Big tires, little lift

[agent orange]

Ive been pondering running a 37 or 38 inch tire without doing any more lift, and ive finally started on it. Im doing mockup with a 38.5x15 tire, and aside from the width making a possible interaction with a body mount at full lock it looks good. Need to finish all the cuts and then box in everything with sheet metal. I figure boxing the whole end of the core support and fenders will make up for the chunk of the core support im cutting out.

Here are a couple pics to illustrate what im going for. This is with my 34s on there.

I think the cut on the valence is going to be a little less extreme. Its hard to tell from the angle, but the inner is cut so that a peice of flat stock will lay flat across from the inner the the outer fender.

 

[cruiser88]

Have you considered a body lift?

 

[agent orange]

Already have an inch, and the sliders are already tucked up to the body. They would look like s*** if i lifted it more because you could see how fubar the sheetmetal behind them is.

 

[cruiser88]

Already have an inch, and the sliders are already tucked up to the body. They would look like s*** if i lifted it more because you could see how fubar the sheetmetal behind them is.

got ya



Another good loose weight program for a cruiser

 

[adamsclarke]

Little lift and big tires is the best combination out there. I run 40s on my commando with the amount of limit most use for 33s
Looks good. Have you considered not welding in new flat stock to cover the fender openings and just using rubber gasket material? I just know that all the welding on sheet metal I did cutting out rust never looks as good as it should. I see bedliner in your future ;p

 

[highlandcruzer]

Sounds good ! Looking foward to seeing more pics.

I think I have a 60 series in my future.

 

[rchalmers3]

Coupla questions:

A/O,

Dude, you are speaking my language!
1) For your 38.5x15's what rims are you using and what is the width and offset?
2) The picture indicatess you are running anti-inversion shackles. Are they lenghtened and are you running any suspension lift?
3) Are your 38's causing any grief with the floor boards behind the front tires? Are you finding any intereference with the springs or steering linkage?

Rick

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I like the lines you have picked for your front fender. Are you cutting with the intent of completely eliminating rubbing with 38's or just to minimize rubbing with 'em?

 

[agent orange]

Little lift and big tires is the best combination out there. I run 40s on my commando with the amount of limit most use for 33s
Looks good. Have you considered not welding in new flat stock to cover the fender openings and just using rubber gasket material? I just know that all the welding on sheet metal I did cutting out rust never looks as good as it should. I see bedliner in your future ;p

Yeah bedliner is definitly getting layed on once i get some metal in there. I dont know how i would go about getting rubber to attach and not fall out, much less not look like s***. I might not even fully weld them in, just run a lot of tacks or 1 inch beads. The way i cut it it really shouldnt be that bad.

The 38.5 im using for mockup is a gumbo mudder that im borrowing from a friend, the wheel has a ford pattern so basicially im working with the wheel spaced out about an inch. It clears the rear of the fender with room to spare and the axle will only move more forward with compression. Im cutting out the whole front edge of the fenderwell so it shouldnt hit there, the only spot that i forsee some issues with is the front body mount, but i think that with a tire less wide that 15" it wont look so close. I may have to kinda cut a relief in it though. Im basically cutting to clear the 38, figuring that ill end up running a 37 and that way ill have some wiggle room. SOA i could fit one hell of a tire now, we shall see.

The rear is gonna be fun, i may have to move the axle back a little bit so i can take advantage of all the space i can cut out of the quarter panel, which is gonna be intersting because my quarters have been tagged so much on the bottom there isnt a damn thing straight about them.

 

[chappysfj40]

you have my intrest for sure.

 

[adamsclarke]

Yeah...the rear will be fun. When I cut my 1/4s and all of the rust in the rear wheel wells.....I cut all the way to to the door. While it is larger....there's no way a 38 would fit with out hitting.

in the end...with longer bump stops....you can set it to only run like 3" of up travel. A good driver can carry a tire in the air and be better off anyway.

if you need any help while I'm finishing 2 projects...give me a shout.

 

[agent orange]

Yeah...the rear will be fun. When I cut my 1/4s and all of the rust in the rear wheel wells.....I cut all the way to to the door. While it is larger....there's no way a 38 would fit with out hitting.

in the end...with longer bump stops....you can set it to only run like 3" of up travel. A good driver can carry a tire in the air and be better off anyway.

if you need any help while I'm finishing 2 projects...give me a shout.

Word, i really need to borrow john embreys bender and get my bumpers and maybe a simple roll bar done. Ive had 2 and 1/2 tubes sitting around for a long time and its about time i used it. I plan on finishing the cutting and sheetmetal work this weekend and possibly tomorrow.

Oh, and 3 inches of uptravel is what im looking for. The front is gonna clear great, but i think in the rear i may either move the axle back or perhaps just weld on a perch with a offset hole in it.

I thought about doing a modified, cheap and low SOA in the rear while im at it. I would run a tube through the framerail or a little recessed into it and lower the overall height by a couple inches. That would be about the same height that i have now in the rear and flex/ride a lot better. All it would cost is a few hangers from ruffstuff, I could use the tube i have for the frame tubes, and some perches. I could even do the DS extension via sleeved tube ala the trails a bit back. I bet 150 bucks would cover even the naggy little s*** of the project.

-Matt

 

[Tapage]

Nice cut dude .. did you have a line for the rear fender cut .. ?

 

[CruisinFJ60]

i had some 38's on my SUA truck for a but and the tires rubbed on the springs in a bad way (that was with no flex at all just driving on the street)

 

[rchalmers3]

Agent "O",

Please reply to post #7, por favor.

Rick

 

[baxter650]

Looks good, i did the same thing but i did front and rear, cut out about 4".
I cut out all my rear wells and into the back doors, we will see what 42s fit like.

 

[agent orange]

A/O,

Dude, you are speaking my language!
1) For your 38.5x15's what rims are you using and what is the width and offset?
2) The picture indicatess you are running anti-inversion shackles. Are they lenghtened and are you running any suspension lift?
3) Are your 38's causing any grief with the floor boards behind the front tires? Are you finding any intereference with the springs or steering linkage?

Rick

The rims are ford pattern and are just for mockup, they are either 10 in or 12 in though.

Im running 6" shackles front and rear, works well for me.

The tires will clear the rear of the fender well with room to spare, its the front edge that is gonna take the brunt of the cutting. The tire wanted to rub the bolt sticking out of my spring clamp, but that is with a tire 2-3 inches wider and a little taller than what i intend on running.