wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

So I've searched and searched finding nothing that really helps. I only want to buy 1 set of wheels and tires and do it right the first time. I've got a 69 step side with porter built mild rear drop setup and stock front member w/ 2" cpp drop spindles and porter's body drop. i know 20+" wheels are out so I'm looking at 18's or 19"s. running 13" wilwoods w/ 6 pistons up front and 12" wilwoods w/ 4 pistons in the rear. i have some old 15" wheels and tires at 29" tall but they are a bit too wide and hit the fender lip and the upper support bar. Does anyone have a proper tire size that will stay under or at 29" tall and still fit in the side the fender on a 18 or 19 wheel? also what backspacing to use for a 5 on 5 bolt pattern? many thanks to those who can help.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

What makes you say 20's are out?
The other important question,... what width rearend is under the truck?

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

i only say 20's are out is because i don't want rubber band tires. need a little sidewall. if its possible to get a 55 or 50 series tire at the min on a 20" rim in there then I'm all for it. its the stock 12 bolt under the truck. just added moser 5 lug axles and the disc kit.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

Early 67-69 6-lug rearend (with Moser axles?) are narrower than the 70-72 rearend.
Which do you have?

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

The early 67-69 rearend will easily tuck a 8.5" wide wheel with a 4.75" backspacing.
The wider 70-72 rearend will need a 8.5" wide wheel with a 5.25" backspacing.

Up front I would use a 8.5" wide wheel with a 5.25"-5.5" BS.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

This truck has 20's with 245/40's up front and 255/45's on the back,...

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

it was a 69 6 lug rear end. I've put the 5 on 5 axles in it.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

i like that truck. but aired out my step is a hare more than 1" off the ground - that one is much higher. just want to make sure it will tuck whatever i put on it

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

Break out the tape measure.
That's the only way to know for sure.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

Keep in mind that those 15" wheels won't fit over your wilwood calipers/rotors. You'll probably need a minimum 17"-18" wheel.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

suscribed

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

i know the 15's won't fit. they are what i have right now to test for size. gonna break out the measuring tools i suppose.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

You need to reverse engineer your wheel size.
I'm estimating you will need approximately a 28" tall rear tire to air out inside those tiny stepside fenders.
Your "desired" sidewall height will determine what rim diameter you go with.
Personally,... I would use a 40 series tire on at least a 18" rim.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

What was / is the part number on your Moser axles ? (asking to verify the rear end housing )

What Keith is asking above ^^ The total length of your 69 model rear end housing could be say a 70 model (changed out somewhere along the way..) and it could be the longer version. It's unlikely yes, but it's something I'd check to be sure before ordering your wheels. On a stepper = even more critical.

Lay underneath the rear of the truck and have the wife / buddy hold one end of the tape against the back of the brake backing plate. The early housing will be 55.5" long. If for some reason it has a later rear housing in it, it will be 57" long.

My luck .. if I were in your position and assumed it was the original 55.5, it would be the 57" housing. It could throw your backspacing off as much as .75" per side. On a bagged truck especially that could be bad news. I have a 69 stepper with the early housing in it. My bet is yours will be the early housing too .. just saying it will only take a couple min to be sure and could save you big $.

255/45/20 on a 20x8.5 - 4.75" BS on an early housing will tuck easily on the back. 255/40/20 on a 20x8.5 - 5.5" BS on the front

No problems IMO, even bagged. I had this setup on my truck for a while with the 73-87 front Kmember swap, McGaughy's 1.25" rotors and 2.5" dropped spindles if that helps.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...444414&page=10

Post 234 if you want to see the front tire size. That's a 255/40/20 with 5.5" BS. 20x8.5. If I were you, I'd do 5.5" up front to be safe. On my ~5" static in the front IMO it was a little too far in but this setup would be good on a bagged truck.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

just measured the housing and its 57". So I'm assuming now it has been swapped somewhere. guess these axles are going back - actually I'm going to pull the housing apart and get the axles out and know for sure. i got the 30.5" length from moser. may be too short now. joys of building an old truck. hehehe.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

Correct - the ones you will need are 31 5/16" long. Whew .. glad you caught it before you got your wheels :)

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

.. you could also find an early housing and swap it over, using the Mosers you have now and allow yourself to use wheels with up to .75 less backspacing. (they will look wider / more lip ) .. the early housings are highly desirable, especially on a stepper.

http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...hrevrolet_c10/

Keith's truck is one of my favorite steppers ever. This is a 22x9" wheel with 5"BS - Early housing

If it were me, I'd keep my 30.5" axles and try to find an early housing to build. You gotta build one anyway right? :metal: And it would be easier to get it all shined up and painted while out of the truck.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

the truck is down to the bare frame with just the suspension installed and the body drop. if it will warm up a bit ill be able to spray the frame and finalize the little things on the chassis. I have cut the perches off and re-welded them on to correct the pinion angle as well as welded the lower bag mounts on so this axle is more than likely staying in. Im looking at some adv.1 wheels (or similar - maybe forgeline) so the deep look isn't something i really care about on this build. I don't really care for the larger rears than the fronts - if you want rake just air up the back a bit more org drop the front. Bu that truck looks cool. I've just fitted a 5.3 LQ4 motor and 4l60e trans, made a 1 pc driveshaft and am getting ready to make the headers. ill supercharge it w/ a pro charger once i get the body fit proper. just trying to get the chassis sorted out before i jump into the "easy" stage.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

Rgr that. Good luck with it.

Re: wheels size help for dropped 69 step side
 

i appreciate all the insight. anything else you can think of, please let it fly.