The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 37 1.5 ton

Well I picked up a 37 Chevy 1.5 ton today. Not that I needed it as I’m just about done completing my 39 1/2 ton, but since when is buying what you need fun lol. Truck is all original and all there. Been sitting in a barn since 53. I have read the tech tips which has great info. I have been searching the forums the last week looking at tire and wheel options, but I’m confused by all the info and most of what I see is for newer and bigger trucks. I’m thinking I’d like to keep the original wheels. The tires on it are 32-6. Can anyone tell me if 8.25-20 are a possibility or should I be looking at something else?

Thanks for your input

Pics to follow

If one double the second number(6 in this case) = 12, and subtracts that number(12 in this case) from the larger number(32 in this case); one will get the modern number(20 in this case) , so in today's nomenclature, = 20" tire.

Congratulations on the truck.

Ed

Sorry Ed but you confused me. I know I have 20” wheels. Let me add this the tires are 32-6 10 ply, which according to the 37 spec book they should be mounted to a 6” rim. My question is can I run the 8.25-20 on these rims on my 37 1.5 ton. One other question and it may sound dumb. How do you measure wheel width on these old rims? I see conflicting info on the net. Today we measure inside the rim where the bead sits, still the same? Trying to upload a picture of rim but not working on my phone... measurement from outside to outside is like 5 3/8”

Inside to inside is what counts. 32x6 = 32 - (2x6) = 20 x 6 in today's lingo.

Ed

So you are saying wheels 20” diameter x 6” width in today’s terms ?

Yes, will take much larger tires, for example 7.50 or 8.50 x 20.

Ed

Be careful with larger tires with dual wheels. They may rub each other.

george

I put 6.50-20's on my '35. I wish I had done 6.00's. The duals just don't look far enough apart for my liking and they look too substantial on the front. Originally (from what I can find) mine could have come with 6.00, 6.50, or 7.00 tires. It had one old tire on the front that was a 7.00. It was HUGE. You won't like tires that large. Heck, 8.25's are what my '54, '55, and '58 ton and a halfs have on them. Those old 30's trucks are just meant to have little skinny devils.

6.50 or 7.00 will look OK on your truck. 8.25 will be much too big and ugly. I have 6.50s on my 1936 1-1/2 ton. They look good. It had 7.00s when I got it and they looked too big to suit me. The offset in your wheels will determine how big your rears can be.
Even with the similarities between '36 and '37, I think your '37 can take a larger tire and look OK.
You can see some pics of my truck on Jim Carters site. It was feature truck for November 2016 (I think)

Mike

This might get you there http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/2016/11/1936-chevrolet-1-12-ton/