The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts rh5s??

this may be in the wrong place, and if so, I apologize. im looking at a 63 c60, and I really cant tell if it has widowmakers on it or not. did gm use them into the 60s? im putting some pics up, is there a way to tell for sure with the tires still on the truck? any help is greatly appreciated. thank

Three of the four shown are Firestone RH5's, they have a 2" wide raised band in the center of the rim (with the valve stem coming out of it) that locks the two halves together. The one front is a two piece lock ring type...that rim can still be serviced by any big truck/farm tire shop.

Mike B

that's what I figured. think I will just keep the 48, and work on/fix things a little at a time. I did bite the bullet though, and ordered a new wheel made from wheels now. just one to start, not entirely sure how they will look on the truck. they don't look exactly like the original rims, but they are 22.5 tubeless. ive always been kind of a safety over style type. ill post a pic when I get the first one.

Boonie,

Pics please ;-)

Boonie, where are you in Kansas? I live in western Ks. and may be able to help you. I sent you a PM. JP

I will post some pics when the wheel shows up. just ordered one to start with, and the others will follow quickly

after what seems like a long time, my first newly made rh-5 replacement wheel will be here tomorrow. pics to follow....

so, as promised, here are a couple pictures. they don't look like original wheels at all, but I don't think they look horrible. definitely solid, 115 pounds each. no tires mounted yet, just slipped it on big sal to get an idea how it would look.

Hy boonie, thank you for the pictures, you didn't mention the cost per wheel. I don't know how others will feel, but those wheels look so unlike the originals that I do not like the look of them. Maybe something could be done with a paint treatment to make them look more like the originals but I doubt it. I would not want them on my truck, sorry.

yea, they were not cheap. I actually bought 2 originals after I ordered this one. what im thinking now is try to locate 2 more original ones, and not use these, or 2 more originals and just use these on the inner rears. I actually don't care for how they look either, so I am upping my search for gm wheels. sending emails everywhere I can think of that might have some. have to give them credit though, these are some extreme duty wheels. wheel discs are 1/4 inch, fully welded. 335 a wheel to make them.

So, you have 5/10 on 7.25" bolt pattern, but on your original px you showed 6 on about 9".
So what do you really have a need for. 5/10 on 7.25" came on first tubeless tires, 22.5 in the late '50's.

Ed

Functional I’m sure, but not pretty.
What is the thickness of the center plate? So large and flat actually isn’t as strong as one with shape to it right up to the bolt pattern, given same material thickness.

I’ve seen these wheels adapted from a 6 lug Budd wheels with old bolt pattern cut out and new plate with bolt pattern welded in, this results in a better looking wheel but still looks “wrong” because center is still larger and flatter than a real/original wheel.

Thanks for sharing.

yea, the first picture was a truck I was looking at. it has the 6 lug wheels. the wheels I actually have that I am replacing are the 5/10 on 7.25.

Cheap insurance- - - - -what does a funeral cost?
Jerry

Valid point. Would rather have ugly wheels than have a tragedy happen. Could be worrying for nothing, but this makes the wife feels better also.

Just a word to the wise--The honchos here kind of frown on selling stuff in this forum. I know you already have them listed in the swap meet, but they will tell you to confine your negotiations to that forum.