[Bruce H]

I have a '53 Chevy p/u that I have purchased a TCI Mustang II IFS front and four bar rear airbag suspension for, and am planning on ordering a Currie 9" rearend. Currie's website explains what measurements need to be provided when ordering, but I need to know exactly how to arrive at these measurements. I suspect I need to have my wheels and tires on hand in order to get these measurements (?), and I don't want to order a rearend more than once! Any advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Stinkin_V8]

Bruce,

Check out <a href="http://50chevy.freeservers.com/Suspension_Widths.html#Suspension" target="_blank">this link</a> for some common widths. Backspacing on your wheels is going to play a factor, but as long as you know what the backspacing will be you'll be fine. I've got a stock '89 S-10 4x4 rear end (58"?) under my '52 Suburban (same chassis as the pickups) and with 4" backspacing on P235 75R15, I only had about 3/8" clearance between the tire and inner fender well. Forgot to take tire bulge into account when I measured. A couple of 3/8" spacers can be had for cheap.

If you don't know what wheels you'll be using, you can narrow and widen the track width by specifying the backspacing on your wheels when you buy them.

[ August 26, 2002: Message edited by: Stinkin_V8 ]</p>

[Bruce H]

Stinkin_V8,

Got part of your message, but no link(?). Can you please re-post?

[Stinkin_V8]

Sorry, I got a little click-happy. it's edited now.

[Bruce H]

Stinkin_V8,

Thanks for the info. This really helps, and reinforces what I was kinda' thinking. If I am reading you correctly, I should be able to obtain my wheels and tires (keeping in mind the bulge) that will fit inside my fenders, then take my measurements from there. Spacing from the frame should be kept at about 1" to 1-1/2" with the same from the fender? Thanks for the link too, it is one I have not seen before.

[Stinkin_V8]

I'm guessing if you need a Currie rear end, you've got enough juice to need some fairly big rubber in there. I don't know what the rule of thumb is for clearance. I should have between 3/4-1" clearance on my inner fender wells with the additional spacers I mentioned. Maybe some of the other folks here could pipe up with their reccomendations.

I have no clearance problems on the outer fenders, but you'll want to watch the travel of the suspension. If your truck is real low, the rear axle may move enough to contact the inner fender above the wheel opening.

Sounds like you've got it figured out - get the wheels, put 'em in the wheel wells and measure.