The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Got my Big Bolt!

I talked to the machine shop again and he wants me to cut the centers out of the 20 inch widow makers and he will weld a bushing on it to save money. My biggest problem with this whole thing is as a school teacher I don't have a lot of money to work with.

Have we confirmed you actually have the "Widowmaker" Firestone RH-5 rims? There are lots of multi piece rims out there that are still serviceable. Post a picture of your rims (outer rear will show us what you have).

I'll be using 1949 era 2-piece 20" rims on my '56 4400 project. They are the same bolt pattern as the RH-5's that are on the truck but they had a 4.75" center hole. So I had a friend turn the hole to 5.25" so they fit my hubs. The only reason I'm not using 22.5" rims is because I can't find heavy lug 8.25x22.5 Mud/Snow tires, but I can find them in 20".

Mike B

Yes they are widow makers. Either Grigg or 2ton posted actual pictures for me a while back when I first asked the question and told me what to look for. That is what I have. Even so, No one around here wants to touch any kind of split rim because of insurance requirements. I found a local school that has a cage for changing them they will let me use, but I would have to do the work myself. That having been said, I will try to post a picture any way later today so that someone elses eyes are confirming what I thing I know.

Here is the photo.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz0xYb6JGH-LUjdkTWRVaGVqeGM

You also can get an alternator that looks like a generator. Pricey, Jegs.

We b OLD,

I guess I don't understand your comment.

I think WE b OLD is having a web-browser/platform problem?
He jumped here from another thread about 6v generator/alternators?

Yes, you have the RH-5's sorry to say...

Look for a set of older 2-piece rims off of a late 40's truck. They can still be used and any big truck tire shop can service them for you. There are millions of 20" tires rolling on the roads every day...somebody out there works on them.

Mike B

I looked for 20" anything that had the right bolt circle and couldn't find any. Then I looked for 22.5's with no luck that I could afford. I did find one set for $100 per wheel, no tires. I found some 19.5's with great tires for free, so they will have to do until I can find some good, decent priced 22.5's. I have a shop making adapters for the difference in hub size for me.

How do you take apart RH-5 wheels? I am going to scrap them, but the tires are good and I am sure someone could use them.

I didn't have the "widow makers" on my '63 GMC 4000 , but I did have 8.25x20s w/ split rims. I kept an eye out for auctions with trucks that had the 10 bolt pattern wheels I have and in a 9.00x22.5 tire. I bought a '65 C60 Chevy from Hill City, Ks for $1,500. My plan was to swap the wheels between the 2 trucks, and resell the '65 C60. When I picked up the truck, they had put the ORIGINAL split rims and tires off the truck in the back of the bed. I put the original wheels and tires on the '65 and sold the truck for what I had in it. The 9.00x22.5s went on my truck and I sold the wheels and tires from my truck for $600. I ended up with a full set of 22.5s w/radials and $600. My point is to not only look for the wheels, but look for trucks you can swap wheels with and resell the truck. (The guy from Hill City, Ks said that everyone that called about the truck was interested in only the wheels). JP

Great idea. I know where there is a truck like that he said he is never going to get around to fixing, maybe I can talk him into selling the truck. Only two problems I see... Buying another truck on a teacher salary and my wife being good with the idea of me buying another truck. Hmmm...

I totally understand. Mine wasn't too crazy about the whole transaction until I showed her on paper how it all worked out. JP

They are out there, keep looking.

Ed