After picking our freshly refurbished wheels and newly mounted Firestone tires from the tire shop, we hot footed to the airport for SEMA 2010. Having not installed them before we left on the trip, our heads were filled with dually dreams all week long. Upon returning home, we had a good night’s sleep and then mounted the new rollers on the truck. We think the results really take the truck to the next level. It honestly looks like an old school monster truck in some respects now. Our kids can nearly pass under it upright for Pete’s sake!
Installing the tires on the truck was definitely more than a one man job. Thankfully, our dad (Bob Lohnes) offered us a hand on a chilly Sunday morning. Muscling the big tires around and jacking the truck to the right height would have been a disaster had we been left to our own devices. With lots of jack stands holding the big fellow up, we were decently supported, but heaving the really heavy tire and wheel combos around could have knocked it out of whack, and that would have really been bad.
As we went from 9R22.5 tires to 10R22.5 tires and had ZERO experience with these commercial-style tires on a personal project, we had a few fears. Those fears turned out to be unfounded, but the first worry was that the wider tires would rub on each other when mounted. Rubbing dually tires together is a cardinal sin and guarantees a catastrophic failure at some point, sooner rather than later. No problem there, as about an inch of daylight shines between the tires. Secondly, we were nervous about the length of the wheel studs as there was not a lot of meat left on them with only one wheel mounted. Unfounded again. The open lugs have about 1/4″ of wheel stud through the end of them. We torqued those mothers way down, and will keep an eye on them to ensure their tightness after we roll a few miles!
Other than the larger Firestone tires, the other major difference you’ll notice is the new color of the wheels. Although the John Deere yellow was fun, having them powder coated white to match the roof and the grill worked out nicely. It is less circus freak and more Andre the Giant now.
We didn’t take the truck for a ride as of yet because the Hydro-Vac unit that operated the brakes is out and has been rebuilt. We’re planning on reinstalling that next weekend and a cruise will be in order. Look for the tech story on the rebuild of the Hydro-vac next week.
Until then, scroll down to see Goliath standing in his new shoes, all six of them.
Huge thanks again go out to Josh B who hooked us up with the meats. We’ll be proudly rolling them all over the place starting next Spring! Those guys in Tennessee really rock!
.jpg "Goliath Firestone Tires")
Hey guys that truck is amazing! i just bought a 74 c60 myself and am doing the same thing and was just wondering what kinda fuel mileage do you get with the i believe 7:20 rear end?! and the 292? and why you havent tried a cummins swap yet!!?? or a massive 572 BBC!!?? thanks again!
Dom