1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Lowering truck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #31  
Old 12-06-2013, 11:19 AM
Moe Craig's Avatar
Moe Craig
Moe Craig is offline
Cargo Master

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hot AZ (Phoenix Valley)
Posts: 3,415
Received 40 Likes on 16 Posts
Up front; Yours is 25.6" in height and a thread width 8.4". My truck has 225/70R15 which is 27.4" tall and a thread width 8.8". Our trucks are different years, but I have no problems with turns or bumps? Here is a pic of mine with that size front tires and my rears are 275/60R15


 
  #32  
Old 12-06-2013, 11:22 AM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rimrock F1
That is what I was attempting to say. If need be you could remove the spring so you could raise the suspension to the ride height you will have after lowering.

Yes, Thanks, From what I measure now with wheel turned both ways, tire won't hit anything, but is about 1" below fender on turns, if I go with the larger tire.

I'll go easy going up and down driveway aprons. Boy I hate these decisions, guess it will look fine with the rear tires 1 1/2" taller.

The smaller tire up front gives me another 1/2 to 3/4" of play, maybe better safe than sorry.
 
  #33  
Old 12-06-2013, 11:26 AM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Moe Craig
Up front; Yours is 25.6" in height and a thread width 8.4". My truck has 225/70R15 which is 27.4" tall and a thread width 8.8". Our trucks are different years, but I have no problems with turns or bumps? Here is a pic of mine with that size front tires and my rears are 275/60R15


That's how mine sits about now, but your fronts aren't higher than the fenders, tucked under if you had it lowered.
 
  #34  
Old 12-06-2013, 11:51 AM
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
56panelford is online now
FTE Legend
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: northwestern Ontario
Posts: 262,984
Received 4,130 Likes on 2,655 Posts
Your front suspension looks identical to mine judging by the pictures. I build my panel on a 72 c10 which is the same from mid 60's to 87 only thing that differ on is the size of tie rod ends / ball joints. If you check out www. classicperform.com they specialize in these years. I used thier modular front drop spindles which narrow the tracking by 1 1/8". I also bought narrowed control arms from Porterbuilt that narrowed it another 1" per side. I'm running 15x6 rims with p215/70r15's in front.

John

http://classicperform.com/ Porterbuilt"s site is under construction at the moment
 
  #35  
Old 12-06-2013, 12:02 PM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you John, your front tires sit just about where mine will if everything goes as planned, what is the spacing between the tire and fender on your truck?
 
  #36  
Old 12-06-2013, 12:23 PM
truckeemtnfords's Avatar
truckeemtnfords
truckeemtnfords is online now
Cargo Master
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Truckee, CA
Posts: 3,299
Received 177 Likes on 126 Posts
I am late to the party but I love classic Cragars and they look good on your truck. If it was mine I would stay with them and narrow the rear end so the tires are centered in the fender. I love the old school deep dish look and did I mention 17" wheels and tires are VERY expensive compared to 15".
 
  #37  
Old 12-06-2013, 12:45 PM
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
56panelford is online now
FTE Legend
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: northwestern Ontario
Posts: 262,984
Received 4,130 Likes on 2,655 Posts
Originally Posted by Rich56
Thank you John, your front tires sit just about where mine will if everything goes as planned, what is the spacing between the tire and fender on your truck?
With the wheels straight they are just under 2" from the inner fender lip and plenty of room lock to lock. I also forgot to mention that I have 1' lowering springs as well as the 2'' drop spindles.
Does your truck have the complete chevy chassie or just the front section. Mine is complete chevy frame with the trailing arm coil out back which I used 4" drop coils and just added the rear sway bar.
 
  #38  
Old 12-06-2013, 01:22 PM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 56panelford
With the wheels straight they are just under 2" from the inner fender lip and plenty of room lock to lock. I also forgot to mention that I have 1' lowering springs as well as the 2'' drop spindles.
Does your truck have the complete chevy chassie or just the front section. Mine is complete chevy frame with the trailing arm coil out back which I used 4" drop coils and just added the rear sway bar.
Great, Thanks, yes, full chassis frame, leafs in the back, spring guy said he can get any height I want there, do the front first then back till it looks good.

