Tubs for Big Gumballs

Before widening the rear wheel tubs, the new rear frame had to be installed. This required cutting the floorpan.

In preparation for installing the rear frame and enlarging the wheels tubs, a section was cut from each side of the floorpan.

To Accept Massive Rear Tires, It Was Necessary to "Tub" the Rear Wheelwells On the Camaro.

Big power isn’t much good unless you can put it to the ground, and that requires an aggressive tire and wheels package, especially at the rear of the vehicle. In keeping with the intent of retaining the Camaro’s nearly stock appearance, the rear wheelwells required enlargement. In the frame section, it is mentioned that the rear frame added to the Camaro was intentionally narrow to accommodate big tires. The idea was to bring the wheel tubs all the way in against the frame rails.

Rick "Speed" Lefever began by sectioning the stock wheelwells so that a panel could be added to widen each tub. At their widest point, the insert panels are eight inches wide. This creates truly cavernous rear wheel tubs. The inner fenders were welded to the frame rails for extra strength. A new panel was added above the rear axle, and a steel firewall was installed to isolate the truck/fuel cell area. All panels and tubs are fully welded to make them watertight and to prevent any smoke or fumes from entering the passenger compartment.
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Each existing wheel tub was split down the middle so that the inner panel could be moved inboard against the new rear frame.
 1) With the rear frame in place, the inner wheelwell was cut and moved inward against the new frame rail.

Filler panels were than added to make the new wide wheel tubs.
2) New panels were fabricated to fill the gap between the unibody and the relocated inner wheelwell. The panel, which is eight inches across at the widest point, was then fully welded into place to form a watertight and smoketight seal.

A new panel was made to fill the area over the rearend housing, providing more room for the modified 9-inch Ford rearend and torque arm.
3) A new panel was made to fit between the frame rails above the rearend assembly, providing necessary room for rearend and torque arm movement.

Welding all panels to the frame provides a watertight and smoke tight new floorpan and wheel tub assembly.

 

4) Note how all panels and the frame are fully welded to the unibody for maximum strength. This view is looking forward from the trunk. A firewall separating the trunk from the passenger compartment was added later.