4/6 drop & wheel spec ?'s

[CHASE71]

I have 71 swb fleetside. A 4/6 drop from ece is on its way. I plan on running 17x8 on front and 17x9 on the rear. I would like to run as tall a tire as posible and i would like to fill out the fender wells as much as i can. I really dont know what size tires to get. I also dont know the backspacing should be. Can anyone help??? Any suggestions, opinions, pics, or comments are welcomed and appreceated. Also the guy at ece said i would not need a c notch kit at 6", is this true?

Thanks
chase

[mcmlxix]

I had a 72 stepside with 17x8.5 Imapala SS wheels.... 255/55/17 tires....
I had the ECE kit and I was riding on my rubber bumpers... My next step was to have a piece of 4" pipe welded into the frame for clearance.... never happened because I sold the truck...

[A69C10]

I've got the same problem. im looking at 275 55 17. back space on rear should be 5 inch, 67-late 69 need 4 inch bs due to axle width. google- rimsntires tire size calculator (should help)

[68Stepbed]

I'm running a 3.5/5 drop on my 68 stepper. It has 17x8(4" bs) up front and 17x9.5(5.5" bs with 1/4" spacer) on the rear. My tires are 255/50/17 front, 275/55/17 rear.



As for backspacing, 4-4.5" of bs on an 8" wheel up front will work. I recommend either 4.75 or 5" of bs on the rear.

Some other guys run 255/60/17(f) 275/60/17(r) with a 4/6 drop with no issues.

[CHASE71]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

i had a 72 stepside with 17x8.5 imapala ss wheels.... 255/55/17 tires....
I had the ece kit and i was riding on my rubber bumpers... My next step was to have a piece of 4" pipe welded into the frame for clearance.... Never happened because i sold the truck...

so will i need a c-notch kit?

[dandansuperman]

First of all, Congrats on picking out a great drop kit. I just finished putting on the 4/6 drop kit from ECE this past winter. My original plan was to go with a 17" wheel. I even bought the wheels and ended up sending them back. I ended up going with the American Racing AR 604's in 20". The backspacing is 5.5" and the wheels are 8.5" wide. I went with Toyo ST II's front and rear. The rear tires are 295/40/20, and the fronts are 255/40/20. The tires fill up the wheel wells perfect with no rubbing issues. I did install a 1.5" spacer in the rear. If you have long tube headers be prepared to remove them. Mine are about 2" from hitting the ground with the drop kit. Good luck with your install. Send me some pics when your done.

[CHASE71]

Dandansuperman,
thanks for the info. Is your truck c-notched?

[CHASE71]

Ok this is what i want to go with.
71 swb fleet w/ 4/6 drop from ece no c-notch
front-17x8 w/ 4.5 backspacing and 255/60r17
rear- 17x9 w/ 5 backspacing and 275/60r17

i think this will give me the look i am going for.
Anyone see any problems or have any more advice please let me know.

Thanks
chase

[68Stepbed]

That sounds golden, man. What kind of wheels do you plan to get?

[dandansuperman]

No C-Notch. I did a lot of research and found that the C-Notch was not necessary for this drop. The truck had brand new factory springs and shocks before I dropped it, and it rides 10X better now. The spindles,kyb shocks, and shock relocation kit make the truck ride nice. I don't want to make your decision about the wheel size, but 20' wheels look great on these trucks in my opinion.

[CHASE71]

Thanks for all the info. Plan on going w/ some cragar soft 8's in black.

[mcmlxix]

I didn't NEED a C notch. I had 1/4" plate steel in the bed covering the rotted wood bed, so it added some weight. I could have used shorter bump stops and been OK.

[AusTx68]

Here's mine running the ECE 4.5/6 kit with 20's. No c-notch but I wish I had one when I go over a bad road.

[Jonce]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

Here's mine running the ECE 4.5/6 kit with 20's. No c-notch but I wish I had one when I go over a bad road.

Your truck has the perfect stance!

Really nice body work too, I'm jealous!

[N2TRUX]

That drop might not "need" a C-notch, but I would do one anyway. You may as well do it once and be done.

[mac808]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

Here's mine running the ECE 4.5/6 kit with 20's. No c-notch but I wish I had one when I go over a bad road.

Wow! Gorgeous truck AusTx! That is clean!! Perfect stance and the wheels fill the wells perfectly!

What offsets are you running on your set of 20's?

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by mac808

Wow! Gorgeous truck AusTx! That is clean!! Perfect stance and the wheels fill the wells perfectly!

What offsets are you running on your set of 20's?

Fronts 255/40/20
20x8.5 (4.5 bs)

Rears 295/40/20
20x10 (5.5 bs)

[72BlckButy]

Here's mine... granted, running 20's. 4.5/6" ECE drop with 6-lug disc brake upgrade w/o a c-notch:

[N2TRUX]

X2

[68chevyLQ4]

Thanks AusTx68 and 72blckbuty. I know what tire and wheel sizes I will be getting now. I live about 5 miles from ECE for the drop too!



