HP - truck weight = wheels that will make truck move!

[sakhara291]

So I finally got myself a 500 horse(flywheel) v8 for my truck, little beefed up lt1, but the issue came to my attention that there's no way those little 15 x 8/8.5 wheels are going to sit on the ground and make my dream truck move. I was thinking 10" wides might help, but I was wondering if there's some kind of math formula that I can use to figure out more exactly, rather than shelling out a couple grand for wheels and tires only to find I'm wrong. I've had a bunch of people tell me 'yeah, you're going to need bigger wheels,' but no one's had any helpful suggestions.

Anybody?

[67Truckin]

Is this a street truck or a drag racing truck? A soft compound 10" wide slick on your 15x8.5" wheel will work well if the suspension is setup right to plant the tires on launch. To run a 10" rim on the street under the fender will take a custom back spacing to get the rim under the fender. I used standard 15x10 rims on my truck with a 295/50r15 tire and you can see how wide it is in the truck fenderwell. It would probably take a back spacing of 5 to 6" to get the rim pulled into the fenderwell properly. Good luck on your truck! :D

[Jones]

Depending on what your doing for a rear (and tranny) you might want some wheel spin to keep the differential in one piece. You can do wider wheels, mini tubs, links, traction bars, etc.. As far as tires go, keep in mind that a stiffer/lower sidewall can spin easier.

[Danny_SS]

Get a set of the widest rear tires you can fit back there, a posi and some slide a link or caltrac bars and you are set.

[DFlynn21]

go to ricmondgear.com and they have the calculators you need to find out tire size. Not sure if it will fit what you need but you can give it a try

[Dimemaster]

Nothing will stick with 500hp until you get the suspension sorted out.

[kevint]

slight tirespin on the launch is good...especially with a stick. itll bring the engine rpm up a bit and prevent bogging down. Maybe a 2-disk clutch would be in the works-or a single disk without springs?

[Dimemaster]

Oh, great, a solid center clutch. Nice way to RIP OUT A DRIVE SHAFT. If you have 500hp, tires are the least of your worries.

First, you're going to need a built 12-bolt of Ford 9-inch, with a Detroit Locker or a Dual drive. It won't take many Saturday nights to fry any clutch type limited slip.

Second, your stock driveshaft will not hold up to 500hp and a clutch, it will twist like stripes on a barber pole.

Third, The stock suspension will axle hop like mating rabbits. You will have to completely rework the rear suspension, either with CalTracs or a 4-link. At 500hp, slapper bars won't get the job done.

Fifth, even once the axle hop problem is cured, you still won't get any traction until you do some major work on weight redistribution.

Sixth, you'll need to rework the front suspension to allow weight to shift to the rear during acceleration. 90/10 shocks if a strip only truck, 70/30 shocks for a weekend warrior.

Seventh, no highway legal tire that fits under the wheel well will plant 500hp. 10-inch slicks will, but you are no longer street legal. If you want to run DOT tires, you'll have to either tub it or cut the fenderwells.

By the way, maximum coefficient of friction during acceleration on pavement is when wheel speed is about 4 times ground speed. That's pretty much the point where you easily hear the tires but don't see much tire smoke. If they ain't squeeling, you're too slow. If the smoke is rolling, you're too fast.

[BJsDime]

Fourth was so bad he didn't think you could handle it.........;)

[bonecrushins10]

1 just get some wider tires in the back an fool around with tire pressure an warm ups

2 drive shaft wouldnt bend prolly fry a piar of u joints or carrier bearings but not twist its only 500 horsepower your not running like a luanch stall converter are ya

3 dont need to but a ford piece of crap on it a regular 12 bolt or 10 bolt will hold up just the same with 500 horsepower , again thats if your not running a crazy luanch stall converter, might wanna upgrade the limited slip

4 dime master is kinda up scaleing everything , lil to much over kill
hes listing everything you would need for a big block bracket racer or somethin
with humungo torque

5 ya just gotta get in tune with the truck

its not the machine its the man

[Hammer]

So I finally got myself a 500 horse(flywheel) v8 for my truck, little beefed up lt1, but the issue came to my attention that there's no way those little 15 x 8/8.5 wheels are going to sit on the ground and make my dream truck move. I was thinking 10" wides might help, but I was wondering if there's some kind of math formula that I can use to figure out more exactly, rather than shelling out a couple grand for wheels and tires only to find I'm wrong. I've had a bunch of people tell me 'yeah, you're going to need bigger wheels,' but no one's had any helpful suggestions.

