The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Original 18" Dual Wheel Centers in tubeless wheels?

I did some measuring and I'm reasonably certain that the original 8 hand hole dual wheel centers could be cut out and welded to new 19.5" rims. There are wheel shops that regularly do similar center and rim swaps. Sometimes the rim you want won't work with the modern center you want, but I think they might in this case.
That could be a good discussion/thread on it's own if someone decides to do it. I like the idea but don't want to run dual wheels enough to make it happen.

I would love it, but getting to that point and having the money to do it would be a while down the road for me.


Larry W.

as far as wheel centers, there is a guy up here doing that with Ford wheels. (5-hole Budd rims). The centers he uses are the ones from widow maker rims, the centers from regular split rims won't work. Not sure if it is the same for our GM wheels or not. I think he is putting them in 22.5 rims though, so if you are going 19.5 it may not matter because the rim is smaller diameter.

The main consideration when swapping rims and centers: is the center the right diameter or can it be machined to fit the rim at the correct back spacing?
In the case of many 20" wheel centers they are too small or shallow to fit in a 22.5" rim at proper back spacing. I looked into that for my 2 ton years ago.

The 8 hand hole 18" 1 ton wheels have an ID and center OD of approximately 17-1/8".
A 19.5" rim has an ID of about 16-7/8". Which is only 1/8" smaller per side.
If the center from the 8 hand hole 18" wheel were trimmed to about 3-3/8" to 3-1/2" deep overall that would remove the rivet holes and nicely position the center just outside the corner of the 19.5" drop center for welding, allowing the correct back spacing. Or the center could be turned some to reduce diameter and slip party inside the 19.5" drop center.
Cutting the wheels apart and more careful measurements would be necessary but so far I think it's close enough to working that that'd be the logical next step.

Grigg

It would be interesting to find the right rim combo, using the 18" center, that could be made into a one-off single type wheel.

Larry

Specifically, would it be feasible to cut the original 18" DRW split rim centers out and put them in a 19.5 inch wheel rim?

Anyone tried this yet? Grigg thought of it, and we are just starting to discuss the possibilities, so before it gets too mixed up....here is a new thread.

I would be all in if I could scrape the $$$. I'll be running P30 19.5 duals on my '53 3800 Flat Bed, but I think some modified 18" style 19.5 would be great.

Ideas?

Chime in.

Larry W.

Here are the two wheels side by side, 18" and 19.5"
PICTURE

This PICTURE
Shows a ruler lined up with outside of wheel mounting surface indicating depth of the 18" wheel center.

Same idea on the 6x19.5" wheel showing the drop center starts about 3.5" from the WMS.
PICTURE

Recall that the OD of the 18" wheel center is about 1/4" larger than the ID of the 19.5" drop center. Therefore they will intersect at the corner of the drop center.

Looks like it is a good possibility.

Asked anyone what $$$ might be to convert?

Larry

I have not asked.
Here is where I'd ask first. Several years ago I bought some tires and visited them, seem like good folks.
http://www.ricksontruckwheels.com/

Here is another, well respected wheel resource. http://www.wheelsnowinc.com/capabilities/building.php I have not dealt with them but in previous conversation about some rims they were helpful and professional.

Another often mentioned place for this work is http://www.stocktonwheel.com/ I had some wheels made some time ago and it was a terrible and miserable experience. I've heard the ownership has changed but I'd still be very hesitant, they'd be the very last place I'd call.

I sent this to Rickson Wheel:


Hello,

Interested to see if you can take the centers out of my current wheels and transfer them to a new wheel?

Another interested party has done some comparison measuring between the center donor and a desired size wheel listed below. The center from the donor wheel would be approx. an inch larger than the current center in the desired wheel; so there is some room for machining.



The Wheels:

Donor centers would be from a 1953 Chevrolet 3800 Dual Wheel Truck
Hub Piloted, 18", Tube Type, split rim. 8 on 6.5" pattern
Lug holes would need to be bored for 9/16" studs (GM 14 Bolt rear end). Wheels are currently bored for 1/2 " studs.

Please see picture.



Would like to transfer the center to a 19.5" Drop Center Dual Wheel.
Either some currently owned "P30" Step Van wheels or suitable set of rims provided by you. (Based on cost)
Still need to be duals, with the same offset / backspacing as the original 18" wheel (aprox. 9" if memory serves).
Wheels would be used with an 8R-19.5 tire
Please see picture.

Right now, we are mainly interested in seeing if you can provide this service, and what a general cost per wheel might be. Trying to see if it is feasible.

Thank you for your time,
Larry W.


Example pictures of the front and rear of each wheel were sent.


We'll see what they say and I'll post here.


Larry W.

Sounds about right except I don't understand "the center from the donor would be approximately 1" larger...." I had measured about 1/4" diameter difference.
Also the back spacing will need to be same as the 19.5" wheel used. The 19.5" rim should be 6" wide and the old 18" was considerably narrower. It's all about the correct dual spacing for given rim width to prevent tires rubbing.

"Sounds about right except I don't understand "the center from the donor would be approximately 1" larger...." I had measured about 1/4" diameter difference."

Yeah, that would be my crappy memory, and not looking back at your post. Oh, well. Just looking for general ideas right now.

"the back spacing will need to be same as the 19.5" wheel used."

Yep,
Right again. Good thing I sent a question, not an order. LOL

What's even worse is that when I said the backspace was about 9" I was thinking of the P30 wheel anyway. So I got it triple wrong.

Larry W.