Dropping my Stock '74 Stepper - Need Advice

[Fat 454]

gorgeous truck ! Was the squarebody fender style available with a factory spare tyre cutout, or was that discontinued in '72 with the Action line trucks ?

 

[xm20k]

Not a short box or a stepper however 26" tall tire up front a 28" tall tire in the rear 2.5" spindle up front and an axle flip. I had a drop spring in the front, but it sat too low and had very little room to compress. I went back to a stock spring. next time I put tires in the front I think I'm going to go to 28" up front as well. If I had it to do again a spindle and a flip is all I would have done the first time would have saved me swapping springs back and forth.

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[Mogulmasher]

This was 2.5” spindles with 1 coil cut for about 4.5” up front. 6” flip kit in the back. 15x8s all around with 235/75/15s. It rubbed pretty good up front. Had I kept the rallies, I was gonna do a 245/60 and 275/60 combo

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This is exactly set up and tire size I'm hoping to do on my '77 c15. I believe round eye inner fenders have a bit more room. How bad did this truck rub?

 

[TotalyHucked]

This is exactly set up and tire size I'm hoping to do on my '77 c15. I believe round eye inner fenders have a bit more room. How bad did this truck rub?

My '85 rubbed REAL bad with the 235/75/15s. You are correct that round eye inners have more room, it's about an inch extra in all directions. However, you'll likely still rub on big dips.

 

[Mogulmasher]

Sounds good. Maybe I'll have to step down the tire size some.

 

[Keith Seymore]

gorgeous truck ! Was the squarebody fender style available with a factory spare tyre cutout, or was that discontinued in '72 with the Action line trucks ?

Yes. RPO E62 (step side) & RPO P13 (side mount spare).

K

 

[Turbo4whl]

@jpatters13 To help answer your original question, one thing I did in the front of my '82 was remove all the bolts in the inside of the front fenders. The bolts that held the jack and battery tray etc. that pointed down. They would scrap the tires. I replace them with pan head bolts facing up.

When the tires did touch the inner fenders, no big tread tear marks.

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4-6 drop

 

[Keith Seymore]

@jpatters13 To help answer your original question, one thing I did in the front of my '82 was remove all the bolts in the inside of the front fenders. The bolts that held the jack and battery tray etc. that pointed down. They would scrap the tires. I replace them with pan head bolts facing up.

When the tires did touch the inner fenders, no big tread tear marks.

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4-6 drop

In the biz we call that "friendly contact".

K

 

[Turbo4whl]

In the biz we call that "friendly contact".

K

"friendly contact", I like that! Any given day, if you could look in, you would see fresh rubs in the paint and polished pan head bolt heads.

 

[Scruffy49]

Not a short box or a stepper however 26" tall tire up front a 28" tall tire in the rear 2.5" spindle up front and an axle flip. I had a drop spring in the front, but it sat too low and had very little room to compress. I went back to a stock spring. next time I put tires in the front I think I'm going to go to 28" up front as well. If I had it to do again a spindle and a flip is all I would have done the first time would have saved me swapping springs back and forth.

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You’re saving me a bunch of aggravation with this post… Rear is already flipped, shock relocators, Gabriel Load Assist shocks. Ordering another set of 2.5” drop spindles next month, front shock relocators for the current Gabriel Load Assists. With all new poly bushings/mounts, factory issued f/r springs and the load assists? Should handle like an oversized gokart.

I had a set of spindles. Friend’s son “borrowed” them to “test drop” a round eye swb. So now she’s having to order me another set.

 

[JBswth]

I fully restored a 74 step side that I now want to drop the stance. I want to run the stock rally wheels. I have a set of four 15x8's. I am thinking about a 2.5" drop spindle up front with a 5" axle flip in the rear to get a level stance. I don't want to cut the bed or notch the frame. I need advice on parts but especially tires. I want to run BF Goodrich Radial T/A's. Need the best fit for a fatty muscle look that won't rub. I am willing to pick up a set of 15x10 aftermarkets for the back. The only ones I can find through JEG's and other places have a 5" rear offset (basically a centered wheel). Some places tell me unless I do a 5.5" back spacing it will rub the step fender when going over bumps. All advice welcomed.

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Looks great as it is. Why change it?

 

[Fat 454]

Yes. RPO E62 (step side) & RPO P13 (side mount spare).

Thanks Keith - font of all Sq body wisdom as always ! ..