AustTx68 you have the stock rearend in yours? Just wondering so I can use your backspace specs. I have the stock 68 rear in mine..

[djw32]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

Fronts 255/40/20
20x8.5 (4.5 bs)

Rears 295/40/20
20x10 (5.5 bs)

What kind of drop spindles are you running?

[djw32]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Here's mine... granted, running 20's. 4.5/6" ECE drop with 6-lug disc brake upgrade w/o a c-notch:

Attachment 743884

Attachment 743885

This truck is sweet! What is the measurement (front and back) between the ground and the top of the fender (the wheel opening)? Again, absolutely killer truck!

[72BlckButy]

Here's the specs I included w/ my build thread:

Before the drop:
Driver's Side Front: 33 1/2"
Driver's Side Rear: 33"
Passenger Side Front: 33 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 32 7/8"

After the drop: (15" ralleys)
Driver's Side Front: 28"
Driver's Side Rear: 29"
Passenger Side Front: 28 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 28 3/4"

After the new wheels (4/3/10):
Driver's Side Front: 28 7/16""
Driver's Side Rear: 29 5/16"
Passenger Side Front: 28 1/2"
Passenger Side Rear: 29 5/16"

It will be very important to measure your truck "BEFORE" and after as this will be the only way to determine if you received the correct drop springs. I am running the stock rearend in the truck which is the narrower version. If you plan on going with bags (ever) I would consider running a different BS on the front/rear wheels.

Here are the specs on my wheels and tires:

Billet Specialties Vintec's
Front: 20x8.5" w/ 5.5" BS
- Center Bore: 3.430
- Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5"
Rear: 20x10" w/ 4.75" BS
- Center Bore: 4.250 (due to the center hub on the rear axle of my '69 [meas. 3.5"; BS only offered 3.43])
- Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5"

Toyo Proxes S/T ii'sFront: 255/40-20
Rear: 295/40-20

Before you order wheels and tires, do the following:

- Drop your truck with the drop kit, bags, and whatever else you plan on running. Including disc brakes and whatever other suspension mods you are planning. To many people order wheels before they have finished up their wish list for their truck and are then left to run spacers, etc.
- Measure "your" truck for the wheels and tires. (even with stock components, your truck will/may vary from another's. Spindles vary, people may assume they have the stock rearend and the PO swapped it, and the list goes on. Anymore, no two trucks are the same.
- After measuring your specific application, order your wheels and tires.

For more info on my truck, just ask, or read the build thread which covers every aspect of the drop and disc brake upgrade, wheels alternatives, etc. Click on Project Blank Slate in my signature.

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by djw32

What kind of drop spindles are you running?

They are from ECE's 4/6 drop Kit. The kit comes with 2.5" drop spindles and 1.5" drop springs. I swapped out the springs for 2" drop springs to get a total drop of 4.5/6

[djw32]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Here's the specs I included w/ my build thread:

Before the drop:
Driver's Side Front: 33 1/2"
Driver's Side Rear: 33"
Passenger Side Front: 33 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 32 7/8"

After the drop: (15" ralleys)
Driver's Side Front: 28"
Driver's Side Rear: 29"
Passenger Side Front: 28 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 28 3/4"

After the new wheels (4/3/10):
Driver's Side Front: 28 7/16""
Driver's Side Rear: 29 5/16"
Passenger Side Front: 28 1/2"
Passenger Side Rear: 29 5/16"

It will be very important to measure your truck "BEFORE" and after as this will be the only way to determine if you received the correct drop springs. I am running the stock rearend in the truck which is the narrower version. If you plan on going with bags (ever) I would consider running a different BS on the front/rear wheels.

Here are the specs on my wheels and tires:

Billet Specialties Vintec's
Front: 20x8.5" w/ 5.5" BS
- Center Bore: 3.430
- Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5"
Rear: 20x10" w/ 4.75" BS
- Center Bore: 4.250 (due to the center hub on the rear axle of my '69 [meas. 3.5"; BS only offered 3.43])
- Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5"

Toyo Proxes S/T ii'sFront: 255/40-20
Rear: 295/40-20

Before you order wheels and tires, do the following:

- Drop your truck with the drop kit, bags, and whatever else you plan on running. Including disc brakes and whatever other suspension mods you are planning. To many people order wheels before they have finished up their wish list for their truck and are then left to run spacers, etc.
- Measure "your" truck for the wheels and tires. (even with stock components, your truck will/may vary from another's. Spindles vary, people may assume they have the stock rearend and the PO swapped it, and the list goes on. Anymore, no two trucks are the same.
- After measuring your specific application, order your wheels and tires.

For more info on my truck, just ask, or read the build thread which covers every aspect of the drop and disc brake upgrade, wheels alternatives, etc. Click on Project Blank Slate in my signature.

Thank you.