Which wheels on my bagged '69 step

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by OC 72

Hard to beat Torque thrusts...but all look good!

Thanks! Seeing yours and Superflysteiny's black trucks had me thinking of swapping to my fleetside bed and running all the mouldings. Beautiful!

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by shawno72

Pic #2 looks good, but I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I thought for sure you'd go with #1!! I saw your truck under the "show your steelies post" and it had me thinking I'd run mine because I do really like that completely stock, with steelies look, but slammed to the ground. Like it was your grandfather's truck, just with the modern twist of being low. Looks great.

[Hubscrub]

Steelies no contest
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[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by 502ms

I have the same question - I have a 12-bolt rear now on my 72. From time to time, I will want to change up from 15x7 steelies to 20s all the way around...I want to stagger them in width only (20x8 front, 20x10 or so rear). I was not sure if backspacing would be enough to get it to lay out, as I lay out now on the steelies, or do I need to shorten the rear end to 50" and cut into the step bed....

This is important, as I am potentially going to add power to this truck (350/TH400 is in it now, might replace with a BBC).

I've got the early rear. At least I think so; it's 57" from backing plate to backing plate. My 20's are 10" wide. Some guys in the neighborhood into S10's have an extra rear, but it's only 49" wide. Seemed way too narrow to me. I thought maybe 2" on each side would be enough to clear the step fenders and lay out, but requiring me to cut the bedsides. And if I want to go 20/22" with maybe a 4" backspace on the rear at a later date, I don't want to shorten the rear now for the 20" with 5.25" bs. Which is why I thought of sticking with the steelies. Those bigger wheels keep calling me back though!

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Raul's truck is ridiculous man. 285/35/22 5" BS 9" wheel. I'm not sure if he has the early rear end or later .. I think his truck is a 71.

Slight trimming on the lip but it's down there pretty good. This one and Stella are two of my all time favorite steppers. I went with 20's just for a little more sidewall but these trucks are killer man. I think Keith has 265/40/22 (?) with the early rear end.

I am running 20x8.5 with 4.75" BS 255/45/20. Early housing. I don't have a picture at this moment but I'll post one asap.

I have that build bookmarked too! I'm alright with ditching the 295's if I need to. But that won't be necessary if I cut the bedsides once shortening the rear. I wonder if Raul has his bedsides cut if he's running a 285.
I couldn't remember if Stella may were 275 or 265, but Nate said I would definitely hit. I want an extremely low ride height, not just when aired out. What is that? Not sure of the actual number, but I want my wheels (not just the tires) to be nicely tucked a bit while at ride height. I'm not that crazy about a great look while parked, but then it has to be jacked up high while driving.

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

i vote painted centers also !

Love that truck!

[LilD]

IMO TTs are bordering over done. Just my opinoin, but Id stick with the steelies

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by LilD

IMO TTs are bordering over done. Just my opinoin, but Id stick with the steelies

I agree with you. It's only that I've already got them from the previous truck.

[Bennett68C10]

I vote for #2 since polished TTII's are one of my favorite wheels followed closely by #3 if you don't feel like polishing
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[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

I vote for #2 since polished TTII's are one of my favorite wheels followed closely by #3 if you don't feel like polishing
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I don't mind polishing (and they could use it right now) I've got it down to a science. Everything on my motorcycles is polished aluminum or stainless. I've got to give that Mother's Powerball on my bench a shot so I don't always wind up with that cramped claw of a hand after I'm done, though!

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by Jimbabwe

I thought for sure you'd go with #1!! I saw your truck under the "show your steelies post" and it had me thinking I'd run mine because I do really like that completely stock, with steelies look, but slammed to the ground. Like it was your grandfather's truck, just with the modern twist of being low. Looks great.

Hey thanks man, I do love the look of a truck slammed on stock steelies but I also like the look of your stepside on tt's. Just my opinion.

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by shawno72

Hey thanks man, I do love the look of a truck slammed on stock steelies but I also like the look of your stepside on tt's. Just my opinion.

Yeah, I saw the before (rallyes) and after shots of your truck, and it definitely looks way sweeter this way.

[Jimbabwe]

BTW, the steelies say DOT 3 K18 15x6 AX on them. PO says he bought a set from someone who told him they were from an '86 Blazer. Is that correct? If I decide to go with the steelies, are these disc friendly in the front?

