37 or 38s

[montazch]

I currently have 35s under my rig with a 3 inch body lift and a 5.5 inch lift Superlift (no blocks) setup. I'm wondering if I take off the Superlift kit and replace it with a 8 inch lift Skyjacker and keep the 3 inch body lift, would I be able to put 37 or 38s under my rig? Thanks everyone!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

What axles are you runnin?

37s will be pushin it for the 35/8.8" combo. If you got a 28/7.5 then hell no.

Do you actually wheel or just wanna look cool?

 

[dogboy]

Honestly with an 8" lift and a 3" body lift, I bet it's just to look cool. That is too much lift to be a practical wheeler, in my opinion, it's too top heavy. I think it's too top heavy for street use even. And unless you have stronger axles under the truck, then with that lift and 37/38's, you aren't going to make it far before you break.

That being said, I'm sure you could fit 37's, but I'd question the fitment of 38's, as well as the durability of the axles with EITHER tire.
But that is just a guess that make sense on my part, I don't know for sure.
But, if you trim the fenders, I bet you could easily fit fit 38's or bigger.

 

[93_RangerSC]

your going to need stronger axles my buddy with a 95 has the same setup you got and was runninn 38s and he broke axles ALOT.so i would recommend keepin the 35s unless u wanna do a SAS

 

[montazch]

Okay, more questions.

Okay. I see I've opened a can of worms.

My rig is a 92 Super STX 4L pretty much stock except for the lift and rims and tires. The axles are (r) 8.8, 31 spline, disc brake converted, with 4.56 gears and a detroit locker. The front is the Dana 35 reverse, 31 spline with 4.56 gears and a locker too.

She's a show truck. She doesn't see trails. I have a full tube buggy for the trails.

Okay. The other questions. What axle swaps/changes and lift would I need to make to achieve 38s? 44s?

If anyone knows for sure or who has done this, please let me know and please share. Everyone else who thinks I'm nuts, please keep your comments to yourself. Thanks.

 

[wahlstrom1]

If it's just a show truck, go solid 44 in the front with high steer just to keep it driveable....If you still wanna go bigger then 38's, start looking at 1 ton diffs because even rolling around on the street is gonna be hard on 1/2 ton stuff.....especially brakes.

With just a stock 4L, the 31 spline 8.8 with detroit should hold 38's without an issue but you may want to look into aftermarket axle shafts if you have the cash.

 

[JohnnyU]

The front is the Dana 35 reverse, 31 spline with 4.56 gears and a locker too.

Huh? A 31 spline Dana35? Interesting.


38's are really more tire than even half-ton IFS (late model Ford, Dodge & GM) axles like to carry. Not to mention that your steering geometry will be utterly atrocious with that 8" lift.

 

[That Baker Guy]

pics of the show rig?

sorry i just like to look at the pictures

 

[dogboy]

Huh? A 31 spline Dana35? Interesting.

That is what I was thinking when I read it.
I've never heard of a 31spline D35...

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah, no such thing (you can convert a D35 to 30 splines using aftermarket parts however).

For a show queen, 38" tires shouldn't be a problem for either axle as far as strength is concerned (there are even a few guys here who have wheeled their trucks with 38s on stock axles and only broke occasionally). Like has already been said though, the steering concerns with that much lift on the TTB suspension will make driveability downright scary. Unless you go with some custom fabricated centerlink steering setup, you will not be able to keep a set of tires on it for any length of time either.
Can you trim the fenders some and maybe install Bushwacker flares to keep it looking nice? This would let you keep the suspension at a more-realistic 6" lift while still allowing you to get the 38s under there.

Otherwise I would suggest doing some reading on straight axle swaps, as this allows for more options in sorting out your steering linkage geometry. There's a bunch of info here (and in the Tech Library) about D44 swaps that might be of some help.