Fun with military tires on an 80...
- Thread starter CodyLX450
- Start date
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
CodyLX450 said:
My unloaded LX has Slee's 6". Being unloaded it's higher than 6" for sure. Slee guesses 7+. With my 35's I still rub in the rear and Saturday I almost ripped off my mud flap. I'm bumpstopped 2". I even had to lower my rear shock mounts by 1.5" because I had a wheel-lifter with the 6" on. You're going to have to cut and/or bump stop the thing considerably (Slee told my this when I thought about 37's). If you bump stop the thing a bunch you'll have a far less steady truck...especially with a loaded roof rack.
Not trying to be negative....but being up 6" is already a negative....I far preferred my '93 at just under 4". It was stable and safe and ran any obstacle.
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
What other mods have been done (or soon to be done)??
Is this thing locked? geared? upgraded shafts??
Bodylift?
Different strokes for different folks. Seems to me your going about the build all wrong... especially if you truly want it to be a "dual sport" vehicle that performs in overland and the rocks. Its too big for any serious road driving IMHO and too top heavy and tall to be a worthy rock rig.
I hate bodylifts on most rigs... I absolutely hate them on 80's. You have a very heavy body on top of that frame... Not too mention how horrid they look with gaps in the frame, the rear crossmember hanging down, etc.
None the less, look like you have a goal in mind, don't let us ruin it
Is this thing locked? geared? upgraded shafts??
Bodylift?
Different strokes for different folks. Seems to me your going about the build all wrong... especially if you truly want it to be a "dual sport" vehicle that performs in overland and the rocks. Its too big for any serious road driving IMHO and too top heavy and tall to be a worthy rock rig.
I hate bodylifts on most rigs... I absolutely hate them on 80's. You have a very heavy body on top of that frame... Not too mention how horrid they look with gaps in the frame, the rear crossmember hanging down, etc.
None the less, look like you have a goal in mind, don't let us ruin it
devinsixtyseven
Explorer
It's really interesting to see a build that's got a little bit of "rockcrawler" mixed with a little "overland". I think there's a way to do both, but like someone already said it's a lot more than just big tires, they have to fit, flex, and turn lock to lock, and the whole deal needs to be turnkey transparent to anybody driving the rig, on the highway in particular.
May I suggest a Lincoln Lift vs the body lift...along the same lines as a Lincoln Locker. The body lift will only compound the tricycle problem if you limit the articulation, particularly with so much stuff on the roof.
Good luck with it, I'm looking forward to seeing how you solve the clearance and breakage issue.
Are you going to Herculine (or something) the body panels? Yesterday, I was on the trail with a guy who did a really trick forest pattern on the body, vs the standard straight line. Sorry no pics...but it was an interesting idea.
-Sean
May I suggest a Lincoln Lift vs the body lift...along the same lines as a Lincoln Locker. The body lift will only compound the tricycle problem if you limit the articulation, particularly with so much stuff on the roof.
Good luck with it, I'm looking forward to seeing how you solve the clearance and breakage issue.
Are you going to Herculine (or something) the body panels? Yesterday, I was on the trail with a guy who did a really trick forest pattern on the body, vs the standard straight line. Sorry no pics...but it was an interesting idea.
-Sean
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
Hats of the Cody for wanting to create a "different" beast. My 80's were/are built to be different so I can relate.
BEFORE Cody sinks any more $$$s into his truck....or he starts cutting into it, my suggestion is to have a chat with Slee about the pros and cons of very large tires. I see Cody running the fun trails here in AZ. Without articulation I see that fun disappaiting into disappointment. TAKE YOUR TIME CODY.....we've seen you and your truck grow. Keep it growing HEALTHY!
Here's how Cody started out:
BEFORE Cody sinks any more $$$s into his truck....or he starts cutting into it, my suggestion is to have a chat with Slee about the pros and cons of very large tires. I see Cody running the fun trails here in AZ. Without articulation I see that fun disappaiting into disappointment. TAKE YOUR TIME CODY.....we've seen you and your truck grow. Keep it growing HEALTHY!
Here's how Cody started out:
CodyLX450
Adventurer
I'm definately taking a different route than most typical builds of an 80 on IH8MUD.
I love the looks of the truck, and I've seen the pictures of 2 and 3" bodylifts on 80s so it doesn't look too bad to me, especially since it would be functional for my needs with the big tires.
I really like the look of these tires on my LX, the aggressive tread, the sound on the pavement, the nearly inpenetrable sidewalls...etc.
Ive played around with the 35s and their limits on the truck and enjoyed them.
I know I'll be changing a lot of things to make the 38s work, and I'm ok with that. I've always liked doing things a bit differently.
I get a lot of responses like "Those are too big", "those are a poor choice for rocks, expeditions, trails, etc", "You'll experience problems with _________".
I expect problems with the common off the shelf stuff, as its all designed for 33s or 35s.
This will be a fun experiment for me making the truck work with the tires and the tires work with the truck.
I'll expect to make some mistakes in trial and error, but the great thing is I will learn a lot and have fun doing it.
I love the looks of the truck, and I've seen the pictures of 2 and 3" bodylifts on 80s so it doesn't look too bad to me, especially since it would be functional for my needs with the big tires.
I really like the look of these tires on my LX, the aggressive tread, the sound on the pavement, the nearly inpenetrable sidewalls...etc.
Ive played around with the 35s and their limits on the truck and enjoyed them.
I know I'll be changing a lot of things to make the 38s work, and I'm ok with that. I've always liked doing things a bit differently.
I get a lot of responses like "Those are too big", "those are a poor choice for rocks, expeditions, trails, etc", "You'll experience problems with _________".
I expect problems with the common off the shelf stuff, as its all designed for 33s or 35s.
This will be a fun experiment for me making the truck work with the tires and the tires work with the truck.
I'll expect to make some mistakes in trial and error, but the great thing is I will learn a lot and have fun doing it.
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
CodyLX450 said:
The above is only true IF you want to retain your Cruiser's looks, body and panels. If you're willing to cut the crap out of it so the axles can articulate (ala, Slee's Short Bus) then the above is not true.
Please keep us posted on your work. I luv watching non-typical builds! Typical same-ole same-ole = boring (to me)
(As is....don't take that same line in your pic)
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
CodyLX450 said:
I hope you do get aggressive with this. AZ needs a wilded-out 80-series. GO FOR IT!
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
I'm excited. I got the OK finally to rip the flairs off the LX. Lining is going on too.
FourByLand
Expedition Leader
Very impressive, keep it up!
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