 Inch Wheels??

MJ

I just like the thread pattern of the Avon CR6ZZ tires I have in the rear. :-)
And yes, I know, it is expensive to own and maintain a Pantera. I just don't want to order new tires that won't fix my problem or don't look good anymore.

@davidnunn posted:

Simon,

If it were me, and I was determined to use a 60 series tire, considering the fender interference problem, I'd use a 205/60-15 (24.7" tall). You gain nearly 1/2" of clearance, which should eliminate the problem. With a 215/60-15, you gain less than 1/4" of clearance, which might not be enough to solve Eugen's rubbing problem.   

David, most of the time I use Avon CR6ZZ tires too .

1/4 "clearance is ok with 215/60 , when braking and cornering the suspension will be going a little backwards. Looking on the picture , it looks like the fender lip has some curves , maybe the fender was pushed backwards /upstairs .

Eugene , did you replace the A-arm rubbers already ?

295 on 8" is  not good , better go to 245/60 or 275/50 ( Avon Reference) and if you like to go rear wider use 20mm or 1" bolt on spacers , easy to get into USA, M12x1.5 bolts /5x114.3 mm ( same as Ford Mustang , bolt tread as Lexus)

in front 225/60 on 7+8"will only will fit when the fender lips are reworked and painted.

just my experience.

Simon

@simon posted:

David, most of the time I use Avon CR6ZZ tires too .

1/4 "clearance is ok with 215/60 , when braking and cornering the suspension will be going a little backwards. Looking on the picture , it looks like the fender lip has some curves , maybe the fender was pushed backwards /upstairs .

Eugene , did you replace the A-arm rubbers already ?

295 on 8" is  not good , better go to 245/60 or 275/50 ( Avon Reference) and if you like to go rear wider use 20mm or 1" bolt on spacers , easy to get into USA, M12x1.5 bolts /5x114.3 mm ( same as Ford Mustang , bolt tread as Lexus)

in front 225/60 on 7+8"will only will fit when the fender lips are reworked and painted.

just my experience.

Simon

Simon,
thanks, and no, the A-arm rubbers are old and need replacement, I ordered the bushings already. Do you see a connection to the tire rubbing with the bushings?
The front fender lip is not rolled in beautifully, that is true, I will correct that too.

And thanks for the info about the spacers & rear dimensions!

Eugen

@marlinjack posted:

...You should have gone with 50 Series Tires, you wouldn't have this problem. 60 series are too tall, I rarely hear of anyone still using them.

I went with  205/50-15 on 8 inch rims, No problems. When I put on new tires, 205's are no longer available, went with 215/50-15. The lower tires make for a beautiful (slight) nose-down attitude, and the shocks are adjustable to where I want it. And, as a bonus...Smaller Diameter tires Increase the 'Brake Torque'!

MJ

P.S. do yourself a favor and get rid of the Shock Spacers, and have your front end re-aligned.

I don't understand "as a bonus". With smaller tires, it takes more torque and therefore press harder on the pedal to have the same force between the tire and the road and it's this force that brakes the car, not the torque.

Eugen , almost every classic car (Pantera) which  came from the USA needs a replacement of all the 16 A arm bushings and all 8 ball joints , that is the first to do . Sometimes the bushes looks ok , but after dismantling the A arms you notice they are gone or sloppy.

After the bushings are replaced you have a good start for adjust the suspension to the right dimensions.

The spacers , you can buy them whit a big center hole, or whit 60 mm center hole must be machined to 62 mm to fit the center wheelhub from the Pantera ( my favorite)

Dont want to push you to do what I always do , but it's my experience.

Simon

Agree on delete the shock spacers , stock shocks are good  on a stock car .when they are rebuild. Most  of the time on a stock Pantera I mount rebuild stock Koni's .

Not the into the USA rebuild Koni's, into the past they use the wrong  rubbers material  inside , and shocks goes frozen.

But hé its your car , do what you want and what you like.

Simon