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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 12:10 PM
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mud tires

what is the largest tires size you can fit under a stock 1977 highboy
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 12:20 PM
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35X12.5's will fit if you keep the backspacing on the wheel reasonable and the width of the wheel also reasonable.
May only see slight rubbing at full compression with the wheels turned to the stops.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 03:36 PM
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If your suspension is still firm you can fit 37's. I haven't made mine rub on the body yet, though I've tried pretty hard. Mine don't rub at full lock either, that's completely a function of wheel backspacing/offset. Mine stick out of the fender a little in the front though...

Since I increased my tires from 35" A/T's to 37" Irok's I've started eating a lot more u-joints and I've once twisted a driveline.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 04:16 PM
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Ive been running 36x12.50s for awhile on both my 73 f250 4x4 trucks I would agree that 37s would be the largest I would want to go
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 04:24 PM
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Wow, if you guys are runing anything larger than a 35" tire, you could only have about three inches (max) from the lowest point of the fender, and just about an inch more before it hits the top of the fender for both the front and rear fenders.
That being said, if you can only compress the spring that far, you may look at one of the pivots being siezed or not pivoting correctly.
When was the last time you guys had any of the pivot bolts out to grease them? Would be willing to bet that one or more does not pivot and is limiting flex.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 04:43 PM
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I've got about 7" at the top and almost that all around. The only place it's kinda tight is at the front fender, front corner.








I am planning on getting the Bushwhacker cut-out fenders soon so that I can trim for more space and to get rid of the cancer.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 06:42 PM
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i run 36-12.50/16.5 on my 76 250
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 09:35 PM
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37's are as big as you want to go on a Dana 44 front axle. You will start eating U-joints, balljoints, and axle shafts with more frequency. If you are locked in the front, plan on spending even more time on the trails replacing broken parts.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 09:41 PM
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large tires dont break parts big ***** and small brains do stay off the gas and trim the fenders and put as big a tire you want
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 09:50 PM
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well someone put a 352 fe bigblock in the truck with a bulldog 4speed before i got it and with the 31.5 tires that are on it gas goes very very quick and so the tire swap will help that
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 09:54 PM
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I wouldn't suggest going any bigger on the D44 either. I'm ready to swap to a D60 if only I could afford one right now...

As for you, abnormloffrd, you're a jacka$$. Unless you plan on only using your rig on the streets and only have big tires for show, something will inevitably break. That's just the way it goes when you're actually off road.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by ShamelessMT
I've got about 7" at the top and almost that all around. The only place it's kinda tight is at the front fender, front corner.








I am planning on getting the Bushwhacker cut-out fenders soon so that I can trim for more space and to get rid of the cancer.

Good lookin tires, actually the whole truck is nice.
The amount of space you have now is marginal if the spring is actually working properly. If you are not eating the fenders with those tires and those measurements, something is wrong, honest. I am not being critical, I am trying to be helpfull.
I see many of these trucks with limited flex, and with a little bushing help, they work fairly well. Poly bushings are not anything I like either, as they also hinder flex, but a good rubber bushing and free moving pivots will be night and day. They will flex far enough to eat those fenders up, and will ride much better.. Might also look at the shock, I can't see under the boot, but it appears to have a shock that would bottom out before the bumpstop ever hit. If you look to see if the bumpstop has ever made contact, you will see what I mean. I am willing to bet the bumpstop rarely sees contact with the spring at full flex, if it even can make contact.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 11:31 PM
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73F350, all of what you've said is true about flex. To let you know, all of my shackle bushings, and spring eyes were replaced about a year ago with poly bushings. As for the shocks and bumpstops, I guess I haven't looked that closely recently, but now I will. I think that it's about time for new shocks anyway.

In reality, my truck was built and is used for mud and deep snow, along with being my daily driver. I have flexed it some, but it's really not my main concern. Ground clearance, towing capacity, and the ability to go well through the mud and snow don't make for much flex desire...

Now, if I were rock climbing that would be another story. Then again, I'd have a Jeep for that.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by abnormloffrd
large tires dont break parts big ***** and small brains do stay off the gas and trim the fenders and put as big a tire you want
Uh-huh?? Go join up at pirate4x4.com, a site full of people who have used and abused about every kind of setup there is to abuse and destroy. Try to tell them that using big tires on a stock dana 44 is a great way to save money on a full size rig, and screw upgrading to the MOG, rocks, or D60's, those are for idiots. Yes if you are carefull on the skinny pedal, the axle will live for a while, but with a heavy rig, big tires, and an udersized axle, you will have failure. It has been proven over and over again. A 44 will live ok in the mud providing you don't suddenly get traction. When you lock a D44, you light the fuse on that bomb.

I will agree that trimming the fenders is good for tire clearance, instead of putting on the 22" lift to clear the 44's on the show truck, and the scary steering and driveshaft angles.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ShamelessMT
73F350, all of what you've said is true about flex. To let you know, all of my shackle bushings, and spring eyes were replaced about a year ago with poly bushings. As for the shocks and bumpstops, I guess I haven't looked that closely recently, but now I will. I think that it's about time for new shocks anyway.

In reality, my truck was built and is used for mud and deep snow, along with being my daily driver. I have flexed it some, but it's really not my main concern. Ground clearance, towing capacity, and the ability to go well through the mud and snow don't make for much flex desire...

Now, if I were rock climbing that would be another story. Then again, I'd have a Jeep for that.

Yeah bro, I understand, and I am with you 100%. Case in point though, I had one of our members stop by my place, and we replaced some busings and did a little magic on the springs, alright not magic, but we did install some friction pads between the leafs and we got almost 4 inches of additional travel with the same springs. Since the springs stayed the same, none of the payload was decreased and the ride was much, much better. Felt like a new truck. I guess the 1 problem we did have, was that now the tires can move enough, and they hit the fenders off road where they did not before. There are quite a few exceptions to every rule, and every truck is a little different, so for a truck that may have some flex, 37's might be a little much.
I can assure you with a few hours under your rig, you can make the truck ride better, and you can make it flex enough to start eating the fenders.
If additional flex is not a priority, and you are content with the way it is, I am cool with it, heak it is your ride, so keep on truckin brother. Lol.
 
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