I started out this venture last September with the intention of restoring this as close to factory original as I could. So far I've been holding pretty true to the course. I’ve had to redo many of the replacement parts that I have bought and I’ve made my own parts in some cases that were exact copies where I wasn’t satisfied with the repro parts.
It was not in the plan to show the truck or crown her a trailer queen, with that in mind I took her for a jaunt down a couple of dusty old gravel roads on my outing yesterday. I did however feel somewhat reluctant since I had put many hours and a lot of care into striping, repainting and baking everything that could be unbolted on the under carriage.
After attending a few car shows this summer the thought has occurred to me to bolt the fire extinguisher on the kick panel and take her to the dance. Her dress is kind of tattered, (I’m planning the body work this coming winter) but I think she’s a real good example of an original 1950 work truck and might be of some interest to the onlookers.
So, this is why I’m so adamant about keeping the original 15” split rims and 7.00-15 bias plies.
Now all that is just fine for the ball but Monday morning I am not opposed to fitting her up with work shoes. I would like to find a set of stock looking 15”x 6” eight lug, tubeless wheels with a 3” offset so I don’t have to run adaptors and a deep enough center that I could use the original hub caps on the rear, remember we’re looking at a 3/4 ton here with those big old hubs sticking out the back. I would like to find a radial tire that was the same height and maintained the stock appearance. I would like to have a smooth ride on a daily basis and not have to chase the road with the steering wheel, I’d like all of this and would even dip into my pension to pay for it if I could get some pictures, names, styles, series, models, manufactures, sizes, etc., that would get me there.
I’ve seen many pictures posted here of 1/2 tons, (their easily fixed) and 3/4 tons with fancy aluminum or mag wheels. I’ve heard a half dozen stories about finding wheels for trailers that will work but haven’t been able to find any thing like that around here even though I live in a heavily industrialized hub of the Midwest. The only trailer wheels I have seen round here are the flat spoked style.
ENOUGH BS for one session, I gota go make lunch for my Big old wife and get her off to work!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny G
Sandwich, IL