The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Modern wheels for big bolts

I have a fleet of 55-57 1.5 and 2 ton trucks and would like to know if anybody knows what I should be searching for if I want to eliminate the 20' split rims and put 22.5' on the 2 tons and 19.5' on the 1.5 ton trucks. Any later model trucks I might find in the wrecking yards that would trade out would be good. My trucks have the 5 bolt front pattern with the ten bolt rear and I have 1 6500 with the 6 bolt pattern front and rear. Thanks for any advice.

tri5, I'm interested, too...I'd like to put modern rims on my dad's '51 2-ton GMC. The front wheels should actually be 10-lugs, with an adapter plate covering the 5 unused holes.

ever try looking into Budd Wheels.....I don't know either, but it's worth a try-----

The late-90s Chevy HD3500 trucks use the same 10-lug bolt pattern although the center hole may be different. Note that these trucks use the 88-00 body style and should not be confused with the 2001-up 3500HD trucks. The GM P-chassis also came in a version that used the same 10-bolt wheels. These platforms are used under many bread vans and RVs.

These trucks came from the factory with 19.5 one-piece steel rims. In addition to the factory steel wheels, you can get Alcoa aluminum 19.5 wheels with the 7.25" bolt circle. The fronts are here:

http://www.alcoa.com/alcoawheels/north_america/en/product.asp?cat_id=938&prod_id=1190

and the rears are here:

http://www.alcoa.com/alcoawheels/north_america/en/product.asp?cat_id=938&prod_id=2901

Good luck.

I checked the fitment link on one of those Alcoa links. It said the following:

NOTE
Specify only hubs that are designed for aluminum hub piloted wheels. Hubs designed for steel hub-piloted wheels do not have sufficient pilot length to locate dualed aluminum wheels. Because of the pilot length, Alcoa 16x6 and 16x6.5 aluminum wheels must be dualed with an inner steel wheel. Stud lengths must also be sufficient to clamp aluminum wheels. Before mounting hub-piloted wheels, generously coat the wheel pilot or hub pads with a non-water-based lubricant, such as Freylube or equivalent, to minimize corrosion build up. DO NOT LUBRICATE THE FACE OF THE WHEEL OR THE HUB.

I don't know anything about the pilot length on these old trucks. Does anyone know the size and length of the pilot portion of the hub?

I'd love to put these wheels on one of my old trucks.

Those Alcoa wheels would look great on the 350, but I don't know if my dad would go for it or not. The steels would probably be more up his alley.

Will the 19.5" wheels clear the AD brake drums?

"Because of the pilot length, Alcoa 16x6 and 16x6.5 aluminum wheels must be dualed with an inner steel wheel."

That's pretty typical. Why pay for six expensive aluminum wheels when only four show?

My thinking is that if you paint up your old bolt and want nice wheels and can get 19.5 or 22.5 wheels and wheel simulators for less than the Alcoa wheels.

GMC Panel,

The old (1950's & '60s) 8 x 19.5 rims will clear your AD drums...a goodfriend has a '51 3800 dump with eight-lugh wheels and has run both 18" and 19,5" rims, depending on which tires are available.

One set of his 19.5's are tubeless are are really tough to change tires on w/o a tire machine...on the other-hand, they will support tubeless and radial tires...

I've seen later Chevy/GMC 1.5- 2-ton trucks that look like they've been outiftted with 19.5" rims on a chassis that once ran 20 "...the wheels/tires look a little skimpy on the big trucks...

One time I went to the local chain of truck tire centers (big regional Mom'n'Pop: Jack Williams, for those in the Northeast) and talked to one of their fleet guys...this was about new rims to use on the six-spoke cast demountables on my '34 International C-35...I believe he had a Dayton Wheel catalog and we did find some new rim sections that would work ...they'd probably also have listings/specs on which wheels might work on an AD big bolt...???