I've read every thread I can find across PSN, PSA, .org, FTE for a few days now and I'm still struggling to find the answer I'm looking for so maybe yall can help me out.
I've got an '02 F-250, U/A codes, leveled running 33s (285/75/16s) and plan on going to X-codes+my leveling kit and F-350 blocks, fab a trackbar myself.
Interested in going to anything up to 37s without getting any taller than the above suspension setup. I want pizza cutters - looking at 37x12.50R16 or 36x12.50R16 - but so few tires come in 36x12.50 so probably 36x13.50. Shooting for 4.25 backspace (-6 offset). I am not afraid of any amount of trimming, provided I can keep it looking reasonably clean.
Who has run 37s leveled and what did you need to trim? Fender? Fender liner? How did you address the fender liner being fastened to the fender lip? Any pictures would be awesome.
As an aside, anyone out there that's run 37s or 36s on 3.73s with a handshaker? Happy or unhappy with the performance drop from stockers/33s/35s? I'm DP tuned + intake + exhaust, read so many conflicting reports about the need to regear or not for 37s with a 6 speed.
Cliffs notes: big tires, no lift - what needs to be trimmed?
Curious what I need to cut out to fit 36s or 37s, how i address securing the fender liner, etc.
Bushwacker cutouts are always an option but those add more width than I wanted to add and will look a little funny with 36s...think their radius is set up for 42s or something.
Thanks for chiming in - had a hunch you'd respond. Drooled over your truck for years. You're one of the few big tire low lift guys out there, or at least of the ones talking about it. I'd say a solid 95% of the threads I found on big tires low lift end with "well tank's truck...."
Crazy how much those bushwackers dwarfed the 36s which I'm a little afraid of. The 41s fill them out way better.
How do the bushwackers deal with securing the fender liner once you cut away the lip it is secured to OEM? Read the instructions but it leaves it pretty vague. I can't find pictures of an install anywhere.
I guess what I'm trying to figure out - at the 2/3" lift the xcodes+level/350 blocks net me, what's gotta come out to stuff 37s, and can that amount of trimming be accomplished cleanly without going all the way to the bushwackers.
How do the bushwackers deal with securing the fender liner once you cut away the lip it is secured to OEM? Read the instructions but it leaves it pretty vague. I can't find pictures of an install anywhere.
Well on my f-350 i have the stock front springs with a 3 inch level kit, truck sits level across, i have 35's but there really wide and have a huge offset, and all i had to do to clear was trim just the bottom corner of the fender and some of the bumper. i know i can fit 36's on rims with a smaller offset. If you'd like a picture of what i had to trim i can get them later today.
diesel_84....Yeah, secret is definitely in the offset. Dunno if you're on leafs or coils or what you're rubbing on or how wide your 35s are, but usually closer to stock offset will keep out of parts versus causing rubbing.
Looks like Tank had miles of room on 36s and cutouts....can't believe you'd have to go all the way to cutouts to clear 37s. Main beef with the cutouts is the added width....they add like 5" of coverage or something. I'd have to go way up in offset to get it to proportion right and then I start beating up my unit bearings. I wish bushwacker sold a 'narrow body' version of the cutouts. I want the diameter but not the width.
Guess the answer is to buy some 37s and start cutting. Maybe on some repop fenders...trim up to clear, weld in a lip for the fender liner to mount to, and have them painted?
Yeah I found the Hanneman's in my searches as well. I think I could buy replacement sheetmetal, cut and weld on them until I'm happy, and get them sprayed with color+clear before I get into them the $800 + color/clear I'd need on the Hannemans.
I've got 37" (true 36.6") tires on my 02 350 with no lift. It doesn't rub due to the bushwacker cutouts and my beadlocks have 3.5" backspacing. They rub if if the wheel is turned to one side and the truck is an a curb or hill, nothing a leveling kit won't fix. With my experience they rub on the leafs with anything 35"+ and over 4" BS, but I had lugs molded on the sidewall, that couldn't have helped.
Sorry for the horrible picture, I'll get a better one today.
i think i pussed out for a set of 35s. still undecided.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ford Power Stroke Nation
2.5M posts
107.4K members
Since 2007
A forum community dedicated to Ford Power Stroke owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about diesel performance, modifications, EGR deletes, troubleshooting, lift kits, tires, wheels, maintenance, and more!