I found a set of NEW wide 33" tires on a 80 Bronco - hadn't even wore off all the little nubs on the treads yet. I'll get them in the next day or two.

SO... since these were on a 4x4 and I am still 2WD I am wondering if I am going to have to mod my truck to make them fit. I know this sounds dumb... buying rims/tires that may not work, but I intend on getting a 4x4 at some point and I am also picking up parts when they are cheap for a "dream truck".

I know I can do the shackle flip on the rear. I also have some more leafs I want to add... are there any tricks for the front? or would I need to do a lift? This summer I was looking into a cab swap, I have new fenders, and my box is junk so I am figuring on taking the whole body off anyway. BTW I am going to go from a 3 speed to a T-18 at the same time.

I don't want to do anything that will permanently mess up the alignment or need parts to be heated and bent, etc. I am not off roading, but would like a little more aggressive stance.

 

Unfortunately, the front I-beams don't let you do much that way without some kind of mod. Can't say if they would clear without having to do anything or not, never really tried. Only thing I can think of is if you could make some kind of mount that would lower in relation to the frame the mounting points of the i-beams, then make an extention to bolt the springs to, basically, a large diameter pipe would do. They used to do that to the old muscle cars with coil rears. As for how stable it all would be would depend on how it is put together, then the steering linkage is the next problem. Easiest would be a body lift.

 

Thanks... that's what I thought too. Went to the junkyard yesterday and the tires are 33 x 12.5 so I would think they would rub for sure. They will be ready for pickup on Friday and will be cleaned/polished and protected in my shop.

Probably the best thing is to put them aside for a couple months while the parts truck and the bus get dealt with. In the mean time, I'll keep my eyes open for a deal on a Bronco or something better than just a plain 2wd F150 to use as my base for a project.

 

Might be the best way, I'm all for snagging parts if they are cheap enough and you have intention to use them. Nothing says you can't resell them and make a little off of them if you choose not to use them after all...

 

y... the tractor was kind of bought that way. I knew I wanted a Farmall and found a loader that was all hydraulic at a good price so I bought it before I even had a line on a tractor. Then a couple weeks later I found the tractor I wanted and was set!

I definitely got a deal on the tires and they are fresh mounted/balanced on good rims complete with centers and lugs. Everything I am looking at is 80-96 Ford so they will fit all those years... as long as they don't rub

 

i put some spring stiffners on mine when i had the big tires on. 33's 12.5. i had to put 2 of those little things in there and it allowed me no rub. except when i was in a tight tight turn i would rub a little on the right front tire but not on the left, and it was rubbing the frame not the fender. didnt hurt nothing, i just took them off because of the amazing way it was tearing up my power steering. The pump could handle it but the power steering unit itself kept blowing seals.

 

I take it that was on your '70 250? If so, I'm thinking clearances might be different...
but I could check it out.

Another SLIM possibility is I might end up with the Bronco frame and suspension. The only thing is I won't get the axles, xfer case or tranny. I have the 2WD parts to put in it, except probably don't have the correct driveshaft. I just don't know what gives the 4x4 Bronco higher clearance. Are the front axle pivot points lower mounted on the frame with different shock/spring towers or is it how the axles are built?

 

OK - I've had my coffee and I'm awake now. Scratch the Bronco frame idea. LOL. I'm going overboard...

 

get em, and hold on to them for somthing else.

 

sounds like great trading material at the least. i know i traded my old 33's on keystone rims for the heads i put on that 390 when i built that. god i miss my truck

 

Yeah, grab em and hold onto them.

33's would SQUEEZE onto my truck, though any sort of flex offroad would A: rub, B: break my TTB. Wait...TTB doesn't flex.

If those were 35's you'd found, I'd be willing to take them off your hands. Or 34's, or 36's...

 

FINALLY got the 33s. I have the rears on... I cut out the rusty wheelwells following the body line where it indents. Truck looks a lot better without the rust and adding the new wheels.

The fronts don't rub until I fully crank the steering- then they BARELY touch the plastic inner fender. BUT that is stalling still. Those wide tires will rub on the fender bouncing down the road. I'd cut the front fenders too, but I want to save my liners so I just have the rears on for now.

 

how much bump before they rub up front? Maybe you could put those rubber coil spacers in to keep it from bouncing so much...

 

About an inch and a half. I'm sure my shocks are junk too. I have some brand new F350 shocks that are taller, but that'd screw up my alignment and wear the outsides of the tires.... not to mention they would bottom out.

What makes the 2wd 250s, 350s, and 4x4 150s taller any way? I know the 250 ups have leafs and are way different.

 

well the i beams on a 4 wd are taller than a 2wd, theres part of it, and dont the 4wd have a bigger block?