Hi Steppin Out,
When I got my Van it had those really sad and sorry 7:50 - 15 cheezy GM type late production split Rims.
The Van just looked so 'WRONG' with those. Way too short/small and cluttered looking.
A couple blocks away, a lady had a 1952 Ford 3/4 Ton Pick Up, which was in nice shape but for a frozen Engine and no Bed and no interior.
I bought the Truck from her because it had these really good looking, 'Firestone' 8 Lug Split Rims, which de-Mount from the back side...so, when looking at them one would think they were simple Drop Center ones.
Anyway they fit my Van perfectly and, I bought new 7:50 - 17 Eight Ply Bias Ply Tires, Tubes and Flaps, and, found a Commercial Truck Tire place who was willing to mount them.
And I recouped my Tire Costs and so on in passing on the Truck for a reasonable price...so, all that worked out swell for everyone.
I will post some pics to-morrow, showing the Firestone Aftermarket Rims I am running.
Anyway, since then, ( 8 years ago ) no one left in Town here now, will work on them.
Of course, you and I know, how to do it safely, and that one would have to be a dope to screw up...none the less, no one will touch them.
I got a Flat, and was lucky to find a same Rim with an old Tire on it, at a Junk Yard, and the guy just said "Take it with you" and gave it to me...so, I was running on it as a 'spare'...old rock hard 'Gum Dipped' Tire from the 1950s for Pete's sake...but, it hold Air and holds the Van up!
Anyway, I keep thinking, maybe IHC or FORD or GM or someone may have made 7:50 - 17 Rims, which were a plain type none dished Drop-Center Rim, which the Truck Tire places would then be able to fix a flat on.
So I want to find a set of THOSE ( if they exist ) and then switch over to those with my still pretty darned new Tires.
I would be glad to sell the really super good looking 'Firestone' Split Rims, once I have something else to roll with.
The Firestone Rims are all dated...four are 1952 one is 1948 I think ( the 'Spare' ).
Last edited by Thriftmaster_Phi; 07/07/2014 7:01 AM.