Anybody?
if you fix the tires and actually put the 500 to the ground, maybe even just once.... you might pole vault your truck when it doesn't move but an inch and the front ujoint blows...

i would strongly suggest, that if you intend to plant that thing to the ground you consider a roll cage, some 5 point harness and upgraded the WHOLE drivetrain from the frame to the flywheel.

i'm quite sure you could stand the front of that truck on end if you do it right.

gearing is a big deal, if you get the gearing right with your tire sire (assuming you fix the driveline to handle it) and set it up to run the 1/4 or the track/s you run at then you'll be set. otherwise you will be compromising someplace to be better at many places instead of 1.

good luck and atleast put a driveshaft loop and protection over the bell housing for your own life.

[67Truckin]

Hammer's right on. You have serious power at 500 horse and need serious equipment to handle it. Its cheaper to be safe than sorry so don't compromise your safety. Build it like you want to drag it. :D

[Dimemaster]

Well, I tend to over-build, but I don't often break anything, even with a 450+ Performer RPM 383 with a 3-stage 225 shot. However, I don't set my trucks up for drag racing. I set my trucks up for cornering and braking, so wise use of the throttle and clutch is mandatory. Otherwise, it's nothing but noise and smoke. For my use, the Chevy 8.5 axle, properly built, is fine. I don't think an 8.5 will last long with 500hp, clutch, and 10-inch soft compound slicks no matter what you do to it.

What I described above is a drag racing set-up, with the advantage of the 9-inch being quick and easy gear changes for different tracks lengths. Also, the heavier 9-inch helps stabilize rear axle/frame movements.

So, what difference will the different set-ups make in the 1/4 mile? At least a full second or more, and most of that in the first 100 yards. I can not launch my street trucks at full throttle, can't hit the nitrous until after shifting to 2nd, and waiting for the tires to hook up, but after that, it's wide open all the way.

As far as drive shafts go, I always replace u-joints when swapping in a V8. Maybe that's why I've never broken one. I have twisted a couple, and one broke where the front yoke is welded to the tube. I agree, when you move up to the 500hp level, safety loops are a must. Also, when you go over the 350 hp level with slicks and a good suspension you have to worry about twisting the frame, so reinforcement is in order.

Your project sounds like the making of a crash UNLESS you thoroughly prep the truck for the power. 500hp is no play toy.

[Hammer]

500hp is no joke man... it's fun when everything goes right but one wrong move and your in a world of hurt.

[spib]

for the most part anyone that has a true bad ass sb and if it really was close to 500 hp would know what it took to put to the ground and soft 10" slicks is not going to do it. If you had this much motor and it was not all talk, you would know you would need a cage, rear clip,coilovers, ladder bars or 4 link and move battery and fuel cell in the back and yes a ford 9" with 33,or 35spline performance axles, and you are on your way. If you had 500 hp and wanted to hook up ,that would be a start

[Rinkrat456]

for the most part anyone that has a true bad ass sb and if it really was close to 500 hp would know what it took to put to the ground and soft 10" slicks is not going to do it. If you had this much motor and it was not all talk, you would know you would need a cage, rear clip,coilovers, ladder bars or 4 link and move battery and fuel cell in the back and yes a ford 9" with 33,or 35spline performance axles, and you are on your way. If you had 500 hp and wanted to hook up ,that would be a start

I somewhat agree with one of your points. In Car Craft magazine they had a convention at an auto show where anyone with any vehicle could dyno test their cars. They were required to give their best estimate of their rear wheel horsepower. After the dyno tests 80% of the owners over estimated by 45hp or more. One guy thought he had a 420hp n/a small block and actually had 312hp! The only guy who under estimated was a Camaro owner who thought he had a 400hp 454 and ended up with 470hp if I remember right. But point being, many think they have more ponies than they actually do. I'd rather like to have an engine and know/think that it's less than it really is so I'm never dissappointed and actually surprised now and then.

[Rinkrat456]

Reading this thing from start to finish, Dime...what would you have as a 4th suggestion? I'm leaning toward it being just a typo, but I can't rule out you have very few typos here and there. And especially in numbering. :D

But since we're on the subject of suspension, and probably 500hp....what would you suspect this S-10 has in order to make him able to do this?

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/Jpage/Webpp/pages/Wheelies/Emes%20Wheelie%20Sunday.jpg

[Hammer]

5 or 600hp could do that, you could probably do that with 4 with the right setup.

[Rinkrat456]

5 or 600hp could do that, you could probably do that with 4 with the right setup.

That's kinda what I'm wondering. What is that correct setup?

[540dart]

My red truck will not do that and it will do a 1.11 60 foot and 7.90 1/4 mile. I have about 1400 hp. it is 2780 on the scale and runs 182 mph. that setup needs work.

[540dart]

My red truck will not do that and it will do a 1.11 60 foot and 7.90 1/4 mile. I have about 1400 hp. it is 2780 on the scale and runs 182 mph last night . That setup needs work.

[Rinkrat456]

1400hp, and you can't do that why?!?!?! And more specifically, 1400hp how and has that number been dyno'd? Or is it at a much higher rpm?