After reading through all of the history/discussion in the Big Bolt forum about replacing the early 20" 3-piece wheels with big truck wheels and adapters, impossible to find late 50's wheels with center bore adapter rings, guys buying used or taking apart the ones they have, to find they are too rusty to use, etc., etc., etc. It seemed crazy to me that this discussion has been going on for years without a better solution. In one of the threads was mentioned, a Company in Wisconsin that makes wheels for big trucks, Ag, industrial, etc. Wheels Now Inc. (www.wheelsnowinc.com) so I measured up the wheels on my 46 2 ton, compared that to the specs Grigg has mentioned many times in this discussion and gave them a call. Here's what I found out; they have all sizes of outer rims in stock and will be receiving a new shipment of solid center blanks in the next few weeks. With those, they can custom build a 6.75 x 22.5 wheel with a 10 on 7.25 bolt pattern, a 4.75 (or 5.25 or any other size) center bore hole, 5 or 8 hand holes to match our early trucks and they will powder coat them in any of a dozen colors for $415 each. With these you can run a modern 9x22.5 radial tire that is the basically the same size as the 8.25 x 20 bias-ply. Clearly this is not a cheap option, however, in one of the discussions it was mentioned that a set of bolt-on adapters to then run the big truck wheels was $1200 and you then still need to buy wheels, so doesn't seem that far off. I know there are other options out there that may or may not be cheaper, they certainly seem more complicated. In any case, given how many guys seem to be struggling with this problem, I wanted to share what I found out with the group.
~ Billy Old Dominion Stovebolt Society: Exotic Animal Division 1946 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine | In the Gallery | Video | More pictures 1959 GMC 860 | Pictures 1950 GMC 450 FlatbedW/W, Air Brake equipt (25% Owner) | Pictures 1950 Chevrolet 3800 | Pictures I've got a trailer and I'm not afraid to use it!
Do you have any contact info of person that I call there or do they all now know what we would be asking for. I’ve been looking for these for years so now want to get them.
normt93 Wheels are a big problem for us big bolters,It is really a downer to open up your wheels and find they are just a mass of rust and maybe too far gone to use.In the corn belt of Illinois there are a lot of AD trucks sleeping in the barn, that have often been used at harvest time then parked till the next fall. As machinery (combines) get bigger these trucks become obsolete,combine holds more than the truck. This may be good news for big bolters as those trucks show up at farm sales!!
I had some made at Stockton and were probably about the same cost. I try to forget those things LOL.... I bought 7 of them.
A day without laughter is a day wasted- Charlie Chaplin When wrestling a grizzly bear, you have to keep at it until the bear gets tired, not when you get tired. 1948 Chevy 2-Ton
If you get these, I'll buy the wheels off of your truck you are willing to ship them back to me!
Originally Posted by Tophat
Do you have any contact info of person that I call there or do they all now know what we would be asking for. I’ve been looking for these for years so now want to get them.
Can be redrilled to 7.25”, spacer for hub. They have been made an inch narrower, too, probably earlier, so check carefully to match each other if you find some.
Ed
Last edited by EdPruss; 03/19/20237:42 PM.
'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.
