The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Need some HELP! replacing my widow makers - 1966 C60 Grain Truck

I know I'm not alone when it comes to replacing some widow makers on my 30K all original 66 C60 grain truck. I bought it to haul dirt, but don't have the heart to tear it up. Can some one who's done this share where they got them or what will replace them. Thanks.

Might I recommend this sticky?

Alternatively, there is a tech tip with info on bolt patterns and such that you can use to cross-reference to newer vehicles.

Welcome to Stovebolt SammyC60! If you look through the "Big Bolts" forum (where your post landed), you will find a number of discussions about what folks have done to replace their "widow maker" wheels for something safer.

While you wait for other "Big Bolt owners to reply with their experience and knowledge, perhaps you'd post in the Welcome Centre and introduce yourself and your truck to the rest of the community. You can tell us how you came by your truck and post some pictures for folks to see in there. Once again - Welcome.

Edit note: Thanks to Fibonachu for getting to the best data to help answer your question!

You'll need to find or have made, a set of longer wheel lug studs. Here's the modern day bling option: https://buytruckwheels.com/products...-aluminum-10x8-75-old-chevy-2-ton-trucks

They also have more affordable steel wheels, https://buytruckwheels.com/products/22-5x6-75-white-steel-10x8-75-old-chevy-2-ton-trucks

I bit the bullet and got all six new wheels last year, so my Enterprise won't ever kill a hapless tire tech (or me for that matter) while working on it.

The maker says you can go up to 10R22.5", which will also (assuming you've got room in the wheel wells) allow for several hundred fewer revolutions per mile, which means you can go 60mph versus 54mph more comfortably if you still have the original 'slow and slower' split rear axle gear ratio.

SammyC60 didn't say what size tires he currently has. If he has 9.00x20 and he switches to a new 22.5 rim running 10.00x22.5 tires then everything stays the same as those to sizes have the same diameter.

Here's the way the 20" and 22.5" tires match up with each other (same diameter).

7.50x20 = 8.25x22.5
8.25x20 = 9.00x22.5
9.00x20 = 10.00x22.5
10.00x20 = 11.00x22.5
11.00x20 = 12.00x22.5

Hope this helps...

Mike B

8.25x20" are about 36.5" in height, that's what mine measure out as, and what the specs tend to state. With the stock 6.50:1 these rigs usually came with, that's 3889RPM at 65mph.
900R22.5" spec out at 38.3" in height. So they're a pretty close fit but will give you that 180 fewer RPM per mile. Not a huge difference, but it's not nothin' either. 3706RPM at 65mph.
10.00R22.5" are 40.1" in height so you'll really get a notable difference in RPM per mile. 3540RPM at 65mph. 349RPM difference is a half a mile per gallon, probably.

Also, the wheel vendor above says 10R22.5" tires are the biggest you can use on the 6.75" wheels they sell for 2 ton Chevys.

I found a 5.57:1 ring and pinion, so when I get that installed I can run easy to find 900R22.5s and get to 3176RPM at 65mph. That's great, actually. Can hover around 60-65 and keep that big ole' Cadi V8 where it likes to live, with some room to put the hammer down if I need to. The low range would wind up being 7.87:1 or thereabouts, for 50-55mph in low range when climbing a really steep hill. That's a lot less of a hazard on the road than the old 44mph low gear, the 'slower' portion of 'slow and slower' factory final drive ratios.

HMMMMM- - - - -I've got a 1970 472 Cadillac engine and a Turbo 400 trans that's looking for a home. Maybe my 61 American LaFrance pumper truck that's now running a 401 V6 and a direct drive Clark 5 speed? I've also got a Brownie under/direct/over box that can replace the driveshaft mounted fire pump. That one's running 10.00-20 tube type tires on Detroit wheels- - - -not widowmakers.
Jerry