Thread: Project Special K

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I ended up running all the same sizes on mine. Not really the same circumstances, I was being rushed to complete to make a deadline with the state but I have no regrets. It's been a dozen years now sothe date codes are probably expired and I'll have to change them but it'll be at my pace. If you suspect they may rub and you don't want to change rim specs, then just take the easy way out, get something you know will work and move on. You'll have so many more decisions to get through.. don't worry about getting everything right the first time.. it'sa Hot Rod, they are NEVER done anyway! LOL

I think you would get by with a size taller on the back but all the same does not look bad either. I tend to put my stuff low but with your aluminum slot rims, I think the higher ride height looks better.

Thanks for input! this week I stumbled across Ford steel body parts to replace the front fenders, with new steel remakes, at half of what they were going for back to when I started this project in 2008. My front fenders(two parts each fender-uppers and lowers- have holes and other issues for both the upper and lower fenders . The lowers were so far gone I had bought the only available and affordable option years ago which were Bee Bops fiberglass lowers, now 15 years from then, they aren't a good fit, and the uppers have so much work between dents and i welding a ton of pin holes, that I started searching for new metal options. Was blow away by Summit Racing coming up in the search. Even more so that the uppers are now 599.00 each, got new lowers that were steel last week for 125.00 each. Basically now months of work not required or repair shop bills to boot for more than what the new stuff will cost, and metal is ready to paint already coated on arrival. Getting excited to work on this getting it done right the first time. I will then take the used stuff and advertise on craigslist to sell them. The same brand of steel remakes on Summit, are going upwards of 800 each on other truck supply sites.

Catching up on my reading this morning and looks like I missed a couple of your earlier posts.

“…….Trying to figure out what size tire to replace old tires in back, or to keep them the same size as they are just worried if I hit a big bump if the rears will hit the tire on their front edge as the tires are wider than the fender there. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated……”


For what it’s worth Steve have you considered installing a bump stop between the frame and the axle to limit the axle travel when/if you ever hit that large pot hole? Seems like I’ve seen them on several different trucks over the years.

Also you might gain a little bit with the same advertised tire size with tires from a different company. Even though tires are labeled the same there are variances from company to company.

This is a pair of 235/ 70/R15s from different companies. They are mounted on identical rims and have the same 32 PSI pressure measured with the same gauge. The rear tire is a good ½” taller.


235 70 15 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


and the shorter tire also has a bit over a half inch wider tread width.


23570 15 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


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With my trusty "stagger tape" left over from my circle burner days, I have found "identical" tires of the same size from the same manufacturer to be as much as 3/8" difference in circumference once mounted and aired up to proper inflation. Probably from made on different days or different machines? Who knows?

Well 60 years old today and see time winding down quickly. Now that I have new front fenders, I'm looking to buy the rears next month. Working on a painting plan most of the body is rust free from when I first stripped it down over a decade ago. So it's relearning the sprayer and getting some tech support from Summit for there paint and application etc. After I get the new rear fenders I will mount one and see what the width of the tires are in comparison to a non dented original diameter. I notice the passenger side is wider than the driver-side, so maybe a slightly bent fender vs. too wide a tire. Then I'll pop for one rear new tire and see where it is in diameter compared to the currently disintegrating rubber that's on them now. After "fixing" the ever leaking left rear tire with a plug, it is now ever faster leaking! Have to laugh at the journey this truck has taken me on, and the learning curve that evolves over time.
The final painting probably will involve taking the truck to a Earl Shibe or similar place bringing my own paint for them to use, but will see. The color will be Summit Racing SU-up324 Royal Blue Pearl. When I originally bought a gallon of this I drove to their Nevada store and got color samples to get a true idea of the color. The chip was so dark it almost looked black, but taking it outside there with natural sunlight it's a deep blue. 10 years or more later looking to buy a couple gallons of the same color after using the old can on a color check of the old paint first! On there web sight it looks a lot lighter, so better to check it out first.
Anyway 60 is rolling out to be an interesting decade for sure!.

Mike P. I'll look into a bump stop too great simple solution !Thanks! Sorry for late response, got distracted with meeting a new gal and getting to know her. Another first in a long time thing!

".... Well 60 years old today and see time winding down quickly.......Sorry for late response, got distracted with meeting a new gal and getting to know her. Another first in a long time thing!....."

At just 60 you should have a lot of tomorrows to go. It sounds like life is good though, enjoy.


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Thanks Mike , it is good!

Originally Posted by stovens

Sorry for late response, got distracted with meeting a new gal and getting to know her.

There goes the project!!

Happy birthday Stovens! Painting is a love/hate thing for me. Getting new fenders sounds like a good piece of the puzzle to get.

Originally Posted by stovens

Sorry for late response, got distracted with meeting a new gal and getting to know her. Another first in a long time thing!

Yes, another case of ruination for an American male and his hot rod... Hee Hee Hee..... good for you Steve.

Thanks Ryan

Well I may be silent these days but am making some progress on replacing all metal body parts that need it. Sold rear fenders and bought steel running boards new and steel cab floor replacements kit, along with some air deflectors that didn't come with the truck but are parts original to the front end. I fire up the engine every few weeks, to keeping the carb ifrom plugging up, today though had a big surprise when it was idling it blew out oil in a spray all over the garage floor in a matter of thirty -seconds to a minute before I was able to shut it down. Not sure if the oil pan gasket blew out on the driver side or the head gasket toward the cab of the truck on the driver's side. Very glad I used a sealer on the new garage floors last year!!! I still have the inner fenders bolted on to either side of the front engine compartment so I can't get a good look at the head gasket or oil pan. Its bolted to front grill, and radiator frame that will take some time to remove since things it is bolted thru have a sequence to removing them. If anyone has a guess based on the spraying efect of 3-4 quarts of oil in a very short period of time but no water or radiator fluid please chime in , Thanks Steve

Hard to say without knowing where the oil was coming from, but I'd be looking at the threaded ports for measuring oil pressure, to see if a plug backed out or a line to a guage failed!