any body running drop spindles?

I'll assume you're trying to fit something like 5.5 backspacing on there? You'll need to radius the bottom of the front fender about 1x3" or 1.5x3" triangle.

It's that backspacing that runs into the OTRE. It's close with a 17". 18" give 1/2" more clearance. BUT the 2" dropped spindle relatively move the OTRE down 2" ! Even with 18" rims, if you want to run something like 5.5" backspacing I think you'll have to run regular spindles with no bumpstop or those 1/2" tall poly bumpstops at most.