I'm completing a restoration on a 67 fastback. I replaced the the upper and lower control arms (stock), ball joints, added 1 inch stabalizer bar, roller spring perches and 620 1 Inch lowering springs. Last weekend I installed the 289 and a T5 trans and the front of the car sat down about an inch away from the tire... I chose some Coys wheels from a mustang vendor (Eleanor wheels) 17x8 in front with 235 45 15 tires. The tires stick out about 1/4 of an inch past the fender on top.
From everything I read and from others posting here, a 8 inch wheel and even a 245 tire shoud fit on these cars. Am I wrong? Should these tires be sticking out so far? I have not had the front end alligned, but did adjust so that the tires sit level now just to see if that helped. Also, I figured the 1 inch lowering spring (and Shelby drop) wouldn't bring the car down that much. Is there a chance I got the wrong springs, or is this how is should sit?
So my I guess my options are trying to fit a smaller tire like a 215, although it looks like the rim stick out about parallel to the lip of the fender. The wheel as a 4 1/2 inch back spacing. Raise the car with different springs or a spacer.
The real question, is if anyone know of maybe a shorter upper control arm?
I'm not sure how I ended up here... thought I had this all figured out

 

If it was me i would throw the original springs(if you still have them) in it to see if i like the height.

 

I have the same size wheel on my 66 with the same suspension that you mentioned other than the shelby drop. I do have it. I am running 235 tires and i had to roll my fender lips. they cleared if only I was in the car, however if i had passengers they would rub.

Make sure get an alignment though.

I also had a bad rubbing issue until I replaced my lower control arms. It has been great ever since.

 

Just putting in my two cents here... but an 8in wide rim in the front is a bit much, you can put a 235 tire on a 6 or 7in no problem without it mushrooming over the lip of the wheel. like billy said, he had some rubbing issues until replacing the lower arms. If those are the wheels you really want you can make it work though

 

Agree, I think 8" up front is too wide a rim as you mention they are past the fender..
With 15X7" 3.75"bs 225/60/15 I had to roll my fender lips. I have 1" drop springs, shelby drop, roller perches and my fender lip sits ~1/2" above the tire tread but that's where I want it.
Jon

 

Question: How did replacing the lower control arms solve your rubbing problems? Any idea why? I was thinking about it, as I have a rub from time to time, but never thought to replace my lower controls arms (which probably could benefit from brand new ones anyway) to help with the rub. Maybe I'm just not thinking about it the right way..??

 

That'd be the max tire, if you have the right wheel. What's the backspace?

The drop plus the lowering spring brings the car down nearly 2". That's a lot on a Mustang front end. You've lost over half the OEM suspension travel.

Mustang Wheel and Tyre Chart

 

Thanks for all the feedback...
I actually added 1" spring spacers made by Global West. They really only raise the car about 3/4 of an inch, but I (IMO) think the car actually looks better now. The tire to wheel opening on top is now about 2 1/4 inches where as it was only about an 1 and 1/2 or less before.

I'm also having the tire shop order 225/45/17 tires. As mentioned the 235 tire tread is about 1/4 of an inch past the inner fender lip. The 225 tire is a little less thatn 1/2 an inch narrower, so I'm hoping it will fit without having to roll the fenders. The car was just painted about a month ago, I don't really want to roll the fenders but I'm sure this would solve the issue with 225 tires.

Finally, now that the spring spacer has been added, I can stand (get one foot) on the driver side strut bracket from inside the engine compartment (hood is still off the car), jump up and down and only get the fender to about 1/2 an inch of the tire. This is with KYB gas shocks and the Global west 620 springs and again the 1" spacer. I'm 235 pounds, so I'm thinking the tire should never really get close to the fend regardless. I'm still going to use the 225 tires.

 

Almost forgot... I think the back spacing on the wheel is 4 1/2.