Need Blazer help, I need 8 lug wheels..

[LuckyScott]

I have a 72 Blazer that has been converted to one ton chevy truck axles by a previous owner. Right now it has big 36 inch tires and off road wheels and a 6 inch lift.
Would really like to improve the ride and get rid of the lift.
Looking at buying new wheels and am wondering if anybody here has any ideas. I did a search and did not find anything about 8 lug wheels.

[franken]

You need to see if the bolt pattern is metric or not. Newer are metric. Then go wheel shopping or look for used. Diameters vary a bit depending on age and I suspect tires are less commonly available in some diameters.

[Sand Wrench]

If you want to improve the ride, you should consider swapping back to a 12 bolt and a Dana 44 (axles). The one ton axles add about 400-500 pounds of un-sprung weight and add a lot of stress to the front end. The good news is, selling the one ton axles should more than pay for new axles and 6 lug wheels. GM 6 lug Rally wheels with 33x10.5 wheel and a 2.5 inch lift kit would make a great combination for on and off-road driving. Good luck!

[kwmech]

Pics of said K5 should be posted, we all like pics

[Killer Bee]

your objective is ambiguous..

exactly where you're at and exactly where you're going would help..

not to poke, but I have stumbled across loads of 8 lug info here..

share some details and you'll probably get flooded with responses..

good luck!

[LuckyScott]

I guess you are right, not enough info. Okay, here's the long story.
1972 K5 blazer. A previous owner swapped in one ton chevy truck axles. 8 lug.
The blazer has a 6 inch lift, big 16 inch rim 36 inch tall off road tires, and rides like a stagecoach.

I never go off roading and wish that the truck looked more stock and that it rode better. In order to do this I am thinking about removing the lift kit and all the crazy off road shocks, and returning it to stock height.
I have a set of leaf springs from a stock Blazer already.

I am thinking about getting a set of tires like BF Goodrich all terrain radials for it. I hear they ride much better than the 36 inch off road tires that are currently on it. However, I hear that my 16 inch rim size is an issue as tire companies don't make many tires for that size.

So, I need to either replace the axles and get back to a regular lug pattern. or find some rims that would fit these axles. Rims would be much easier and cheaper.

Any suggestions?

[SeventyOne]

get new 17" wheels for 8 lug...

[Richard]

I have a stock suspension 72 K10 SWB (6 lug, dana 44 etc) Rides like a buck board wagon. All the old straight axle trucks ride like trucks. Short wheelbase makes it worse. My first 72 a 3/4t LWB did not ride well either. With or without the lift (was a "softride"). Any over the shelf spring will not improve ride much if any. Easiest thing to do with the least amount of time and effort is order a set of Deaver spring packs. Lift or no lift the change will be dramatic.
On my restomod I am going with longer leafs (Deaver's) and or coil overs. Lastly, what tire pressure you are running? With the 36" tires no more than 30 PSI is most likely needed. Posted about some wheels in your other thread.

[LuckyScott]

Richard, thank you for your reply. I looked on summit and did not see the 8 lug wheels but Im sure I can get help from a sales person and find them. I may try them with a new set of tires first.

[franken]

My 72 K10 rides like a buckboard. I didn't buy it to ride like an S10.
The OP bought a K5 on tons (as the saying goes). There's a reason people build these trucks--so they don't break. Why buy the truck and then spend to make it weaker?

[Richard]

Here you go https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...8245/overview/

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

Richard, thank you for your reply. I looked on summit and did not see the 8 lug wheels but Im sure I can get help from a sales person and find them. I may try them with a new set of tires first.

[litebulblsc]

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

.

I am thinking about getting a set of tires like BF Goodrich all terrain radials for it. I hear they ride much better than the 36 inch off road tires that are currently on it. However, I hear that my 16 inch rim size is an issue as tire companies don't make many tires for that size.

Don't just believe what you hear. 16" rims where common on newer trucks.

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire...n-t-a-ko2.html

You can check out what size tires they offer

[simicrintz]

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

Don't just believe what you hear. 16" rims where common on newer trucks.

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire...n-t-a-ko2.html

You can check out what size tires they offer

Agreed; 15" are getting difficult to find but not 16"

[Killer Bee]

not sure where you are in anaheim but I'm right at 405/22 split next to navy weps station..

I've got a few 8 lugs here and been running bfg atkos for long time, got three sets on running trucks now..

best lt truck tire on the market, btw the only off highway lt tire we buy at work on all of our 4wd trucks..

16" is a great wheel size for practical tire applications.. if you're looking for glamour, probably want 17-18 or bigger..

remember that good tall sidewall gives you a softer ride than forklift tires, but completely depends on the look you want..

I could probably set you up with some wheels to try on your rig if you like, let me know, send pm with contact..

welcome to send info for a chat either way, maybe shorten the path to your solution

good luck!



245/75r16 bfg atko2



285/75r16 bfg atko2



235/85r16 bfg atko2 on the right



same tires with 3500#/425gal water




different tires but all 16" wheels

16x7 8 lugs with 245/75r16 goodyear wranglers





late model oe chevy 8 lug wheels 16" 36" tall



16.5 8 lugs old school

[69TowRig]

The easiest swap for 1-tons was to the square body GM axles which have 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern wheels. These are fairly ubiquitous and Dodge still uses this pattern. Ford came up with their 8 on 170mm pattern for the Super Duty in 1999 but those axles have driver-side front differentials and will not fit. Late model GM (2011+) rear 3/4 and 1-ton axles are disc-brake and 8 on 180mm.