y5mgisi
1 ton status
Awesome! When are you going to start in on the lift?
CK5
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New Project 1978 Suburban
- Thread starter BT
- Start date
Pretty soon. I am saving up a little right now. I have a few toys around right now and a few projects I am finishing up. I am kind of enjoying riding it all stock. The tires on the 16.5's are horrible. The 16" wheels that came with the truck had some pretty good tires on them. I may hold off on the lift until after my hunting is done this year. I am always looking for a project late in the winter. I might mount the good 16" tires on the powder coated wheels and keep rolling it stock for now. I can keep messing with little things here and there. I started cleanin up the under carriage yesterday. It is not bad, just some grease on the differentials and transfer case. I noticed the body bushings are pretty shot. considering adding a 1" body lift when I replace the bushings. Not sure about that though. I dont want to open a can of worms. I am sure I will get more ambitious soon. I am about to take a few more pics and will upload them.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Good, we love pics around these parts! No reason go messing with something that works for you. So good job on holding off a little on the lift.
That's too bad about painting the wheels black. It looked beautiful with white wheels.
Martin
Martin
Have you ever looked through my work log for my 1988 V10 Suburban? It isn't anything great, but it has some information that will pertain to you.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251067
I have 4.10's with an SM465 in my Suburban, and it is great for towing. I have had LT245/65R16's, 33x12.50x16.5's, 35x12.50x16.5's, and 37x12.50x16.5's on it, and it currently has 315/70R17's on it. The small tires were too much. The 35's are about perfect. It was even pretty decent with the 37's, but my tires were pure ****.
I have installed a 1" body lift on mine, and would recommend installing one to everyone now. It gives you a slight amount of lift, and it makes it much easier to work under the truck. I have a hydraulic clutch instead of a mechanical, but I think it would be easy enough to adjust the mechanical clutch linkage.
As for the width of your 16" wheels, it doesn't really matter. I have run 12.50 wide tires on stock 6" wide steel wheels with not problems. Another friend of mine who is on here ha 39.5x13.50x16.5" tires on a stock 6.75" wide wheel.
Any other questions?
Martin
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251067
I have 4.10's with an SM465 in my Suburban, and it is great for towing. I have had LT245/65R16's, 33x12.50x16.5's, 35x12.50x16.5's, and 37x12.50x16.5's on it, and it currently has 315/70R17's on it. The small tires were too much. The 35's are about perfect. It was even pretty decent with the 37's, but my tires were pure ****.
I have installed a 1" body lift on mine, and would recommend installing one to everyone now. It gives you a slight amount of lift, and it makes it much easier to work under the truck. I have a hydraulic clutch instead of a mechanical, but I think it would be easy enough to adjust the mechanical clutch linkage.
As for the width of your 16" wheels, it doesn't really matter. I have run 12.50 wide tires on stock 6" wide steel wheels with not problems. Another friend of mine who is on here ha 39.5x13.50x16.5" tires on a stock 6.75" wide wheel.
Any other questions?
Martin
I sure did have a hard time making up my mind on the wheel color. I can still go white if I want. They had to be sand blasted first so I'm sure there not black yet. I have been driving this thing a ton. It is pretty cool driving it just like it came. Really old school. I am loving this truck. It is by far the best used truck I have ever purchased. It is amazing that every thing works and is 100% in tact. Every gauge, bulb, switch.... Besides the header and collector gaskets I haven't touched a bolt. That is also after it was driven 1900 miles home. Unbelievable. I opened the glovebox and found the window sticker and order sheet along with manual and warranty info. Pretty cool. The hand written order sheet shows he paid $25 cash deposit to order the truck. still gotta get some more pics up. Sorry for the delay.
Nice trucks. Whereabouts in Texas are you?
You'll have to excuse it being a rusty hunk of ****, but this is a set of half ton wheels I just had bead blasted and painted white. I LOVE white wheels.
Martin
Martin
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Bt, if you like how original it is, you will probably be happier with the white wheels.
Ned Kelly
1/2 ton status
As for the width of your 16" wheels, it doesn't really matter. I have run 12.50 wide tires on stock 6" wide steel wheels with not problems. Another friend of mine who is on here ha 39.5x13.50x16.5" tires on a stock 6.75" wide wheel.
Any other questions?
Martin
Yes, you can install the those tires on the narrow rims. A possible issue is how the tires will wear long term, especially if on a dd. The center tread will probably wear fast.
I daily drove my Suburban on 35x12.50x16.5" BFG Mud Terrains mounted on 16.5x6.5" wheels and they wore evenly. Bias tires are going to wear funny either way. The 36x12.50x16.5" TSL on my 1982 K30 were mounted on 16.5x9.75" wheels and they wore the center out, and still had lugs on the outsides. They were also a giant pain in the ass to mount on those wide wheels.
Martin
Martin
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Oh my. Thats sex.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
No, thank you! Now i need to change into a fresh pair of undies.
Awesome!! Good job Man!! 
I like it.
Martin
Martin
