After going at this for a while, I am trying to make this a reality by coming up with a wheel similar to the original made by GM of Canada in the 40's... Seeing that we're stuck with 20" very rusty and sometimes dangerous wheels with very expensive replacement tires, I figured I try another option for our 1.5 ton and smaller trucks, with a new 10 x 7.25 bolt circle 16" split wheel... The benefit of the two piece is handling, requiring no special equipment to change a flat or swap tires...
So far I have the following information regarding the original Canadian 16" wheel:
Rim Size: 16" Width: 7-1/8" approximately... Backspace: 4-7/8
Bolt Pattern: 10 x 7.25" Flange thickness: 19/64" chamfered for wheel nuts.
The new wheel (minus the stem valve protector) would have different backspaces front and rear and be slightly wider (about 8.5" overall) to fit the U.S. spec. 1.5 trucks... If anyone out there is interested, please chime in. This could be a nice solution to a very old problem...
Thank you for the heads up... I appreciate you letting me keep this post here for now... I am not collecting any funds, just trying to determine the level of interest and hoping for constructive feedback.
Are you going to make them? Or have them made? Why 16's, don't they fit on 1.5 ton trucks which come with 20's, at least in the 'States?
If they were made in 22.5" tubeless, 4.75" center hole with spacer ring if requested, lots of users in the 'States, could use them on early(4.75") and late(5.25") 1.5 ton trucks.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
I won't make them personally, but I am trying to find a company in the US that will if there is enough interest; otherwise, I will be forced to go overseas... Why 16"? Because that was one of the military sizes available during the war and I like them... I also like the 18" with 10 joining bolts, but the bigger the tire the more expensive the tire, which brings me here:
The 16" wheels would fit the US spec 1.5 ton trucks and smaller trucks (3/4 & 1 ton) potentially... The Canadian wheel with a 4-7/8" backspace fits both models. Now keep in mind that the US 1.5 ton trucks have different specs, so the backspaces will have to be changed to accomodate the wheels... Attached you can see a US spec 1.5 ton truck with modified backspaces and new 16" solid wheels fitted... And with the correct 10.50-16 tires, it would match the original height of the 6.50-20 tires and wheels but look much better...
Looking at my 1.5 ton brake drums, I have serious doubts that anything less than a 20 will fit the rear. There is very little room between the inside of the rim and the drum, I doubt I could even fit 19.5s on it.
Edit: the drum has a little clearance but the backing plate has almost no clearance.
My apologies for forgetting one very important detail here that will discourage most if not all people... The fenders must be widened about 4-1/2" to fit the wider tires up front... Now going back to you request for 22.5, why not a 20" 4.75" center and 7" wide. Imagine that the spacer ring (adapter) would be for the 5.25 center of the new trucks?
I'm willing to go through the trouble if you can provide specific details.. Come up with a wheel that fits 37-46 that will not require fender cutting, and another one for 46-55 trucks with whatever is required or even a different heart...I love trucks and want other more affordable options for wheels/tires than what we have... All in the details and planning. Anything can be executed.
If you have a 1.5 ton truck your rear drums should be 16.5" in diameter and the front 14.48" in diameter... That is why the military had rear drums exposed in the rear and partially up front, if not completely as well ...
I’ll get some pics tomorrow. Mine is a 1940 1.5 ton with duals on the rear and I have probably less than an inch clearance between drum and inner rim. Absolutely no way I could fit 16s unless they were VERY deep dish....
There was a fellow on here a few years back who widened the fenders on a Art Deco Chevy. They turned out really nice. I'm thinking his handle was "Sublime". Not sure if his truck would be in the Gallery or not.
Your truck is just like mine, I have 16" in the rear and front but with different backspaces... Fender widening is not really a big deal, and may be easier on the GMC trucks because of the fender shape.. Mine is done, I have the template if anyone wants to borrow it... It is not a straight shot as you would think. See attached photos.
Here’s a few pics of mine. 1940 1.5 ton with 20s. I’ve got more clearance than I thought. Still have to have deep dish to fit the backing plate and rear drums. Front has more clearance.
First pic rear wheel/backing plate clearance, Second pic, rear wheel to drum clearance Third pic front wheel to drum clearance
First pic is why 19.5 duals won’t fit. Second pic is why I think 16s won’t fit....unless switching to deep dish singles instead of duals.
Looks like your truck is the same as mine 133" wheelbase... If you want dual wheels in 16" I cannot help you there unfortunately, but you can have exactly what I have on mine; solid 16" wheels.
