Well I'm asking because I'm stuck. I put my new rear in tonight and added a set of 3 inch blocks to the back. Now I can't get my wheels back on I had a hell of a time getting them off. I tried letting the air out and lowering the rear and lifting the car up. I don't want this kind of issue on the side of a road with a flat. They are kind of big 215/75/15 So I think its time for some new ones. So what are you running?
Welcome to the world of 52-54 frustration,I have helped some people out with this so answer some questions and maybe we can figure it out.First what wheels are you running? 2nd, what shocks?
Greetings... I have two sets of wheels and tires that I run depending on my mood and what I want the car to look like. Take a look at my pic album. My tires are not as big as yours (205/75/15) but I still have the same problem with the rears. When they are free of air I can get them off due to t******* the inside fender edge. I use a space saver spare of the same diameter but much narrower tread width as my spare. It helps that I have a bumper jack and a bottle jack to unload the suspension to maximum length. You can also have the tools to detatch the lower shock mount to extend the suspension a bit more to help. You have to experiment to find the best method for your car. Best to do it in your driveway before you get stuck on the road.
I thought I was a real clutz when I had a hard time getting the rear wheels off my Vicky.... Guess I'm not the only one. I modified the fenders on my looooooow '48 Plymouth coupe to be quickly removable (studs and big wing nuts) in the event of a flat tire. Guess that's not a practical solution for the Vicky, though. I'll follow this one closely to see what others have figgered out! Eric / missysdad1
thanks guys. Jeff, I using 15X7 Cragers S/S for now. I don't care for them so if they have to go that won't hurt my fellings. I have the stock shocks on the car. genosslk,Maybe tonight I try to unhook the shocks and see if it will drop enough. The inside fender edge is the next steep. Eric, My 46 Dodge is the same way PIA intill I found a tire size that was small enough.
I run bias-ply tires - 710's with 2" blocks now. Wheels just barely slip out. I had 3" blocks and the u-bolts went past the rim, if I had a flat (driving) getting the tire off was the least of my concerns.
The wheel width and offset is the big culprit,I trimmed the excess off my inner wheel well by going around the inner flange and making a cut every 3" that way it will bend up easily and leave a smooth edge.I am running 14X6 US slot mags with a 195/75R14 and it is still tight and the car is not lowered.One thing I did find out is the Gabriel gas shocks listed for the '54 are shorter than the OEM by adding Mr.Gasket shock extensions it let the axle drop down further and made for more room.The bumper jack is scary and unstable,I found if I jacked it up with my small floor jack by the frame in front of the wheel the car will raise higher.It's not uncommon to run a 205/75/15, however there is a difference in section width between different brands of tires,generally in radials if they cost less they are narrower.The bias ply tires are pricey but they are narrower that radials.
I've got Coker f-78 14's, on a standard offset chrome wheel, and the tire will only come out after you do the normal things for a lowered 50s ford.
A guy told me he put on shock extensions to get some more droop when on the jack - is that a practical solution? Might cause the shock to bottom before the spring stops on the up tavel...
Greenbird,when I did mine I noticed that when sitting on the ground the new shock looked as if it were extended a lot,when I removed it and compared extended length it was 2" shorter than OEM the extensions actually put the travel where it should have been.Since each suspension varies,get out the measuring tape!
I think what I'm going to do is ditch the blocks and buy a set of drop leaf springs. I had a couple of old tires sitting around and the only thing I could get under it was a set of 195/75/15. I don't want to run that small of a tire because of the change in engine RPMs at highway speed. I going to roll the 1/4 panel lip so there is no issues at all.
Hey 46... I did change the rear spring to a 2 inch drop from Jamco and I did get more axle drop after the change. I did decide to ditch the bumper jack and use a light weight compact floor jack that I pack in the trunk with the bottle jack. It's a stuggle to get the tire/wheel off but it does come off now with the fender t*******. What a mess if you don't driveway test all this!!! Set-up a routine as you will eventually need it! Thanks Jeff for the suggestion of loosing the bumper jack! Anyone in the market for a bumper jack????
If that is the original Ford jack let me know by pm,there was a guy looking for one on another site,I'll see if he still wants one if so I'll connect you with Him.
I fit 205/75/15 under my rear.. I had to fold the rear fender lip up and pull the fenders a bit. It's a bit tight getting them in but they fit.
my 55 has stock height replacement springs no blocks yet. i run 225/70/15s on the back on 15x7 police wheels. they come out if i jack the car way up by the axle put jack stands under the frame and let the axle down. still tight. i have a brand new set of 4 215/70/15 to go on it now i was wanting to go with a 235/70 but these new tires i got paid 50 bucks to take, lol. i forgot to add my car has a ranger rearend in it
In the old days when you bought lowering blocks for 52-54 fords they came with shock extensions. Problem solved.
Wow I don't get it. My 54 has 2 inch drop springs with 3 inch blocks. I have 205/15 on 15 by 7 inch rims with 3 1/2 back space. I didn't have to cut any of the 1/4 lip to get rear wheels on and off. All I do is put floor jack under front leaf spring mount and jack her up. It does help that my rearend is 2inches narrower than stock. No rubbing problem with fender skirts either. Just my .02 cents
riskybiz, I think that's because of your narrowed rearend. Mine is four inches narrower than stock and I'm running 235/60/15s on mine. I get a little rubbing on turns if I have more than two people in the car. I think I'm going to have to take of the back wheels and m***age the inner fenders for clearance.
Im running the stock rear end in mine with 15x7 with 4.5" back spacing I believe- Im running 225/60/15 tires and by some miracle they do not rub- there is about 1/8" clearance between the tire and inner fenderwell-
I have the Mr Gasket shock extensions and there is no problem with the shock bottoming out. 2 inch blocks. 57 9 inch rear
I'm running 225/70/15's on stock '54 wheels and I have no problem changing tires. When the tire is full of air, I have to give it a good push to get it up in there, but no real issues besides that.
Like others, I installed a narrowed (55 1/4" - rim mounting surface-to surface) rear and (custom backspace) rims on my 55. Running 245/60/15s; putting 8"+ of rubber per tire in contact with the pavement. This is probably the max without modifying the wheel well. I don't have issues with wheel install/removal, but a tough time getting the skirts on/off - very little lock bar movement space. The lowered rear (2" drop) and skirts really hide the hefty "meat", so the car looks stock until you look close from the rear ( custom wide whitewalls also ). A friend has described the car as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
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