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View Full Version : A lift and tires that WORK



mbeach
05/17/2006, 11:17 PM
After much research, here's what I came up with:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/liftside.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/liftside.JPG)

This is an OME spring lift. In my case, the springs alone were good for 2.75" over stock. I must have been sagging a bit. Torsion bars were cranked 10 full rotations. This kept the stock rake (nearly, I raised the front by 3/16" more).

Wheels are from a 2003 Nissan Frontier SC. 16x7 +40. I was misinformed about the offset earlier, I thought that they were +30. The +40s worked out in my favor though. They arrived in mint condition, however they were a boring silver. I stripped them and painted them with DupliColor wheel paint. I used bronze for that mad tyte JDM style. 3 cans later, voila...
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/frontwheel.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/frontwheel.JPG)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/rearwheel.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/rearwheel.JPG)
You'll notice that both wheels are still hub-centric, meaning that they fit the VX's 108mm hub bore. The rims clear the control arms up front as well.

I purchased some 8mm spacers, but opted not to use them. They would have moved the rear wheels clear of the hubs, and then the lugs would be bearing all of the weight of the truck -this would be bad.
Even with a +40 offset (stock is +38), the track is good (close to stock). The tires are 20mm wider than stock 245s.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/frontshot.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/frontshot.JPG)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/goodtrack.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/goodtrack.JPG)

Also, very important to some members, no trimming is required (so far.). I haven't really stuffed to tires while crossed-up, but it appears that they'll clear the cladding by an inch.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/notrim.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/notrim.JPG)

Incidentals:
Lights are by KC, that white thing is my UHMW plastic skid plate. Mud flaps have cables that keep them from flapping at speed and from getting caught in tires when reversing in sticky mud.
The Nissan wheels are cast aluminum, closer to 7.5" wide. They were made by TSW and they weigh 22 lbs each (stock 18x7s weigh 30 lbs).
Tires are Dunlop Radial Mud Rovers. I have a limited selection up here, and it seems that most of the narrow mudders have been sold out. Anything else that was close was a load range E tire -too stiff for me. These are load range D (minimum for most mud terrain tires). 8 ply.

So,
OME 912 in back + 10 turns of the torsion bar bolts = 2.75" over stock. The rake will be slightly less (front to rear).
Addition of some 265/75s will give you another .5"
For a total lift of 3.25"

I have only put on 20 miles, so no long term reports yet. It all appears o.k. at the moment...

Cyrk
05/18/2006, 03:41 AM
Looks great with the lift and I Love the rim color.

I wish I could afford the Volk wheels in that color. They would look great on my ebony.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/VX_Volk.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/VX_Volk.jpg)

VehiX
05/18/2006, 04:54 AM
Looks great man. I really like your set up and thanks for the right up :)

Can you please share with us how you mounted the KC lights? I want to remove my safari bar and mount my fog lights like that but haven't come up with a solid way to do that yet?

Thanks

mbeach
05/18/2006, 08:16 AM
For the lights,
I have pictures at home for the KCs. They are slimlights (metal bodies), and they manage to sit nicely on the grill, they do not protrude past the front of the bumper.
I drilled mounting holes as close to the fangs as the depth of the lights would allow (slimlights don't require much rear clearance). I removed the fang covers and mounted the lights. I backed up the plastic grill with 16ga. stainless plates, formed to the contour of the grill.
They jiggle a little bit on washboard, but no more than the rest of the vehicle.

For the wheels,
Those 6 spoke bronze TE37s were the inspiration for this. I couldn't find/afford the Volks.
I picked these up on eBay for $200. Plus @$50 in paint and materials.
I was considering making these the winter wheels for the Titan -it's black as well, and looks great with the bronze.

MZ-N10
05/18/2006, 10:43 AM
the te37 are so gorgeous....btw nice lift and spray canning