Hey got a question for you and the guys running this year truck.
I just swapped out the bald *** 38x12 sx swampers for some new 39.5x13.5 Iroks.



I had a tiny bit of rub on leafs before but now its a lot more. They actually measure out more like 14.5" wide on the wheel. I'm debating on making my own 3/4 wheel spacers under wheels or just going all out and getting 1 1/2 or 2 inch spacers online. I just don't want it too wide. I'm thinking the wider frame later year ford vs my 79 pickup with 44's it hits spring more as its wider. Another reason for the benefit of a 79 d60 as well I guess. Any of you guys had this issue on this model truck and what size tires did you run and what was the fix. By the way wheels have a 4.5" backspacing as well.

 

Unless you have a mill and/or lathe I highly doubt you're going to get a 100% true/flat mating surface.

Ballistic is selling their spacers pretty cheap.



Frames are wider but the axle is the same width and has the same range of motion in the c/knuckle between a 78-79 60 and a 85-92 60. Stands to reason you would have more rubbing issues with a later truck than a 78-9. Each spring is essentially 2" closer to the tire

 

I can't see it not sitting flat. My shop does have a full machine shop with badass equipment.
I'd get my guy to plasma cut the spacers on his table for no warpage like a torch could. Drilling holes is easy. I'd go 3/16 pilot then straight to 9/16 holes in a powered down drill press. I can't punch holes only cause I'd break a 9/16 punch. If I went with a 3/4" hole or bigger I'd punch holes in our Iron Worker(can punch 1 1/2" holes in plate around an inch thick) ,which would be nice.
I could bolt it on hub with no wheel and always double check the runout with a dial indicator as I rotate rotor. I'm just thinking here. A 1 1/2" spacer might just be easier if they make one. I don't care to spend the coin just don't wanna get too wide as this is my daily driver.

 

Then do it out of aluminum

 

Don't know where I'd find any 3/4" aluminum , but yeah that's an idea.

 

I've decided I'm going to use 3/4" particle board/wood...



End thread

 

good idea. but make sure it is pressure treated wood so it will last

 

 

Lol. Whoa angry one.

I'm gonna look into aluminum plate availability tomorrow at my shop and see what I can make otherwise if its too much of a pain ill just order.

 

Question.....


Would using maple for wheel spacers be jus as sacrilegious as frying up some bald eagle wings on Memorial day?

 

Dan what did you have on your lifted 90's truck??

 

Can't find 3/4" aluminum plate? At our machine shop, we keep a crap load of it. Try Alcoa....

 

You could always buy the spacers and turn them on a lathe to whatever thickness you need.

 

turned out steering stops and a huge turning radius......serious.

p/o originally had it on 44'' boggers on some 14'' weld wheels unknown backspacing, but i guess they rubbed bad. he moved the steering stop bolts out to bandage the problem. i don't think he ever put them back when he lowered it and went to 40'' boggers before selling it off. the 40's were on 12'' 589 baja rims, not sure on backspacing either but i'd guess 4-4.5''.

two things i'll mention;

1# the turned out stop bolts allowed my steering box to break of the frame once while my truck was wedged in hard packed broken ice. idk if it was a combination of frame flex and the turned out stops, but something overtraveled whil i was being awkwardly winched by a dipsheot tow truck driver, very surprised the tierods and other weaker steering parts held up, also broke the sector shaft in half at that time.

2# remember those axles are already like 4''s wider track width than the rears so adding 1-2'' spacers will make it stupid wide, not sure how much that will effect steering and ackerman's angle, because i really don't know the whole deal on that stuff, but i'd look into it before slapping some wide stuff up front if this'll see a lot of street time.

with 12'' rims and 18.5'' wide tires you could noticably see my front tires were 3 or so inches wider than the rear per side. makes climbing through trees easier though. i'd toss that truck through jepp sized sheot around here. we have way too damn many trees here on anywhere that is wheelable because all of the good clearable land is turned into farm acreage.

 

Called my local metal supermarket. They overprice everything! They want $55 for 2, 8x8 aluminum squares then prob another $50 from my guy to plasma cut into rings on his table.
I'm going to talk to my pipe fitter guy in our shipyard and see if he has any round pipe flanges , steel or aluminum and with center hole or even a round blank blind flange.

Stainless Steel 316/316L Slip-On Pipe Fitting, Flange, Class 300:Amazon:Industrial & Scientific

Blind Pipe Flange - Blind Flange and Blind Flanges Manufacturer & Exporter from Mumbai, India