Tires rub front fenders 37 pickup

[Thomasd_88]

Need some suggestions for my 37 1/2 ton Pickup. The front tires just rub the top center of the fenders when turning out. If I could lift the front end just a inch or two that would do the trick. The front spring looks okay and has no broken leaves and I don't want to mess with that spring. My truck has old warn out shocks on the front now. I thought about coil over shocks? Also I can't afford a ton of money on this one piece of my restore on the truck. Any suggestions and good place to buy is really appreciated.Thanks Tom

[Lawson Cox]

What size tires are you running?

[Thomasd_88]

I bought the truck it has 14" (h78 - 14) on the fronts and they put 15's on the back.

[blucar]

I would suggest that the front spring is worn out, might have been torched at some point or it could be from something other than a '37....
I have several '36-40 front springs in my stock of parts. Most are from cars, and one is from a station wagon. From my experience, the 1/2 ton spring and the car spring are pretty well the same. The springs I have, have an average arch of 7.5 to 8. inches.
What size tires do you have? If they are larger than 650 x 16 or 700 x 16, that could be part of the problem..

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by blucar

I would suggest that the front spring is worn out, might have been torched at some point or it could be from something other than a '37....
I have several '36-40 front springs in my stock of parts. Most are from cars, and one is from a station wagon. From my experience, the 1/2 ton spring and the car spring are pretty well the same. The springs I have, have an average arch of 7.5 to 8. inches.
What size tires do you have? If they are larger than 650 x 16 or 700 x 16, that could be part of the problem..

I agree. Take a look at your front spring. If it is worn out and sagging it's worth replacing if for just the ride improvement alone. Also, I wouldn't suggest anything more than a 6.00x16 or 6.50x16 wheel tire combo. Another question, you mentioned coil over springs. Does this truck have it's original suspension, axle? I suspect someone may have cobbled in some kind of a later model front end and what you have may be an attempt to "street rod" this truck. Just as guess as I have not seen photos.

[Thomasd_88]

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I uploaded some pictures. The truck is all original. Front end should be original. The past owner put steel wheels on the truck. The spring in the front to me seems fine? I saw another 37 that the spring arch seemed to be the same. You mention 7" in the arch, what's the best way to get a good reading on the arch? You see I have shocks on the truck. I think those were an add-on later? I appreciate the help guys?

[Lawson Cox]

Isn't the large front fender brace attached to the frame??

[Thomasd_88]

yes the brace is attached to the frame. I looked at trying to move that up, to move up the fender up a little but could not move it up with out getting every thing out of whack.

[George/Maine]

I think you would be better with other wheels and tires.

• SKU: SMPR155LM300
• Bolt Pattern: 5x5, 5x5 1/2
• Finish: Primed
• Wheel size: 15x5
• Cross section:
• Backspacing: 3.00
• Series: Smoothie Coker tire with 205/75/15" Radials

[rich b]

Wonder why the fender brace is hanging below the frame? Are the 14" wheels 5 on 5-1/2" bolt circle or is there an wheel adapter spacing them out excessively? Maybe wheels are just too wide, H-78 tires are wide too.

[petehoovie]

Those three empty holes are telling us a story....

[Seth Swoboda]

The front fender brace has been modified. Looks like there as been some kind of modification to the front clip and front suspension to drop the ride height of the front of the truck.

You will be better served to return these modification to stock. If you want a slight rake to the truck get a reverse eye leaf spring for the front. That front spring needs replaced anyway.

[Vanspeed]

I agree that something is up with that front fender brace.

[scrapiron]

The fenders have been dropped with that alteration, and the fender aprons at the hood have probably been cut also. The outer apron looks funny too.

[jimTN]

Looks like there may be a dropped axle also. I would throw those $%^&@ wheels away and get the correct wheels and hubs. Without a good pic of the axle and spindles, its hard to say what else is not correct, it almost looks like a 42-8 front axle to get more drop. I have never seen a 37 front spring with a second leaf wrap over either which may be a later model spring. Yes, there is something wrong with the fender brace, almost makes you wonder if there was a three inch channel done to the truck. The geometry of your front suspension if original was designed for 550-600 16 tires and wheels.

[hotcoupe]

i`m not trying to pick your truck apart, but your front crossover brake line appears to be copper. if it is in fact copper, i would strongly urge you to replace it and any other copper brake lines that may be installed.
tom

[Thomasd_88]

Thanks everyone. I don't think the front fenders are original 37 fenders. To me they look like 35 or 36 pickup fenders and they cut the insert out for the Bumper bracket. I'll get this truck back to stock. Thanks !!

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Those three empty holes are telling us a story....

from a big truck?

[VeryTangled]

Originally Posted by Thomasd_88

The truck is all original.

Hi Everyone, Thomasd, many old car owners would love to believe this is the case, but it is almost always proved to be incorrect.

Adding to other observations... To my eye the spring doesn't have enough arc.

[Vanspeed]

The truck's fender fits where it should on the cab, everything else lines up so hard to say what is wrong. The fender is a 1/2 ton fender, you can tell by where it mounts to the running board. Big trucks are drastically different in that area. Very strange.