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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 03:46 PM
  #1  
lucky no. 7's Avatar
lucky no. 7
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From: conway arkansas
driveability question

well, i'm fixin to install my 3.54 gears in my 78 and was wondering what kind of driveability issues i will run into with em, reason i ask is mainly cause i'm split between a 31 inch tire or a 34, got a guy who can get me a good deal on super swampers and dont know which one will work out better, biggest concern i have is how much i'm going to have to slip the clutch to take off in second, cause as anybody with an np435 can tell you 1st is useless unless you are trying to get a million lbs moving up a hill, i'm leaning toward the 31x10.5x16 for this reason, plus they are a few bucks cheaper, what do yall think
 
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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From: Green Springs, OH
hit the nail on the head there.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 06:17 PM
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1985 Ford F-150's Avatar
1985 Ford F-150
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From: Tooele, UT
Id go with the 31s for driveability
 
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by 1985 Ford F-150
Id go with the 31s for driveability
Word If you go anything bigger than 31's your clutch isnt going to like it either. You may be able to pull off 33's. I had 35's in my F-150 with a 300-6 and 3.55's, clutch didnt last more than 6 months.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 10:28 PM
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80F100man
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my '83 F150 4x4 handled 33x12.5/15s alright w/o any problem guys....I had a '78 Torino 302 & a truck 4speed...and factory rear-end gears .........
 
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 11:37 PM
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hairyboxnoogle
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I say 33's... i have 31's and 3.55's... plenty of get up and go... could use a lil more top end. Once i get the ZF in and 35's on ill run 3.73's. dont even have to give it gas just let out on the clutch, and thats not even in granny.
 
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 10:33 AM
  #7  
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I would try 33s, check my gallery, those are 255/85/16 on my 77, basically a 33x10.50 perfect fit, not to hard on the ol clutch unless my wife drives it. Speedo is off a bit, but it does well, 351Measly with NP435 and 3.50 gears.
Joe
 
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 12:12 PM
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1985 Ford F-150's Avatar
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From: Tooele, UT
My dads 85 f150 that has 31s and a 302 EFI and 3.50 gears with a 4 speed and itll chirp em, and we only run about 2800 rpm at 65. You could probly run 33s and if thats too much for the clutch you could go down to 32s or 31s.
 
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 07:57 PM
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33's no problem!
 
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 10:09 PM
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31 or 33 i have a set of each on my shortbeds both work
 
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Old Aug 12, 2008 | 09:20 AM
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From: conway arkansas
well, i'm gonna swap gears sometime this week and see how it does with the tires that are on it, 285.75.16 and see how it does with those, they are roughly 32 inches tall now that they are bald
 
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