front fender clearance
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
front fender clearance
I mounted the front fenders today; needed to get them out of the basement as I am in the middle of a renovation.
At first glance, I have clearance issues with the front wheels and fenders. I have a MII IFS, which dropped the front end about 3" ; which is about what my clearance issue is.
Anybody else expereince this, can I use some sort of "lift kit" to bring the front end higher. It looks like the radiator mounting bracket is the only other means of getting the front fenders higher; can I "shim" the rad barcket?
I'll take some pics tomorow, to give a better idea of what I'm trying to relate.
Later
Tom
At first glance, I have clearance issues with the front wheels and fenders. I have a MII IFS, which dropped the front end about 3" ; which is about what my clearance issue is.
Anybody else expereince this, can I use some sort of "lift kit" to bring the front end higher. It looks like the radiator mounting bracket is the only other means of getting the front fenders higher; can I "shim" the rad barcket?
I'll take some pics tomorow, to give a better idea of what I'm trying to relate.
Later
Tom
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,173
Likes: 4,780
From: Burbank, WA
If you start shimming and altering body mounts to gain tire clearance, you're going to make a really big mess with regards to sheet metal fit. It'll mess up your hood fit at the fenders and cowl, it'll mess up your fenders to cab and running boards, and then surely you'll be back here, posting questions about why your fenders and hood don't fit. lol
You didn't mention if you are using dropped spindles or stockers? Beyond that, you have to play with tire sizes and wheel offsets to gain the clearance you need/want. If you're running tall tires or deep reverse offset wheels, you're going to have to change that.
Thare is no lift kit for MII front ends, and 3 inches is not much of a drop, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you have the wrong combination of wheels and tires for your application.
Then again, you did say "at first glance", so lets wait until you have everything bolted up where they belong before making any rash decisions. ;-)
You didn't mention if you are using dropped spindles or stockers? Beyond that, you have to play with tire sizes and wheel offsets to gain the clearance you need/want. If you're running tall tires or deep reverse offset wheels, you're going to have to change that.
Thare is no lift kit for MII front ends, and 3 inches is not much of a drop, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you have the wrong combination of wheels and tires for your application.
Then again, you did say "at first glance", so lets wait until you have everything bolted up where they belong before making any rash decisions. ;-)
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 129
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Tom, I don’t think you have a fender issue, I think that you have a wheel problem. Installing the MII cross member shouldn’t affect where the fenders sit as they hang off the rad support, if you raise or move the rad support the hood will not fit correctly.
You have in effect moved the wheels up into the fender well, are these new wheels at the same time as the MII?
You have in effect moved the wheels up into the fender well, are these new wheels at the same time as the MII?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
Yeah but....
We may not have all the info we need.
Ok so you put in a MII front end, and three inches is a pretty minumal drop for that. Did you put the drop spindles on it as well?
Did you use the 350-375# Car springs or did you use the 425-540# Truck springs?
Last question is did you convert to 15 inch wheels or are you still trying the 16 inch rims?
If you dropped to 15 inch (or even if not) you can make a tremendous difference by substituting different tire sizes. Need 3 inches, drop to a 60 series tire instead of a 70 or 75 series tire.
I stayed stock, but had the truck dropped down a little with reverse eye springs. I was able to make all the adjustment I needed with tires. I filled up the wheel wells nicely and got the MPH out of the RPM I had without overdrive just with tire sizes.
So question back at you: what size wheels are you using and what size tires are currently on the fronts?
I think your solution is in tire sizes.
We may not have all the info we need.
Ok so you put in a MII front end, and three inches is a pretty minumal drop for that. Did you put the drop spindles on it as well?
Did you use the 350-375# Car springs or did you use the 425-540# Truck springs?
Last question is did you convert to 15 inch wheels or are you still trying the 16 inch rims?
If you dropped to 15 inch (or even if not) you can make a tremendous difference by substituting different tire sizes. Need 3 inches, drop to a 60 series tire instead of a 70 or 75 series tire.
I stayed stock, but had the truck dropped down a little with reverse eye springs. I was able to make all the adjustment I needed with tires. I filled up the wheel wells nicely and got the MPH out of the RPM I had without overdrive just with tire sizes.
So question back at you: what size wheels are you using and what size tires are currently on the fronts?
I think your solution is in tire sizes.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
tire sizes
Thanks for the input .
The tires I have on are from my donor Crown Vic; I'll get size info today.
Sheet metal is going on fairly well, won't have time to adjust until my next days off.
Later
Tom
The tires I have on are from my donor Crown Vic; I'll get size info today.
Sheet metal is going on fairly well, won't have time to adjust until my next days off.
Later
Tom
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Backspace
Ray;
That's true the Crown Vic has P205 75R15's on it and the backspace is 4.5".
I am looking at going with "smoothie" steel wheels; 3.5" backspace. I'm going to stop in at a wheel place today.
I took some pics of the fender wells; not too bad but I think I'm going to need a lower profile tire. Not what I had in mind, but ....
Tom
That's true the Crown Vic has P205 75R15's on it and the backspace is 4.5".
I am looking at going with "smoothie" steel wheels; 3.5" backspace. I'm going to stop in at a wheel place today.
I took some pics of the fender wells; not too bad but I think I'm going to need a lower profile tire. Not what I had in mind, but ....
Tom
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Sheel metal progress
So this is the color scheme and fitment todate; Can't tell from pics but wheel clearance seems an issue. I am hoping to get a sample steel wheel to fit up and see where I need to be with tire size.
rough measurements"
Centre of hub to floor: 13 1/2"
Top of tire to floor: 22 7/8"
Bottom of fender opening to floor: 22 1/4" at centre of opening
rough measurements"
Centre of hub to floor: 13 1/2"
Top of tire to floor: 22 7/8"
Bottom of fender opening to floor: 22 1/4" at centre of opening
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Forward progress
Did little odds and ends; not as stock but ..painted my hood trim lettering:
And tweaked the front fenders, still need to adjust...... and added the hood release hardware:
And tweaked the front fenders, still need to adjust...... and added the hood release hardware:
