progress report on the 52.
WHEEL WOES
The 52 had some pretty hillbilly issues when I got it, and definitely was a "rat rod" contestant. I do admire some of the thinking outside the box the ratter guys do, but, it's not the look I want. The tires and wheels made me cringe every time I looked at them sticking out the sidewalls, and the huge wide rear tires rode terrible. They just had to go, along with the diesel stacks. The problem is, with the 72 frame being so wide, only a certain type of wheel would fit. So, yet another adventure. Since I've moved so far away, I tried a local tire chain store. One of the guys there actually understood what I was trying to accomplish, so after settling on the type of wheel I wanted, he ordered as close to the old school Crager mags I was looking for as possible
When the wheels came in, and the new tires were mounted, it was better, but the wheels still stuck out enough to rub, and the cost was $1600.00. I decided that wouldn't work, so I asked to have them removed. The guy who I originally talked to was sick, and this other guy told me he had the perfect solution. A body saw to cut the wheel wells. Now I REALLY wanted the wheels off! I decided to head back to where I used to live ( Lebanon Indiana) to deal with people I knew and trusted. In Lebanon, I have ALWAYS been treated very well by Allen Romack at Big O tires.
When I got to Lebanon, Curt Bascomb, a service writer at the store, helped me find the wheels I wanted, and went outside AND MEASURED THE TRUCK to make sure everything would fit. I stood there as he ordered exactly what I wanted, and told me I could have the wheels in 2 days. I selected the tires I wanted, and drove the 37 miles back home. As promised, 2 days later my wheels came in, so back I went. We test fitted the wheels before mounting the tires, and one more time, problem. The warehouse sent the 5x5 bolt pattern as ordered, but the hub was too small. (Jeeps have a 5x5 pattern also, but have a smaller hub size) Again I went home disappointed, and getting pretty frustrated at the whole mess. Then I had a thought. Steel wheels have the right offset and are thinner to pull in the wheels even more. I started hitting the junkyards. I found 2 at a junkyard in Noblesville, and met a really good guy (the owner) in the process. His junkyard has some pretty neat old stuff in it, and I enjoyed looking around. His prices were very fair, but the wheels would certainly need blasting.
Two more junkyards, and finally, I had 4 seven inch Chevy truck rally wheels from the 70's-80's era. Perfect. I had the wheels blasted at a local blacksmith shop for $20.00, primed with oil primer, and finish painted with International Farmall oil based tractor paint. It takes forever to dry, but tough as nails. From ebay, a set of new rally centers for 60 bucks. I finally had a decent set of wheels and had about $110.00 in the entire set. I didn't get my Crager look, but didn't spend $1100.00 either. Back once again to Big O tires.
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n603/koolkar/013_zps34af5085.jpg (Curt and John)
When I arrived, Curt got me right in, and once again, we test fit. It looked pretty good. Curt pulled the tires I wanted, and the guys got right on the mounting, balancing, and installing the new caps. I was very happy with the outcome. I think I need to say something here I feel is important. Whenever possible, I try my best to not deal with chain stores, and prefer to deal with owners or franchisees. It seems like guys who are on a salary could care less, and guys on commission only care about the getting your money and getting you out. Not so with small business owners. Allen at Big O is a franchisee, so he has a vested interest in keeping customers happy and coming back, In the time I have been a customer of Allen Romack's business, he and his staff have gone out of their way to take the best of care of my families vehicles as well as my own. The guy can be intense at times, but he demands his people do what is right, and does so at a very fair price. In the end, what is right, is what is safe, so, I'm a little bit picky about who I deal with.
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n603/koolkar/015_zpsf514bdc2.jpg (Allen Romack, owner)
You saw the before. Here's the after.
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n603/koolkar/011_zps05901367.jpgI like the look, and the ride is so much better. A great improvement!
