i currently have a 81 f-150 4x4. The truck has about 130,000 miles. The engin has about 4000 miles. The rear end is a 9" with 4.10s limited slip and the front end is a dana44 ttb wint 4.10s limited slip. THe truck is lifted 4" with a tuff country suspension lift. Right now im running 33 12.5s. the rear end is stock with everythign inside stock, and the front is stock with the exception of both passengerside ball joints replaiced. The radius arm bushigns were also replaiced. It currently has the stock radious arms with the drop brackets. THe lift was put on about 1000 miles ago.


RIght now i want bigger tires. correct me if i am rong but i am prety sure i can run 35 12.5s on it fine with no clearance problems. I am sorta thinking of doing a major fender trim to run larger tires.

Has anyoen done this on the older square fenders? THe main question is if i was to run some 38s, the stress on the rear and front end will be huge. WIll my front and rear end hold up to 38s? what mods will i have to do to make them durable? i know the 9" is a rock sold rear end but the front end im not sure about. i plan on doing some prety good wheeling in my free time but also want a daily diver. if i was to throw huge tires on how long would this setup stand it before breaking stuff. if i was to change all of the ujoints in the front end, the other 2 ball joints, and the pivit bushings, would they then hold up? THe truck is a beautefull truck with a fresh paint job and a very stong 300 (4 brl baby) my next engin will have around 270 hp

thanks for the help

 

that ttb wont hold up for long, i would go with a solid front conversion. thats what im doing to my truck. a lot of people do fender trimming to fit tires and a lot of people recomend it. in the new petersons 4 wheel and off road they just fender trimmed their ramcharger and they fit 42's with 6" of lift and it worked fine.

 

i have that article. so is there anyway to make the ttb rock solid? if i did a 100% overhaul on it woudl it be solid enough?

sometimes i wonder why i started on a 81 anyways someday il start on a 76 f-250 fact highboy

 

theres really no way to make it rock solid, especially if your gonna wheel hard, it has too many moving parts to break and the mounting brackets arent that strong when they get longer and longer. i just suggest go to solid, you can do it by getting all the front end off any 73-79 f150 or a late 70s bronco.