The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wheels that fit?

I'm currently assembling my 1950 3100 truck at a real good pace. It has upgraded brakes with a front disc brake conversion kit. The original hub is still being used with a high speed bearing replacement in there. I tried to order artillery wheels and original look baby moons this weekend from classic industries where I purchased the brake upgrade kit but they were no help at all. The original wheels will not clear the front disc brakes. The classic industries catalog mentions backspacing that varies with the wheel width. I was interested in getting tires a little bit wider than the original width that came on these trucks but nothing extremely wide, just filling up the fender wells a bit more for a nice look. There is a no return policy on the wheels ordered from classic industries so I am trying to learn a little more before spending the money. Any input or suggestions on this subject would be greatly appreciated? Is there a way to modify my original wheels to clear the rotors on the front?

"The Wheel Smith" might be a good place to start, give them a call and discuss what you are trying to accomplish. They have original style wheels that work with disk brake upgrades.

Also, a bit of strategic grinding on your original wheels (16") can make them clear the calipers. But, do so at your own risk.

Since I have limited knowledge about a 1950 3100, are you saying that this truck originally had 16 inch wheels because mine has 15 inch wheels? Just wondering if this is why the wheels won't fit over the rotors.

The '50 1/2 ton came originally with 4" X 16" standard wheels. There was a 15" factory option which was for heavy duty. I am not at all familiar with the front disc upgrades, but from what I've read here, many have had to do some grinding on their brake calipers NOT the wheel.

Huck: You can grind the wheel to give clearance. The part that interferes is the wheel center to rim web. Grinding off a bit of the wheel center allows for the clearance. Plenty of strength in those old original wheels. But, again, do so at your own risk. Maybe caliper and wheel grinding is the best approach.

The vendor should know if their rims clear disc. I'm sure most of thier customers are building modified rides. I have rally wheels on my coupe with S-10 discs, no problems, not sure with aftermarket artillery wheels. I'd check with other vendor til you get an answer. Also I'm sure the wheel center is the problem vs backspacing.
Good luck

My Wheelsmith rims arrive Wednesday, I dealt with Rex, very helpful with my limited knowledge to get them ordered. He took the time to help me figure the rims and tires i needed to fill the fender wells up. You will need to take some critical measurements so he can make the rims at the back space you need. My originals were 16" 6 lug but i switched to 15" 6 lug and he assured me a future disk brake upgrade would not be an issue.

After doing two disc installations I don't think this method will work with 15" wheels. I know it will work on the CPP kit with stock 16" wheels. On the POI kit I took some meat off the calipers.

I feel your pain and am doing exactly what you mentioned here. 15 inch wheels to clear front disc brake calipers. Wheelsmith will help you out right away. They are 92$ per wheel. I got 5 of them so mine are all the same. You can then get THEIR baby moons so they fit right on the rims without special clips. 6 lug.

I just have this problem with grinding on wheels, then putting modern radials on them. If that works, I am happy for you, but I want them balanced and ready for 75 mph plus. I am very happy with the Smoothie wheels. They are 5.5 inches and are made for modern radials. Hope this helps. I talked to Dave there. He already knew what I needed without asking for measurements. I have them, painted and ready for rubber.

This guy ran into the same problem....
Original 16" wheels won't work with disc brakes.

http://talk.classicparts.com/showpost.php?p=90628&postcount=42

He used a 1/4" spacer to get the wheels to clear the caliper.

Cletis: You are most likely correct that 15" wheels simply will not fit no matter how much grinding. But, my stock 16" wheels just took a minimal amount of grinding to clear the calipers. I also suppose it makes a difference on what brake kit is used.

Regardless, I am not using my stock wheels as they will take too much work to clean up and make look decent especially with $92 options out there.