The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Wheels for my 55 series 1...3100

I am working on getting my 55 series 1 back on the road. Brakes are being worked on now and then looking for wheels and rubber. The truck has the original tires and rims that came with the truck from the factory. I noticed that the wheels are two piece with the inner wheel being riveted to the outer rim. I do not want to take the chance that years of rust has compromised the integrity of the wheel. Having the rim separate while going down the road would not be a feeling I wish to experience.

Does anyone have experience with cleaning these wheels and using them.

If replacing them is there a source that still makes these rims. New hubcaps would be nice too since the old ones are rather rusted and I am missing one.

Any information is greatly appreciated. The truck will be back on the road soon. I want to drive it a while before I start having the body refurbished. I like the old beat up look but will be painting it anyway.

Eric R,

If you can post links to photos of the rivets and the tube-stem holes, people might be able to assess the condition/safety of your wheels.

If there is heavy rust around the rivets (especially if there is any looseness), you might not want to use the wheels.

I have used "rusty/rusted" wheels for many years on my Suburban. I blasted them and the rivets were tight; then, epoxy primed the bare metal; then, urethane finish coat. I have had no problems.

You might want to take your blasted wheels to a good/friendly tire shop to see if they can tell you that the wheels are true and can be balanced.

I just looked over the wheels and the rust is heavy with large chucks of metal flaking. These rims are shot. I am hoping to find rims that will accept tubeless tires.

Here are some pictures of the rusted wheels.

[IMG]http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz221/Bikaholic51/55%20chevy%20PU/IMG_0086.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz221/Bikaholic51/55%20chevy%20PU/IMG_0084.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz221/Bikaholic51/55%20chevy%20PU/IMG_0081.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz221/Bikaholic51/55%20chevy%20PU/IMG_0080.jpg[/IMG]

That's a nice looking truck! I like the door art. What happened to the rear passenger corner of the cab? Some of the pictures show it intact and one shows it pretty dented up?
Samantha

It is now dented. That was the straw that got me the truck. His son spun his backhoe and the back of the cab hit the truck on the spin. Basically the only real dent. other dents are more like dings.