The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Original Style Rims on 1950 3100

Hi everyone. When I purchased my 1950 truck it came with 16" aftermarket rims and had been upgraded with CPP front disc brakes. I'd like to transition it back to original style wheels / hubcaps. Are these type wheels reproduced and has anyone had success with fitment with disc brakes? Any and all insight is appreciated. Thanks

Yeah, those don't look right on that truck.

I don't think the exact original wheels are reproduced, but I think you can get close. I don't know about fitment with disk brakes, but I suspect the original 16" x 4.5" wheels that would have come on your truck would fit with disc brakes. They have very little offset.

Original wheels are fairly common and can be had for not a lot of money, but you'd have to refinish them. That's the route I went on my truck.

Others may chime in but…
I wanted new tubeless ready rims that looked original, not 70 year old tube wheels. I kissed every frog I could find looking for mfr who had or would make 16” x 4”to 5” 6 lug tubeless ready rims that used hubcaps, even sent a rim to a wheel maker to see if we could reuse the centers on new hoops…. No luck.
If you can use 15” then the answer is definitely yes, they are available….

I ended up finding 2 NOS never used wheels, and bought 4 other used rims, 2 were not true (wobble s x s) when checked on the wheel machine, they are still sitting on the shop floor….in the way…

As to disc brakes behind stock rims…. I have bendix drum brakes on my 46, but from what I have read may need spacers?

Chuck

I , too didn't want to try and hunt up rusty bent original rims that I'd have to refinish and pay to have trued or repaired.

I bought these 16" rims (smoothies) from Wheelsmith. I am very happy with them. They'll make them in any width you want. Mine are 6" but if I were to do it again, I'd have ordered 5" width.

Wheelsmiths were a good option, I was looking for wheels as stock with the 4 vents, that was what made the search a fail.

Thx guys for the feedback. I like the look of the Wheelsmiths (hadn't heard of them before). I'll investigate them further and may end up with that type on my truck (aka would be much improved)

I have been extremely happy with those wheels. They're expensive but it would have cost me the same or more to buy originals and have them restored. Truck drives straight and true

I am curious why you noted that you'd have gone with 5" width (rather than 6") if you were doing it again. Do you by chance recall the backspacing you selected? What size tires are you running?

The rims I have are 16x6 with 3.5" backspace. The original rims were 16x4.5 with 3" backspace (2 15/16 actually).

The 16x5 would look a lot closer to the original size.

I have Firestone 215/75R16 tires. I purchased them because they were $94 each. I wanted 225/85R16, which would have been about 2" taller, but I couldn't find any at an affordable price.

Great information (much appreciated). I meant to ask if you also had disc brakes installed?

No. My truck is completely stock.