I recently inherited a 77' F150 from my original owner gramps. Its a 4x2 rockin a 351m. I have build plans for a street/strip machine. The engine build is laid out for the most part as well as suspension. Tire selection for the strip is a lesson I missed. What fits under the wells stock? I'm looking for an et street or DR to run on the rear. Slicks would be a later option. Also when does a tire become too wide for a wheel?

What kind of power is needed to hit a mid 12 on DR's in these trucks?

TIA - Dorin

 

Ever held up a sheet of plywood in a strong wind...? that is about the aerodynamics of our trucks. My best uneducated guess would be a LOT

 

like this one YouTube - F250 6.97 at 99.7 mph in 1/8 mile. Track Record!

 

as far as tires that will fit on the rear, you can probably fit up to 35" tall tires, or you could go 33"s and go a little wider. these trucks' wheel wells will just swallow tires whole.

 

A tire gets too wide for a wheel when it starts to bow out in the middle. I'm not too sure with truck tires but on car rims, 8 inch wheels are good for a 245, 255 at most, you can fit 275's but they wear like ****, they are better off on a 9 inch rim or a 10.5, which also fits a 315 rather nicely as well. I'm not sure how many inches that is but i'm sure you can find a conversion chart.

 

Thanks for the responses, especially 460/5.

Thats a truck that runs 10's, I only want 12's lol big difference.

 

no problem. and honestly, that was a conservative estimate, taking into consideration the type of tire that will be used. i have no doubt that the rear could eat a 38x15, but i dont know if they make a drag tire in those dimensions. lol. id say you could get away with some 33x16s, or get a BFH, and make some room under there, and go a little wider.

 

One thing to remember is a huge tire takes a lot of power to pull down the track. You're better off with a smaller tire unless you're looking at 7-800 hp. I would think you can get the truck in the 12's with about 500 hp or a little less. I'd probably try about a 12 inch tire 30 or 31 inches tall. If you have a decent suspension like you said you will have that should be big enough.

 

When I pick a tire, I hold the Ice Pick firmly in my right Hand with my thumb over the the end of the handle. and then I swing my arm in a back stroke fashion. Oh, you mean to buy. Oops sorry off topic.

 

"Select" would have been a better word choice. Left myself open for that one >_>.

 

lol. so he thinks hes a comedian, huh? crack another one, bucko.

 

i ran 31 x 12-15 drag slicks on my 79 f100.the rear end was stock dimentions,not narrowed. they were on 10 inch centerline drag lite rims. the rims did not have any off set to them.that means they had the bolt surface centered on the rims outer bead surfaces (front side and back side.) if you want to run a wider tire than that you will need to tub the rear half of the truck if you plan to tuck the tires under the trucks body.

 

"Crack another one" Naw that's all I had. Just the first sick a** thing that came to my mind. really just kidding around

Taller is not the key. Traction wants more Surface contact between the tire and the pavement. and while it could be argued the taller get slightly more contact area, Wider easiliy gets alot more contact area. Taller really messes with your gear ratio too. And in Drag racing gear ratio is selection is equally as critical as tire size selection. and both should be considered when selecting the other as they are linked together.

I have run a set of 33x12.5 drac slicks with paddles bonded to them(in sand). they fit in the truck pretty snug. the paddle probably makes em about like a 36-38" tire.

I 've been told don't go much more than a tire 2" wider than the rim. ei..12-12.50 tire on a 10" rim. That's my rule of thumb - I'm not expert

I would think you could go 14 wide easily with offset rims and not holding them under the truck.
I think 427 and Dually hit in a good range with 31 x12.5.

Love the video. Is that not all 4 drag slicks on a 4WD. LOL I want to do the same thing with my 79. I bet he has 3.50 gears and has it in low range putting the final drive around 7.00-8.00 ratio. cuz it sounds like he's getting all the gears and all the R's at the end. Way Cool..

 

lol. im just playin with ya drac.