The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 17" split ring wheel replacements?

Ive searched for a couple hours now and havent found what I know to be a conversation had before. I need to replace my '48 3800 pickup wheels with something more up to date that will allow me to find tires and not fight the tire shops that wont work on split rims any longer. My truck is original and stock. Id like to have the original hubcaps fit the replacement wheels. Short of having some made, does anyone know of a bolt-on replacement? Thanks in advance.

Some have used 16” wheels from older trucks, somewhat newer Fords, and brand new trailer wheels. Some more searching on that should turn up plenty of info.

Personally I like 19.5 wheels with 8R19.5 tires, they’re tall and skinny like the original 7.50x17 but a tad taller, which is good. Down side is they’re becoming more difficult to find. Good side is ones from the 50’s and possibly 60’s usually have hubcap clips and our original hubcaps fit.
See blue GMC, red wheels, and white hubcaps here.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread.../re-homecoming-pictures.html#Post1310459

Ipba18 -- If you are talking the 17-inch wheels found (usually) on the 3804 trucks (your pickup), then they are three-piece wheels, not split rims. Any tire shop that doesn't understand the difference shouldn't be working on them, anyway. If you've been trying the chain tire outlets, then its not surprising that you aren't having any luck. Try finding a tire shop that services big trucks or farm equipment.

FWIW, I just put a new set of bias ply 17-inch tubed tires on my 3804. I bought them from Universal Vintage Tire in Hershey, PA and so far, I am very pleased with them. My local tire shop (services big trucks and ag) even found the tires for me and told me that it would be cheaper if I bought them directly and just brought them in for mounting. Which is what I did. They even balanced them, too. My truck is an occasional driver, not a daily. But when I do go somewhere, it's mostly on 4-lane or highway. And I am cruising 65-ish (I repowered with a 261 and I have the 4.11 gearing in the rear axle). Huck brakes, too. And why looky here ... I'm not dead.

Note: My truck is capable of going faster than 70 mph, but it's not enjoyable. To make it enjoyable, I would have to modify my truck more than I want to. 62-ish is good enough for me.

Just sayin ... Not all of us have Grigg's uncanny ability to spot the wheels he's looking for, mixed among thousands of nearly identical (appearing) wheels in a mound, covered with weeds in a forgotten junkyard from 1000 meters... I've seen him do it in person and all I can say is that 300 years ago, he would have been burned at the stake or dunked in a pond ... (I exaggerate for humor -- Grigg has spent a LOT of time and effort to research this stuff and prepares very well for each time he hits the fields and junkyards, so it shouldn't be surprising that he can spot exactly what he's looking for).

Bottom line -- Do not be quite so quick to give up on bias ply tires. They are one example of how it's a good thing that "they don't make 'em like they used to."

Good luck!

That is sooo true! I was walking through a junkyard with Grigg several years ago and he said "there's a 19.5 wheel". I said "where?" and he pointed about 30 yards ahead of us. I grabbed it!!!

Victor, it may have been the same trip but I saw him do the same thing in a big pile of wheels at a junk yard one time.
He also has and uncanny ability to find four leaf clovers

The weird part is ... it's not just 19.5-in wheels (cue X-Files theme music ...)

Y’all are too much.

They’re just wheels... figure out what you want to find and look for them, then when they show up you notice.

Easy for you to say, Maestro Galilei ... But history is replete with examples of how we fear what we do not understand ... And we find it ""foolish and absurd in philosophy, and formally heretical..."

Same goes with Detroits, 302 GMC's.

Ed

I used on my old truck trailer wheels but they were not the best looking but since then coker sells these wheels....
https://www.cokertire.com/8-lug-wheel-primed.html...
vintiques wheels I believe sells steel wheels that will work also for your truck...
https://www.wheelvintiques.com/whee...ze=125&backspacing=50&finish=256

good luck with your project...

MikeC

Wheel report --
I just last week took delivery from fleabay a pair of 16x6 - 0 offset aluminum wheels listed as trailer wheels. They have 10 cooling holes. I believe you can also get steel wheels of the same description but probably not with hubcap clips. I had been using 16x7 aluminum wheels with a 0 offset and no holes. The 6 inch wheels effectively move the center-line of the tire 1/2 inch closer to the kingpin. It drives so much better I can't believe I put up with it the old way as long as I did. I had the same tires mounted on 8 inch rims and it was almost un-drivable at highway speeds. I only made one 200 mile trip with it like that before putting the 7 inch wheels and tires back on but the 6 inch wheels are the ticket. The original 5 in. wheels have a 7/16 offset as compared with the new wheels 0 in. offset. That apparently gave center point steering. Zero offset is just fine. Negative 1/2 inch is somewhat tolerable and negative 1 in. is probably dangerous once you get tired or get surprised by ruts in the road.

I'm using 16" Dexstar trailer wheels that I bought from etrailer. Nice black powder coated finish. Was pretty hard to find period correct looking radial tires so I settled for bias plies. Does anyone have a picture of a 3/4 or 1 ton with 19.5 wheels? kind of curious now.

Here's what I can find of mine with 8R19.5 traction tires. If you choose a straight tread 8R19.5 at least for the front they look even more original.

Those look real good, Grigg. Just right on that truck. Is that a dump box? I'm prepared to be envious.

Thanks,
It is not a dump bed.
I'm slowly in the process of converting to a pickup bed, the first step was swapping the dual wheels and the front hubs out for singles. Sell the bed next (already in swap meet section) and finally restore a 9' pickup bed I already have.

Grigg