The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun E250 rims for 47 1 ton panel

Hi all,
So as not to hijack the excelsior thread. What year(s)E250 rims work on these trucks without modification? I ask because I tried some, year unknown, and they would work in the back but absolutely would not in the front without some substantial spacers.
Thanks in advance,
Les

If you had modern tie rod ends would they work?

What tie rods should I be looking for to make them modern?

Assuming you have the kind with a spring, cups, and a thread in cap with a cotter key, balls are pressed and riveted in the arms.
New kind is all one assembly, not serviceable other than grease, and fits a tapered hole in the arms with a nut to hold it in. Pretty much everything for the past 60 or more years uses this kind, still today.

Thanks for the reply Grigg.
I still have the old style tie rod ends but not sure the wheels I tried would work with modern ones. I'm not even positive the wheels I have are e250 but they look like it. they don't have the 3 bumps for hubcaps. I'll measure the backspacing and post it maybe that will help identify the wheel. I'm assuming that all e250 wheels were the same width with the same backspacing but maybe that isn't true either. I just about have the old girl ready to drive but she isn't going anywhere with the tires that are currently on the split rims. at least not very far. I've seen some posts on here that people are claiming 1/8" clearance but I don't know if that is or isn't with newer style tie rod ends.
Thanks again for the help!
Les

If not, how do I upgrade? I have a 47 and a 51.

They made perhaps countless varieties of 8 lug steel wheels. I think it'd be hard to follow someone's lead on "such and such wheels from a ___ model van fit" unless they include the manufacturers part number which may or may not be stamped on the wheel.
Very likely to be a while goose chase. If you test fit different wheels in the process you'll probably find a different yet just as suitable goose before finding the one you set out to find.

There have been many claiming the E350 wheels fit. Problem is, if you didn't but them off of an all original E350 who knows what they are! They usually just have the Ford logo stamped on them and salvage yards pile up Ford or just 8 lug wheels. I haven't found the right ones yet.

I picked up a full set of tires and wheels from a 15 passenger E350 & they fit perfectly...best part was the price... $90.

I just test fit a couple rims off craigslist I found,they were supposed to be e-250 van rims.they have some numbers on them but appear to be of a 2012 manufacture. they are 16x7 rims
they also say on them

6.35 brazil fl
t dot f977a fumagalli 8c24-1015 da gry ea wht fa blk 2012 06 19

sensor may be inside

hope this helps

pete

Thanks everybody!

I'll keep searching. I took a closer look and the tie rod ends on my panel are the newer style. Pete, thanks for the numbers! I'll take a look and see if mine say anything. Gotta figure out something soon! I fired the old girl up and we went around the block for the very first time last weekend. She didn't leave me stranded! What fun!
Les

OE Ford rims will have the Ford Oval stamped on them.

I want to say 67-97 F250 and 72-present E250/350 vans.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Black-Rock/262/997678035/10002/-1

I'm thinking about trying one of these... I measured my stock '53 GMC wheels and they are 7.5-17's with 4" backspace. Opinions?

When you measured the width is that at the bead seat (proper way) or overall? The difference is usually about 1".

On the stock wheel and tire I measured from the mounting surface to the edge of the metal rim. So the bead would be inside by roughly 1/2" or so. The tire bulges out another 1-1/2" or so beyond at the sidewall. So if the correct measurement is from the mounting surface to the tire bead it would be about 3-1/2". From mounting surface to outermost tire bulge at the sidewall is about 5-1/2", if that makes sense.

No, that does not make sense to me.
For proper terminology and where to measure to and from on wheels Try here, page 47 or so among others:
http://www.accuridecorp.com/files/2012/10/Accuride-Wheels-Product-Catalog-Summer-2011.pdf

You said your wheels are "7.5-17's" but perhaps you meant to say tire, and thus the confusion?

Yes the tires are 7.5-17. I'm currently eyeing up these wheels... http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-x6-Visio...01677634506?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

We changed a set of stock split rims wheels over to tubeless. We sent the centers to Stockton wheel and they put on new tubeless rims on them for about $125 a wheel. It lets you keep the center hub cap clips and tubeless 17" wheels with the offset of your choice.

Well I pulled the trigger on these... http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Dexstar/AM20766.html

People are saying they fit a 1-ton. I measured my rear drums at a 15" diameter. These are 16x6 with a +0.5 offset. Being a smaller diameter than my 17 x 7.5 I am hoping for the best on tie-rod ends and rear drums. Tire size I'm hoping for 28-1/2" diameter from 225-70-r16. My existing diameter is 31". On the width, want to stay skinny.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

These are the tires I have on my 51 1 Ton using those trailer wheels. After seven years of use I am very happy with them. The overall diameter is 31.5". Tires

The load rating on those Generals is too low for a 1 ton.

Thanks truckernix.

How about these? Cooper Discoverer HT3 LT225/75R16

The literature says rated for 1-ton.

Those will be much better. P rated tire are fine for a 1/2 ton, but for the heavier trucks, you want an LT rating. Seen too many problems when P rated are put on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks, poor handling, reduced tire life, and in one extreme case, premature tire failure. Better to play it on the safe side.

Truckernix,
Are those tires of yours available in a somewhat more aggressive tread?
Do you use tubes on your radial trailer rim?

Michilin makes a similar one called HPRib I believe for about 250/ea. The Cooper Discoverer LT was 125/ea. It has a 28.5" diameter.

I don't know if they are available in a more aggressive tread. I don't ever carry a load so I am not driving in fields or anything like that. The truck tracks and steers very nicely so I am happy.

I too am on the great wheel hunt. I am trying to find something that is a little more sporty than the standard trailer wheel, I like the black rock wheels Chad posted but am very curious on what actually works.

I got some 16" aluminum wheels from Les Schwab in Seattle. They looked nice when I put them on 10 years ago but the calcium chloride from winter roads got under the clear powdercoat and has begun to fester. They were about $100 each then.

I asked for rims with (if I recall correctly) 5-1/4 back spacing. They clear the tie rod ends! The issue is the edge of the rim on the 16" wheels not the tire.

Before that I used Ford rims and just went through a junkyard or two till I found ones with the correct backspacing.

The back spacing isn't so critical with 17" rims because they clear the tire rod ends and you might find some modern 17" tires with adequate load rating. At that time there weren't any that I could find.

Grigg, I was told that you were the person that might could help me. I have 3 each 8-lug 17" split rims on my 1951 Chevy 3800 panel (which I have owned for only 2 weeks now). I think I would like to find another that matches the 3 that I have but if there is something better I would consider changing. I would like to keep the truck as original as possible using Chevrolet baby moons but I don't plan to show it...just drive it. I already have 4 each 7.50 x 17 new tires and tubes that came with the truck but not mounted. I am having a hard time finding a decent (not rusted out) rim to match mine? Ideas

I see you have posted a wanted ad in the swap meet section, that's a fine start to finding some wheels.

Being as you already have 4 new tires and only need one wheel finding that one wheel is probably going to be simplest and cheapest option. Just keep looking, visit some junkyards, and ask around. Locally will be easier to deal with and check condition and suitability compared to trying to do all that long distance and pay shipping.

If you opt for newer/different wheels I'm a big fan of the 19.5" tubeless wheels and 8R19.5 tires. They are however a little more difficult to find, and buying new tires is never cheap.

Good luck,
Grigg