Cobra R wheels / 93 MVIII Front Spindle Mod?

[Old Poop]

I have an opportunity to buy a set of 17x9 chrome Cobra R's with Nitto Radial Slicks (2/3 tread left) for $750.00 The person that wants to sell them to me has told me that they will fit but I will have to take 3/16" off the front spindle.
Has anyone heard or had experience with this type of modification and would this pose a problem if I wanted to run my 16" stock rims in the winter?

 

[93hotrodlincoln]

Different bolt pattern.

 

[mespock]

I'm guessing that too.

5 more post until 10,000th post.

 

[Old Poop]

Bolt pattern is said to be 4.25 on the wheels. I think I read that is the correct size, please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[98LSC32V]

That is the correct bolt pattern if what he says is true.

 

[Old Poop]

Is it possible that the spindle would hit the center cap of the wheel if the offset wasn't correct? I believe the wheels were on his T-Bird if that helps.

 

[Old Poop]

Final Installment
I took my prize to my local car guy and he was able to put the wheels and tires on without any difficulty.
The spindle grinding was done to the front by the gentleman that sold the wheels and tires to me. He had them on his 96 T-Bird oval track racer.
The Cobra R's are 17"x9" with the 4.25 bolt pattern. I still don't know what the offset is.
Front tires are Nitto 555R2 275/40x17 Drag Radials. The rear tires are Nitto 555R 315/35x17 Drag Radials. Tires have about 1/2 their original tread.
No rubbing anywhere. The wheel wells look high due to the angle of the driveway but even level they have plenty of room.
Took them out on the maiden voyage today and they stick like go-kart tires even in the rain.
Cost $750.00 for wheels and tires, $0.00 for spindle grinding, about $60.00 for some R&R on the rims that fixed a slow leak and $20.00 to put them on the car and hand torque them. Smile on my face as I lit them up for the first time.... priceless :Beer

 

[chicken]

i would get normal tires, drag radials are super soft and will burn up in no time

 

[Old Poop]

Yes, that is very true. I figure I will probably get about 3-4000 miles out of them but, that is still allot of 1/4 mile runs which is why I wanted them. I run Dunlops or Michelins depending on the season on my 98 base daily driver. Dunlop snows on all 4 corners in the winter and A4 sports in the summer. Micheline all seasons on the 93 for the rare occaisions that I use the car off track.

 

[chicken]

just making sure you knew what "drag radials" are lol