Posted a pic in the setup thread:
Last week I set up a Palace 8.3 with V8s, pretty random combo.
It’s the weird shape thats about 32 long with a 14.81 wheelbase and short, stubby kicks. Would feel ridiculous on most trucks but actually works well with V8s.
Rough math: V8s reduce wheelbase by about 0.6, so this setup rides more like a 32 board with a ~14.2 wheelbase on cast Ventures — an oddly hard combo to find.
Most 8.3-8.5 boards with a 14.2-14.25 wheelbase tend to be shorter than 32, and you usually have to go up to 14.38 to get more length.
Weirdly, this shape/truck combo is hard to replicate with normal Ventures and another board. Pop feels really nice—springy without being too light or too heavy. My issue with V8s on most boards is that they make the pop feel a bit weak, but that’s not a problem here.
It definitely feels smaller and more nimble than my usual setup on cast Ventures. Visually, the bolts being so far apart is a bit jarring. I often have my front foot over two of the four front bolts for certain tricks (noseslides, crooks, 180 nosegrinds), but on this setup, I have to remember to place my foot further back — otherwise theyre basically right over the front wheels.
The kicks still feel stubby when standing on them, but the pop is great because of the v8s, so it’s more of a difference in feel than function. I do have to pop more off the tip instead of keeping my back foot near the bolts like I would on many more normal setups.
Overall, it's a fun setup. Makes flatground easier and has a nice, snappy pop. Biggest downside is the super tapered kicks. Gotta be more precise on grinds/slides so my size 13 feet don’t drag. If the shape was just a bit fuller or widened to 8.5, it’d be even better.
And as a bbs loyalist, dwindle wood is actually pretty good