[big_al_71]

I would say painted centers.....

[Jimbabwe]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

I would say painted centers.....

You're truck really looks fantastic with the change. I'm looking forward to getting the f & r dropmembers installed. You were running cast/painted centers too, but I'm loving the drop with the polished wheels you have now.

[Bert W]

going strictly from the p-chop pics. TTII's w/painted centers

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by Jimbabwe

You're truck really looks fantastic with the change. I'm looking forward to getting the f & r dropmembers installed. You were running cast/painted centers too, but I'm loving the drop with the polished wheels you have now.

...

Thank you for the compliment....
I had Coys with the center in black.....I am beyond happy with my bucket

[CC69Rat]

I like the gray centers too .. I went with them on my BB truck. I had steelies on my old 68 .. But, I have TT2's on my S10 too, so you can't go wrong.

[Jimbabwe]

Are those Boyd's Junkyard Dogs? I like 'em. There was a build in Street Trucks from several years ago-- primer gray '69, by a writer/editor Jeremy Cook-- running those. I was interested in seeing how it would pan out, but these people seem to come and go from mag to mag, and you never get to see the build finished!

[Jimbabwe]

Ah, I just read your build. Billet Specialties Dagger. Very nice!

[Jimbabwe]

CC69Rat: Also...So you're not hitting at all, and able to lay out with the 20x8.5 with 4.75" BS 255/45/20 combo you mentioned earlier?

[502ms]

Originally Posted by Jimbabwe

I've got the early rear. At least I think so; it's 57" from backing plate to backing plate. My 20's are 10" wide. Some guys in the neighborhood into S10's have an extra rear, but it's only 49" wide. Seemed way too narrow to me. I thought maybe 2" on each side would be enough to clear the step fenders and lay out, but requiring me to cut the bedsides. And if I want to go 20/22" with maybe a 4" backspace on the rear at a later date, I don't want to shorten the rear now for the 20" with 5.25" bs. Which is why I thought of sticking with the steelies. Those bigger wheels keep calling me back though!

One catch, the stepper bed I have has older fenders...aka smaller wheel wells. I may need a new bed or fenders...but I love the steelies...sometimes the TTs call me...
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[CC69Rat]

My truck is not bagged (yet ) but I will be around 5/7 static drop. Mine will likely never lay out but I could with this setup. No cutting, no trimming the fenders, etc... but it would be tight. Maybe 1/8" clearance. I may eventually go 265/50 on the rear. Hard to say. I just need to get the wood in the bed, the bumper on, track bar in place etc to get true ride height and the rear end centered. I have a PB upper shock bar and cnotch on the way and will probably add the 1" (maybe 3") drop arms as soon as I can.

Early rear end - 55.5" plate to plate
20x8.5 Rear 4.75" BS 255/45/20
20x8.5 Front 5.5" BS 255/40/20
73+ front K member swap
F44 1.25" HD rotors
2.5 McGaughys drop spindles

With this setup I gained about .5" front track width on each side, so I'm running 5.5" BS. The normal front BS is 5.25" (what most guys run I think)

Hope this helps .. but a 18/20 TT2 setup will look sick too!
Good luck man.

[Jimbabwe]

5/7 drop looks cool. My previous '69 had a 4.5/6 drop, and when I first got it in, compared to the stock height it had just been, I thought "Wow, look how low it is!". Two days later I was like "Hmmm, that's not very low at all, is it?"
So now, it's not so much about being able to lay frame (although I will if it can) as much as having a very low ride height. I figured if it's as low as you can get without digging a hole underneath it, I can slowly work my way upward until I like the height (if that's the right word...the Low-ght, maybe!)

So, 55.5" you say? Now I've got the guy I sold the old one to measuring my rear...not because I've been eating too many doughnuts, but because that one I know is the wider one, but this second one is 57" not 55.5".

[Jimbabwe]

Also, I have noticed many with a bagged truck seem to be using 5.25" bs in the front. When I bought the 18/20" combo I kept seeing 4.5" in the front on static dropped trucks with the 18/20 combo, so that's what I got.
The Dropmember and the CPP modular spindles both narrow the track width, so I'm hoping that won't be a problem.

Thanks everyone for their help or suggestions so far. I'm very appreciative!