Not going to chance it with the wider & taller tire up front, only gives me 1" between tire and fender, narrower tire gives me 1 1/2 to 1 3/4" depending on section width, back tires will be 1 1/2" taller, guess that'll work as far as looks go.
 
  #39  
Old 12-06-2013, 02:00 PM
49f3dls's Avatar
49f3dls
49f3dls is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southern SC.
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Rich, I'm wondering if all of the tire sizes you are looking at are LT 10 ply tires. I ask only because I have a clearance issue also but it is due to using spacers on a Jag front end to keep the 8 bolt on an F3. The tire guy plus some good advice from FTE guys said stay with the 10 ply and I can't find anything smaller than a 225x17 R65 in a 10 ply. By the way I will also used your wheel space tester - great idea.
 
  #40  
Old 12-06-2013, 02:13 PM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by truckeemtnfords
I am late to the party but I love classic Cragars and they look good on your truck. If it was mine I would stay with them and narrow the rear end so the tires are centered in the fender. I love the old school deep dish look and did I mention 17" wheels and tires are VERY expensive compared to 15".

Thanks, like em too, got a great deal on 18" rims, $240 each. American Racing torq ll chrome.

The Cragars on the front are too wide for what I need to do, so they have to go as well, want em?
 
  #41  
Old 12-06-2013, 02:18 PM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 49f3dls
Rich, I'm wondering if all of the tire sizes you are looking at are LT 10 ply tires. I ask only because I have a clearance issue also but it is due to using spacers on a Jag front end to keep the 8 bolt on an F3. The tire guy plus some good advice from FTE guys said stay with the 10 ply and I can't find anything smaller than a 225x17 R65 in a 10 ply. By the way I will also used your wheel space tester - great idea.

Not sure what ply the tires are, but Tirerack has the best charts to see sizes, punch in the size and it will give you all they sell in that size or any size, when you click on a tire, go to specs, click on that and it will give height, width rim sizes and section widths on certain rims, very good info.

For me it works great, I can punch in 2 diff. sizes, front and rear and it gives me all the brands that will have both sizes, been on there for 2 days now playing with it...
 
  #42  
Old 12-06-2013, 07:26 PM
Moe Craig's Avatar
Moe Craig
Moe Craig is offline
Cargo Master

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hot AZ (Phoenix Valley)
Posts: 3,415
Received 40 Likes on 16 Posts
Originally Posted by truckeemtnfords
I am late to the party but I love classic Cragars and they look good on your truck. If it was mine I would stay with them and narrow the rear end so the tires are centered in the fender. I love the old school deep dish look and did I mention 17" wheels and tires are VERY expensive compared to 15".
I agree the classic Cragars look great and I tried to find a used set for mine, but didn't find any nice used set (can't afford new) that is 5 on 5.5" (5 on 139.7). Also like Baby Moons on smoothies, and old Slotted Mags.
 
  #43  
Old 12-06-2013, 10:18 PM
truckeemtnfords's Avatar
truckeemtnfords
truckeemtnfords is online now
Cargo Master
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Truckee, CA
Posts: 3,299
Received 177 Likes on 126 Posts
Sure Rich, can you drive them right over. (The shades are so you don't go snow blind) Beings you would be coming from far in the east the snow blowing on Donner Summit should not effect you as it is just west of me.
 
  #44  
Old 12-16-2013, 12:27 PM
Rich56's Avatar
Rich56
Rich56 is offline
Senior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Update, ordered new springs, 3" drop lower control arms, sway bar kit, new rims and tires.

Hopefully a few warm days to get started, will report back.

Thanks all.
 
  #45  
Old 12-16-2013, 12:52 PM
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
56panelford is online now
FTE Legend
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: northwestern Ontario
Posts: 262,984
Received 4,130 Likes on 2,655 Posts
Which control arms did you purchase, if they are the same length as the stock ones your tire is going the be right against your fender. If they are a narrowed set you will have to also buy the uppers.
 


Quick Reply: Lowering truck



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:54 PM.