The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 22.5 for a 54 6100

My tire store suggested that I try to get some 22.5 wheels with low profile tires for my '54 6100. Anybody have any input on this idea?

Probably be easier to find 19.5 wheels, with the correct lug pattern. Most 22.5 wheels, I've seen have been 6, 8, or 10 lug wheels. The wheels on the project truck from this website, uses 19.5 wheels with the original axles. www.classiccoe.com

You can find some 22.5 wheels, but it will take some looking.
They were only made for a few years, starting in 56 and only on the 1.5 ton, the 2 ton that year had 6 lug.
I have a set for my project, check my picture link to see some, they are near the end of the Detroit album.
Grigg

Dont the modern 19.5 wheels have a different center hole size?

I think the new rim hole size is bigger than on the original wheels.

The center hole (hub) size difference won't matter, just as long as the lug bolt pattern is correct.

This topic has come up before. It was said that all the load bearing of the wheel is on the center "hub centric ring" and the lug nuts just hold the wheel in place. So, if the center hole is bigger than stock, the load bearing will be on the wheel studs, and this in unsafe.

Spanky, I disagree, the hub size does matter for our hub centered wheels. I am not saying it won't work if they don't fit tight, but I would not want to drive much more than around the farm and the occasional trip to town, while checking the torque on the nuts often.

Glamis4x4 it correct. If a wheel uses flat faced lug nuts it must be centered by the hub. If not there is opportunity for the wheel to slide around under the lug nuts, this can cause studs to break and wheels to be off center and out of balance.

If a wheel uses cone shaped, or other than flat, lug nuts the center hole and what it fits is not important. The lug nuts center the wheel and keep it from sliding around.

The hole size in the modern 19.5" wheels with 7.25" bolt circle is 5.25" This is the same size as some of our old trucks, and larger than some, perhaps pre AD?

The ford version of this bolt pattern uses a center hole of 5.46", therefore the ford wheels are not suitable for our trucks, although the bolt pattern is the same. They may use 9/16" studs, and we use 5/8", but not 100% sure on that. I have only seen the ford wheels in 16", not 19.5"

If you do use the 19.5" wheels on your old Chevy, you are probably replacing 7.00X20, or 8.25X20 tires. These original tires are about 36" to 38" tall. The tallest 19.5" tire that fits the rims available is a 8r19.5, and about 31" to 32" tall. This smaller tire will make your truck slower, (and your brakes more effective).

Personally I think that the 8R19.5 tires look really bad on an AD COE, bad on an AD 1.5 or 2 ton, and great on an AD 1 ton.

Grigg

Guess I should have stated, it all depends on wheather the wheels are hub piloted, or stud piloted. On stud piloted wheels, it indeed wouldn't make a difference.I'm a Heavy Truck, & bus mechanic, so I guess I took it for granted that everyone knew the difference.

That's a new term to me "hub piloted or stud piloted". It does make sense though. Always learning here, that's why I visit so often.
I haven't yet started researching wheels much. I was hoping to find 22.5 wheels also to fit my Art Decos. Has anybody ever re-machined a new bolt pattern, and center hole?

Just curious

John

I have not re-machined any wheel centers, but I have thought about it, and done some measuring and figuring. I even had some wheels made with the 10 bolt pattern like on our AD trucks.

I can say that I did not find a 20" or 22.5" wheel that was suitable for re-machining to the 10 on 7.25 bolt pattern. And that there are problems with making adapters from the 10 on 7.5" bolt pattern to another, the two patterns interfere, it won't be easy if you can get it to work.

I had some wheels made by Stockton wheel, and I would not deal with them unless I lived down the block from them. They did decent work, but it was very slow, and about impossible to get a straight answer. I did visit them in person, and they are nice people, but I would not deal with them over the phone.

You may try http://www.ricksontruck.com/ I bought some tires from them, they seem to be nice people too. When I was there they were in the process of setting up a machine shop to make wheels. They may be able to help.

Grigg