Am I just nuts?

[68Stepbed]

Ok, a couple months ago, I upgraded to 17" wheels from 15" wheels. I really like the look of the new wheels and all, but I don't like the way it seemed to have altered the stance. It seems as if it sits a bit taller with the larger wheels. My truck has a 3.5/5 drop and I've always liked the stance, but it also always had 15's. Now, though, with the 17's, I find my self wanting it to sit a bit lower(about an inch) all around.

I'm thinking of switching to a 2" front spring and getting a 1.5" block for the rear. I can have the blocks for the rear machined if it's too much. I may have it machined with about a 4 deg. angle to adjust the pinion angle as well.

What do you think? Am I just ? Or do you agree?

With 17's now.



How she sat with 15's.

[speedfreak369]

looks fine i would leave it... it is a beautiful truck

[treveiger]

I think the rims changed the look of your truck more so than anything else with the stance. Maybe your just not use to it?

[lakeroadster]

Probably the difference in tire side wall height that makes it appear higher to you.

To me it looks ideal just as is and it looked good before, too!

Is that an SNJ in the one picture? What's the story there?

[lolife99]

I like the 17's much better.
Do you think you can lower it any more, without creating rubbing issues?
Looks like the wheels stick outside the fenders, slightly.

[Stocker]

It looks horrible -- you should get rid of it quickly, and for a pittance. I can be there soon (at your convenience, of course) to take that poor homely beast off your hands.



Ahhhhhh, who am I kidding, it looks fantastic. Like treveiger said, maybe you're just not used to it yet?

[Hezie]

Matt,it looks like your overall tire hight is smaller which will give you more space between the tire and fender opening and make it look higher.You already know what I would do.And of course I love the new wheels.

[dubds10]

How about you give us the specs to both tire sizes...then it'd be easy enough to figure out if anything actually did change. Looks the same to me though. Much better with the 17s too.

[68Stepbed]

Well, the front tire dia. is the same at 27" 255/60/15-255/50/17. The rear tire is a bit taller than the old ones. 275/60/15(28") 275/55/17(29")

I guess you're right. I may just need to get used to them. I know I can go lower without the tires rubbing, but I will have to change my exhaust, which I need to do anyway. The bozo that did my exhaust didn't do a good job and it rubs and bumps in a couple places anyway. Going lower would make it worse, though, if not corrected.

Lakeraodster, SNJ? Are you asking about the plane?

[lakeroadster]

Yep, the plane.... (Navy) SNJ a.k.a (USAAC)T-6 Texan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-6_Texan

[jborders]

I just changed to 22s from 15 inch wheels and was thinking the same thing about mine. The tire is the same o.d. as my older ones were but it just doesn't look right to me. I'm thinking about lowering it another inch or two as well. It must be something about the shorter side wall that makes it stand out more or something.

[glider_6969]

I tend to argree with the guys here, that's a great looking truck,, It wouldn't take much for me to get use to it

[ls1nova71]

Personally, I think it looks great, and wouldn't mess with it. But if you do, you might want to put pinion angle guage on it first to see how much angle you really need, 4 degrees sounds like a little too much.

[68Stepbed]

Yeah, I'm just guessing at the pinion angle. I'll definetly check it before actually having the shims made or what not.

Lakeroadster, yep, it's a T-68 training plane. It's at a local Warbird museum. www.tnairmuseum.com


I went to get pics with this A1H Skyraider, but he didn't have it out.


I appreciate everyone's opinion. I may leave it alone for now and try to get used to it. If it keeps bugging me though, I may end up lowering it a tad more.

[matthew20061]

I would leave it, looks great in my opinion!

[tubbedII]

Although I think it looks great as is, I would drop it another inch as long as there's no rubbing issues. I perfer little to no wheel gap. I think you have it right too with the 1" in front and 1.5" in the rear additional drop. I think with that it'll still have a good looking rake to it.

[1970 Bowtie]

Let me start by saying I love your truck,one of my favorites on the site.As far as the rims I like the old school look of the 15,s more tire less rim.