Chronicles of Project Hank

[FormerMarine1981]

Bump, any updates?

[tubolove]

So. Working the front suspension up and down leaves me in a quandary. Truck looks great with the tire at that ride height. The problem is at full jounce and the wheel turned at full lock the tire contacts the fender. I M not willing to comprimise on drivability for looks no matter how good it looks. Rolling the fender will not provide enough clearance. I might be able to gain enough clearance if I machine the adapter thinner and the wheel face thinner but these are expensive and undesirable options. So my only real options are to open the wheel wells or raise the truck a bit. I found these fenders from Autofab. I don't love them but it would give me the clearance I need to keep the truck at this ride height. I don't like how the wheel well opening goes into the body line. Putting in the stock I beams will give me the height I need to clear the wheel well also. So it is survey time. Here are some pics of the Autofab fenders Let me know what you think.

[tubolove]

You know what would really be awesome. If there were any fender flares for our trucks. That would allow me to open up the wheel wells and give the front end a more aggressive look. I've googled fender flares but have come up with nothing. Anyone here ever seen any fender flares for our trucks?

[Heirloom]

Yes, I have seen them. In fact I have done them.....both. Both bulged fenders and bulged bed sides. It looks good, better than the raised fender imho because of the body line. I would suggest bulging the fender and cutting the lower front corner off the fender. Match the front by bulging the rear too.

I used to work at Autofab. Prolly stopping in today in fact.

[Alstoyz]

Hey bud... I just swapped my '71 F-350 4x4 dually for a '71 F-250 crew cab 4x2... My plans are to install a '75 dually front I-beams and disc. Eventually I want to lower it. What's your opinion on the AIMS lowering I-beams??? What mods did you make to the beams???
Thanks, Allen...

[tubolove]

No mods to the beams at all. As a matter of fact they are likely going to be for sale in the next 2-4 weeks so hit me up with a pm if interested. As far as the quality I was a little leary of the first set I received but they redesigned the area I was concerned about before the Custom Classic Truck install/article. After seeing the article I asked them to swap the redesigned ones and they did for only the cost of shipping. Stand up company if you ask me. I think for an f350 that isnt abused and overloaded they'd be just fine.

[tubolove]

OEM F350 I beams vs dropped I beams. So. Dropped too low, OEM too high. Idk goldilocks. Whatever shall I do??

I have a set of F250 Ibeams that I could machine the kingpin size larger. Does anyone know if f350 Ibeams give more lift than f250 Ibeams?? The f350 beams have a bend in them and it looks like they may provide a bit of lift. If I remember right my 250 beams are straight.

[guhfluh]

I didn't think there was a difference between the f250 and f350 I-beams. Shows what I know.

I don't think it looks real bad at that height.

[tubolove]

Though there's a bend I don't think there's any difference between the F250 and F350 I-beams with regard to vehicle ride height. I have the factory service manuals from 1970 and it lists the ride height (measured from the top of the I-beam to the bottom of the frame) the same for both F350 and F250 models. So, unless there is a difference in the position of the hub on the spindle there should be no difference. The coil springs are definitely taller but so is the coil spring bucket.

[Alstoyz]

So... What you're saying is if I put my F350 beams on my F250, I'll need to use my 250 springs vs my 350 springs.?.?

[tubolove]

I do believe that would be correct.

[tubolove]

Buckets are definitely different. Maybe the springs still interchange. Ill measure them Next time I'm at storage and post some numbers.

[Alstoyz]

Hey Tubolove. I was just wondering.?.? What if you were to put original single wheel disc brake hubs in replace of the dually hubs and then get some wheel spacers to simulate the dually hub just a little shorter to move the wheel inboard just abit.?.? Just a thought...

[tubolove]

That is not a bad idea my friend. Only issue there is the lowered beams are for f350 kingpins. 250 knuckles will require some modification to work. Oem 250 beams put me at the same height as the oem 350 beams I already have that work fine but are too high. Id also have to see if I have any tire scrub room to spare on the inside. I think the reality is it just don't fit. Too much wheel and tire and not enough wheel well. Oem is too high. Lowered is to low. I need to be right in the middle. 1.5-2" up or 2-2.5" down. Which beams I use is going to depend on which way is easiest to go..up or down.

[Alstoyz]

Could you just get a 2" shorter coil spring with stock beams? That would require having the beams bent to correct the camber, but you'd have abit more caster than needed.?.?