The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun I got my 1 ton on the road finally

So, brakes are done, rear end is sealed up ...it seems like it's driving ok. It's far from done, lots of little details, but I'm pretty excited. I took it down to the park last night and took some pictures:

http://flic.kr/p/rwkwQ3

Nice truck Dawg! I love your paint job too by the way!

Nice job on your end! From were it came from to now, WOW! Nice rims, what are they?? Looking to update my wheels and tires!

The rears came with it. They're the 1 piece 19.5s. The fronts are off of a '84 3/4 ton Suburban. I have to use spacers, 2 washers per lug, so that the drums don't rub on the tie rods, but they work great otherwise. I also had to modify them to get the hubcaps to fit, that was a pain.

Good luck with yours!

It might have been a pain but it looks great! Nice job. What size were they? You got me thinking!

The thought of using washers as wheel spacers concerns me.
If you need a thin spacer then consider making or purchasing them as a plate with all the appropriate holes in them.
Most single wheels have the center where the bolt pattern is stamped such that the wheel is only contacting the hub or drum at the outer edge and in the center, not right at the stud. Even if the wheel is flat and a washers seem to fit well as spacers I don't think it is as secure as having good contact all over the wheel mounting surface, and particularly at the outer edge. If the wheel is only making contact with the hub right at the studs they may not be strong enough for the extra leverage imposed on them.

Other ways of getting more suitable spacers are to machine all but the flat plate off a drum or rotor. Or cut the center out of a spare wheel, dually wheels usually have plain flat centers good for this.

Grigg

It's a good suggestion Grigg. You probably mean something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/WHEEL-SPACERS...13&keywords=chevy+8+lug+wheel+spacer

Yes, that's the idea. I'd find some with only 8 holes, not the dual pattern type.
If you can scrounge a drum, disc, or dual type wheel with your bolt pattern and have access to a lathe you can make some pretty nice spacers.

What a great truck. Here's to the one tons!

Love the truck. It begs to tell a story just the way it sits. Please keep posting photos. I am restoring a 3800 that was my grandfather's and changing parts on another 3800 to create a weekend driver. It looks JUST LIKE your GMC. I'm about 2 weeks away from getting my brakes to look like yours. My NAPA guy can't find brake hoses from the wheel cylinders to the frame. HE's a nice old guy but I wish he would let me use his catalogs. Best - Joe

Find a good parts store. They can make brake hoses in minutes.

Also check the vendors links on the home page. They sell brake hoses for my 1946 2 ton so I'm sure they have them for your truck.

Glad to see yours on the road! Very cool truck...btw, your video of the rear brakes helped me get mine done & on the road today as a matter of fact....Thanks!!!

RDQ (Really Dumb Question) - My dually has 18" 3=piece split rims. I guess Coker tire has them.....But those 19.5's look great. Do you know what the 19.5's were off of ? I'm searching far and wide coming up empty.

Single and dual 19.5's are out there, some early ones may or may not clear tie rod ends, calipers, check first. Bread vans, etc.

There is a set of 19.5 singles on ebay for $1500, and a set of 17.5 8 bolts for $500... The prices keeps going up but $1500 is outrageous in my opinion.. Dually 19.5 are much more common and see those on ebay and craiglist all the time.

I have a set of 19.5 singles on my 1 ton and the tires are approx 34" tall... Helped a little with increasing cruising speed but not much.. But with 5:14's and 45-50 mph top end every little bit helps!

I'm on a hunt. I'm going to carry a brake drum with me to the junk yards. If I could get a rim to go around a rear drum I'm golden. But no way would I pay $1500 for 6 rims.....