melliott1990

Hey guys, so I have a 1990 F-150 xlt lariat regular cab, long bed, 2-tone brown (tan on the outside w/ dark brown stripe), and I want to get somewhere around a 3"-4" lift on it with 18"x11.5" wheels and 33" tires. My dilemma is trying to figure out whether I should get chrome/steel rims or black. I was thinking chrome because it's brown plus the chrome trim and i have a chrome toolbox. I'd like it to still look a little classic with a hint of offroad-tuff/mean. Any ideas on where I could find any of these parts? I've checked Realtruck and Carid, and they wren't much help. I'm also open to other opinions if anyone has different suggestions. I'm also not trying to break my bank on the truck I just want to give a little oompf.

Steve83

Assuming the truck is 4WD: 33s will fit just by shimming the front bumper forward a little. Less lift makes the truck handle better on-road & off- because it keeps the CG low. It also saves money, giving you more for maintenance & repairs. A lift is also high-maintenance because all the fasteners need to be checked frequently. And it causes other things to cost more (like alignments & suspension repairs). So if you don't want to waste money, I recommend stock height, or the LEAST lift necessary.

If you're just doing this for the look (cosmetically) - that's a really expensive way to give OTHER people something to look at. You won't see it because you'll be inside the truck. And I doubt anyone will be impressed with a '90 F150, no matter what you do to it. Build it for YOURSELF - to make it do what you need done. And maintain it - it'll look better running & driving than as yard art with chrome rims & a lift.

melliott1990

You're right! Good advice thanks!

melliott1990

I am putting a leveling kit and a 2" lift kit on the 1990 F-150, and I'm also going to put new 17x9 rims on it. What's the max tire size I could fit under the truck without trimming the fender? I was hoping to get 33's or 34's under there.

BLDTruth

You will clear the 33's just fine most likely, the thing you will need to worry about is the offset/backspacing of the wheels so that they stick out far enough to avoid rubbing the radius arms. Generally I advise staying away from the bigger rims because the selection sucks and I have yet to find a decent set of anything over 16" with the offset I would desire. The skinnier the tire the less you need to worry about it, but if you plan on running 12.5" wides, then you need that offset for clearance.

melliott1990

If I got rims with a 0 offset could I just put spacers on?

BLDTruth

I don't ever recommend using spacers. Especially if you ever plan to use your truck like a truck. Lots of people use them without problems, but it is just introducing another point of potential failure, and a possibly catastrophic one at that.

melliott1990

True. So, do you think 0 offset would be okay, or would you recommend a more negative offset?

BLDTruth

A stock alcoa style rim is 7.5" wide with 0 offset. If you move to a 9" wide rim with 0 offset, you now are sticking out 3/4" on each side compared to stock. So more negative than 0 would be recommended. Somewhere in the -20 range would be ideal. When you get to 10" wide rims you need more like -40.

You will discover very quickly that the selection sucks for this style of truck unless you look at 15" rims, and even then it isn't great.

melliott1990

Alright, I'll do some looking! Thanks!