'86 Squarebody Tires/Rims Help

[Nobondo]

I am working on a squarebody with my high school shop class. Its a 1986 reg cab long box 2wd with a 305 v8. It currently has junk tires on it. 7" truck rallies in the front and 8" in the rear - 15" diameter.

I have been reading threads and can't seem to make heads or tails about tire sizes for this thing. It is just going to stay stock for now, but eventually an axle flip in the back and maybe a 3" drop in the front.

Should I be tracking down another pair of 8's for the front?

Ideas?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Nobondo

I am working on a squarebody with my high school shop class. Its a 1986 reg cab long box 2wd with a 305 v8. It currently has junk tires on it. 7" truck rallies in the front and 8" in the rear - 15" diameter.

I have been reading threads and can't seem to make heads or tails about tire sizes for this thing. It is just going to stay stock for now, but eventually an axle flip in the back and maybe a 3" drop in the front.

Should I be tracking down another pair of 8's for the front?

Ideas?

It's all personal preference...

Some like 8" wheels all around w/the same size tires.
Some like the 8" wheels all around & run different size tires.
Some like the staggered 7" front/8" rear set-ups.

I like narrower front vs rear widths. I also like consistency & size the tire widths to keep the sidewall shoulders similar. it's all about what you (the class) want.

Since it's a school class project, I would imagine budget steers many decisions so using what 'ya have makes sense. 255/70-15's on the rear 8"s are about the same height as OE 235/75's. A 7" wheel 225/70 tire combo would work well on the front w/a 3" drop & be a good match to the rear.

[RodnRudy]

Here's a pic of my 77. It has 15/8 with 275/60 15's on the rear and 15/6 1/2", van wheels, with 225/70 15's on the front. It's lowered with 2 1/2 spindles and 3" springs in the front and a flip kit for the rear with a couple of leaves removed. This should give you an idea what yours would look like. Tires are Cooper Cobras

[Nobondo]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

It's all personal preference...

Some like 8" wheels all around w/the same size tires.
Some like the 8" wheels all around & run different size tires.
Some like the staggered 7" front/8" rear set-ups.

I like narrower front vs rear widths. I also like consistency & size the tire widths to keep the sidewall shoulders similar. it's all about what you (the class) want.

Since it's a school class project, I would imagine budget steers many decisions so using what 'ya have makes sense. 255/70-15's on the rear 8"s are about the same height as OE 235/75's. A 7" wheel 225/70 tire combo would work well on the front w/a 3" drop & be a good match to the rear.

Awesome, thanks for the feedback.

[Nobondo]

Originally Posted by RodnRudy

Here's a pic of my 77. It has 15/8 with 275/60 15's on the rear and 15/6 1/2", van wheels, with 225/70 15's on the front. It's lowered with 2 1/2 spindles and 3" springs in the front and a flip kit for the rear with a couple of leaves removed. This should give you an idea what yours would look like. Tires are Cooper Cobras

Ya that's a pretty sweet ride height. The students are going bonkers talking about air bags (of course) but I'll have none of that!

Thanks for sharing the picture, ride height info, wheels/tires. Very helpful.

[Ad Cam]

For comparison, my truck has 8" rallys all around with 255/60/15 tires. Drop is a 4/6.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Nobondo

Ya that's a pretty sweet ride height. The students are going bonkers talking about air bags (of course) but I'll have none of that!

Thanks for sharing the picture, ride height info, wheels/tires. Very helpful.

Shop class is about learning so have them do a the math/economics (their budget & completion timeline) of the project in class. Add up the costs of an air set-up (bags, plates, tank, compressors, system controls, air-line) & then do the math for a decent budget static drop set-up (spindles, cut a coil, & a flip kit). Calc out some labor hours for the effort on both.

Budget static drop gets it done & out on the road sooner since it's much easier on the wallet.

