Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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| | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 | I envy your wheels, are they original bolt pattern?
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | where are the adapters from ? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 |
'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.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 238 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 238 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | Very nice thanks! I am gonna have to start looking for some old semi wheels for me loadmaster. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | Just keep in mind that you have to use aluminum wheels if you want to machine them down for 22” tires. Steel wheels don’t have enough material to allow you to do that. You can also buy 22” wheels that can be drilled to your bolt pattern as well. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Why not keep them 22.5?
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.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | The tires are 22”. So the area where the bead sits needs to be machined down for the tire bead to seat properly. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | Just keep in mind that you have to use aluminum wheels if you want to machine them down for 22” tires. Steel wheels don’t have enough material to allow you to do that. You can also buy 22” wheels that can be drilled to your bolt pattern as well. I think I would be ok running the 22.5 on some steel or al wheels gonna paint/powder-coat black either way. Unless their would be a huge difference in cost of the tires would be going on a 1.5 ton dually. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 | I think I would be ok running the 22.5 on some steel or al wheels gonna paint/powder-coat black either way. Unless their would be a huge difference in cost of the tires would be going on a 1.5 ton dually. What year is your 1-1/2 ton truck? Note, there is a BIG difference between a 22" and a 22.5" tire. The 22" are a light duty truck/suv 4-ply tire, the 22.5" are a BIG truck tire. Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | 1947 Loadmaster, so I would assume that the 22.5 would be where I needed to be. | | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 135 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2009 Posts: 135 | I think the issue with 22.5 tires is that the current availability of sizes does not include anything that is small enough for these old trucks. There are several threads here discussing this issue.
Mike | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | But if you get modern 22.5 wheels with adapters to put them on your truck, you can get a low profile 22.5 and be in good shape. And low profile tires meaning a 235/80/22.5 or something like that. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | Like fclaridge said from the little research that I have started to do on this seems like you can but 22.5 steel or aluminum wheels and buy adapters from ET machinery and run the 235/80 or 245/75 22.5 on the big trucks, I have by no means done this but something that I was going to look into doing to get away from split wheels. I think I will have a hard time finding someone to work on them. Also the tubeless 22.5 may turn out cheaper in the long run. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | It's totally doable and pretty easy if you keep the wheels and tires both 22.5". The adapters are easy to install and made to order. They can be purchased from numerous places, but ET is the place I got mine. They run $1200 for a full set with all lugnuts for the big circle included. They are pretty heavy duty and weigh about 35lbs per adapter. They are very stout.
You simply bolt them to the truck with the inner track and then bolt your wheel to the outer track and install whatever lugnut and hub covers you choose to install, if any. The only reason I went the route I did is that I wanted a hot rod look for my bus with the low profile tires and the commercial tires were too tall for what I wanted to do. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 238 Rustbucket Ranch | | Rustbucket Ranch Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 238 | Very cool! Gonna lower it a bit or keep it the current ride height? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | A few more steps down the road I'll notch the frame and put in air bags and it will let me go down lower. I'd like to go 3-4 more inches. And the air bags will give me a much softer ride too. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2020 Posts: 16 | I have been calling around trying to find someone that can replace tires for when the time comes for my 47, seems like I may be out of luck. Fclaridge what is your adapter pattern is it just custom to what you wanted or did they use something that is existing. I noticed the stock lugs are 5 bolt so is it a 5-10 lug conversion that you are using, just kinda trying to wrap my head around all of this.
Seems that there is not a direct replacement wheel out there for these trucks so might as well go with the 22.5 wheels and radial tires. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 401 | My bolt pattern is the 10 on 7.25 with a 5.25 bore. It is the 5-10 lug set up. That bolt pattern is also used in some modern trucks, but the adapters are made to order and I am sure yours could be made too. What is your pattern? I could ask the guy that made mine and see what he says. Then from there just get modern semi truck 22.5s and put on some 22.5 tires and bolt it on your truck. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 | I have been calling around trying to find someone that can replace tires for when the time comes for my 47, seems like I may be out of luck. Your local car/light truck tire shop will not work, you need to call the big rig truck tire shop, they will work on multi piece rims as long as they are not the Firestone RH-5's... You may also need to order your tires from Nebraska Tire, Chicago Tire or Miller Tire, as not to many shops stock our small size truck tires Mike B | | | | | Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 238 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 238 | I’m very interested in these adaptors, can you tell me the manufacturer? Mine would be the same with one exception, a 4.75 center.
Last edited by Tony292; 12/24/2020 12:33 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Just make a slim adapter to go from 4.75” to 5.25”.
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.
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