i need to push my bumper forward to allow space for my larger tires.. what is the best way or technique that yall know about? what is the best thing to use as the shim? do i need longer bolts? anything will help..

 

Just unbolt the bumper from the bracket and put a few flat washers between the bumper and bracket. There's room for 3 or 4 washers with the original bolts. IIRC I had to use 3 washers to clear 33's with no lift.

 

i was talkin with a guy on the offroad forum whos got the same truck as me with 37x12.5 tires.. are 4 washers going to be enough to clear them?

 

do you have any kind of lift? i would say without a lift 37's will not fit even on a 350 im pretty sure you would need more than just shimming the bumper. and a 350 sits 2 inches higher than an 250.

 

Hes got 37s without a lift, just a bumper shim.. I didnt relize a 96 350 sat 2 inches higher than a 97 250.. they are both hi-bodys and look almost identical in suspension height.

 

I fit 36s on my truck with no lift, but i did lift it a week later. Mines a 350 though, I wouldnt plan on runnin 37's with no lift on a 250

 

i would say 35;s are probably the most for an 250 without a lift but even that would be with add a leafs in the front anything more than that i think you would have to shim the front bumper so far it would look hidious. i have 285 75 16's on my truck now and i dident have to shim my bumper but its realy close to rubbing when turning. you would probably need to shim 1.5 inches for 35's without add a leafs

 

I found a 1.5" front leaf leveling kit.. Will that and a bumper shim do the job for 36"s? i dont plan on wheeling or flexing.. im just worried about it actually fitting and turning..

 

you could probably make it work with the leveling kit and shimming but its not ideal dont forget that you will need an alignment and camber correction bushings with the leveling kit

 

holy crap.. so there seriously isnt an easy way to get around it.. im just trying to save myself without dropping a grand on a lift..

 

then i guess 35"s it is!

 

I shimmed mine about 1" with longer bolts and a stack of washers.

 

what size tire are you running neal?

 

Not very big 295/75-16 BFG A/T's.
My front end has some sag. The spring bushings are sad and I still have the typical sag on top of that.

 

i'm looking at 37s for my truck...would shimming work for me? they run a bit small (more like 36.5), but looking at what i've got makes me wonder how well 35s with tread will clear. i do play around off road sometimes but no rock crawling or anything