[mongocanfly]

When I had my 86 ,it was on western bullet hole 8in wheels and 60s all around....one bonus for keeping all the tires the same is rotating them when needed...after a few yrs I lowered it by removing leafs and cutting front coils...to help with carrying loads I added air shocks to the rear...it sat a little higher than Rudys..the top of my fender was even with the top of the tire..

[Nobondo]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

When I had my 86 ,it was on western bullet hole 8in wheels and 60s all around....one bonus for keeping all the tires the same is rotating them when needed...after a few yrs I lowered it by removing leafs and cutting front coils...to help with carrying loads I added air shocks to the rear...it sat a little higher than Rudys..the top of my fender was even with the top of the tire..

What size tire was it? I just found a full set of 8" rims for $150 and I really like the idea of having the same size tire so they can be rotated. This truck will be used as opposed to more of a show truck where having a different front setup might be desired.

[Loco83]

Mine is a 4/5 static drop with 2 cut coils on the front and flip kit on the rear, tire and rim pkg is 15x8 with 245/60 front and 15x10 with 295/50 TA's, always liked to fill the rear wheel well with lots of tire.

[Nick_R_23]

If you’re looking for a rotatable setup, a 255/60R15 works really well for all 4 corners on 15x8 rims.

[Joe Pass]

Here's mine with 10x15" (5" back space) with 275/60/15 tires
Front is an 8x15" rim (3.75 back space)with 235/60/15 tires

[Joe Pass]

And my uncle Joe.....not intended to upload...lol
Also a flip kit in rear and in the front 2.5 drop spindle and 2" drop spring

[dagnabbitt]

I asked Loco about his tire selection and was glad I did, he is right, the tires fill the wheelwells really nicely.

Mine is a 2.5 inch spindle with a 2 inch drop spring in front and an axle flip in the back. Aside from spring removal - which can be dangerous without experience and the correct tools - this sort of drop is pretty easy to do. I did not do a C notch but occasionally wish I had.

Before, Hits of the 80's



With axle flip



And when done



And with new rim and tire combo

[mongocanfly]

Nobondo...I dont remember the exact size the tires were..I just remember they were 60 series..been 30 or so yrs ago

[Rich84]

I have 255-70S

3" spindles with 1" drop springs and a flip kit with no notch.

[Loco83]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I asked Loco about his tire selection and was glad I did, he is right, the tires fill the wheelwells really nicely.

Mine is a 2.5 inch spindle with a 2 inch drop spring in front and an axle flip in the back. Aside from spring removal - which can be dangerous without experience and the correct tools - this sort of drop is pretty easy to do. I did not do a C notch but occasionally wish I had.

Before, Hits of the 80's

Attachment 2135528

With axle flip

Attachment 2135529

And when done

Attachment 2135530

And with new rim and tire combo

Attachment 2135531

Looks good.

[Nobondo]

Thanks for all the latest messages and pictures guys. This has been the exact info that I have been looking for and has narrowed down some options that fit our budget. The more pictures that I see, the more I think that I should be spending bigger money down the road when we firm up on the lowering plan.

For now I have found a set of 15x8 8-spoke wheels for $150 and a set of 255-70 BFG's in near mint shape for $300 obo. I would rather have 60's, but for the budget, I think this setup would get us through the safety check and when we finalize the lowering of the truck, we can nail down the exact rim/tire combo and then sell off the previous set and recoup our investment there.

Fior a stock height truck, this set will look great.

[LT7A]

RodnRudy, that is a good looking truck. Great colors, highlighted with the one year only ochre trim. Very nice. Got a thread or more info on it?

Nobondo, it sounds like you guys have a cool project. Would doing a build thread fit into the curriculum? 265/70/15s are nice wide tires and tall enough to help to make the wheel openings not look so big. I know you have what you need for now, but for future reference.

[Nobondo]

I a perfect world, we would build something from the ground up and a thread that the students participated in updating would be grand. For now I am just trying to reinvigorate a dead program and having the squarebody in the classroom has certainly lit a spark. Every day we are picking away at something.