Just bought a 1954 ford truck. It has original suspension front and back. I have some vintage rocket 5 spoke rims. But not sure what tires to put on the rims. I don't have the money to lower it, or put bags on it right now. So thinking of buying new tires to make it a lower profile truck. Can't find anything on the net. Any suggestions or pics I could look at?

 

I think the guy's here would call you a darksider..is it a 100 or 150 ..a half tonner ? there are a lot of very nice photos and awsome trucks here .why do you want to slam it ?..so you can blend in with the crowd?? I am running 19.5 rims on my 54 ..high and proud...

 

Welcome aboard the board where are you located...there is lots you can do to make your current suspension work great without spending $$$ on an IFS. I've had my truck 20+ years and it still has the straight axle (dropped now) The main thing is to replace the worn parts. I opted to rebuild my front suspension mainly because I could do it myself. How is your drive train, other than getting the suspension & brakes to a safe state I would ensure the drive train is reliable, then drive the truck and upgrade more as you learn more about what you have, just my $.02.
have fun with your (new) truck!

 

@kenjh, it is the 150. Everyone has there own style i guess, and that is what I have always thought of building.
@Jaye, thanks, the truck has been semi restored. I have replaced the master cylinders, and adjusted the brakes just recently. The drive train is replaced and the truck is set up with a 351 cleveland motor and the c-6 transmission. You can read lots of manuals and books, but i've found that talking to owners is sometimes the best way to learn. And I have looked at hundreds of trucks online, but the ones that have the tire specs, have suspension modifications. Any suggestions are appreciatied. Thanks

 

You may not be satisfied with the look of the truck by simply putting lower profile tires on it. It will lower the height of the truck, but you will have a large void in your wheel wells.

Stock suspensions can be lowered by modifying / moving the shackles, removing springs, flipping the rear axle on top of the springs, buying a dropped front axle...

 

I agree. Nothing looks worse than a truck with low profile tires with a big gap over the top of them. The best look is achieved by filling the wheelwells. This will require a combination of lowering and the proper sized tires. It takes very little money to lower a truck by removing spring leaves and or lowering shackles..

 

TTIWWOP.


Pics. Post them please.

I love the wheels you have.

Frankly, I love these old trucks in each way. Lowered, stock, and raised.
I actually just thought of what it might look like to do a gasser build... on a 56 F100!.. It's already got the correct front axle... HAHAHA!

My intention is to build mine stock or lifted a few inches. I'd REALLY like to get some plus size tires on the stock Effy wheels!

 

Here's my 48 F-3 converted to F-1. The front was lowered with a Volare IFS and the rear end was flipped. I'm running 225:75/R15 tires on 15x6 Chrysler OEM steel wheels and 57 Caddy hubcaps...

 

It cannot be an F150, because: There was no such thing as an F150 until 1975!

 

thank you Bill ..I didn't know ..that's why i ask...

 

I have some vintage 15x4.5-4.75 rocket rims. They came with the truck when i bought it , but they dont fit my axles. My bolt pattern is 5.5 on the truck now. What car or truck could these axles be from?

 

5x5.5 is stock pickup size. The 5x4.5 is a car pattern. However all is not lost, if you really want to use these wheels. CPP, Speedway, Midfifty, etc... sells a kit to convert to disc brakes using Ranger discs for the 5x4.5 pattern, and swapping the rear with a mid 90's Explorer axle will do the same. A lot of money and time spent to use those wheels though. Finding a set of 5x5.5 wheels could be the better option in the short term.

 

What's your opinion on adapters ?