I have narrow 17.5 rims and would like to put the centers in a modern rim about 8' wide . As re there any 17 or 18" inch rims that are close to the same as the centers, I'm a good welder and have a small machine shop so I can modify a little if needed. Wheels are high clearance 17.5 from a 1958 Chevy 3600. 15 3/32" inside rim
Last edited by wingedexpress1; 02/16/202610:37 PM.
Without knowing what the wheel comes from (make, model, year of truck) it's kinda hard to offer accurate advice. Please let us know what the truck is and if you can, post a picture of the wheel. Once you do, folks can try and offer some suggestions.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Wingedexpress ... I don't have an answer for you but I have a related question of my own for the experts... I'm not sure if we've discussed this before or not, but as I am not that far behind you in needing single piece wheels for my 3800 ... (getting tire shop guys to lose their man buns for a day, man up and work with PERFECTLY FINE multi-piece wheels is getting to be more tedious as we baby boomers die off rapidly from the workforce ... )
Sorry ... rant off.
MY question: Is it better/easier to go the OP's route (cut out original centers to weld to modern outer wheels) or to weld up the multipiece wheel to make it a single piece? (assuming you might still have to use tubes if you can't get a good air seal ...). Is there a reason why we don't just weld up the original wheels?
John
~ John
A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult.
1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 1963 Kaiser M38A1 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
I could be completely wrong, but I believe the main difference between multipiece wheels and single piece is that the latter are drop center type, allowing for easier tire installation. Most multipiece wheels are flat across the wheel and the split rim comes off to allow the tire to slide over the cylindrical part of the wheel. So for the same diameter wheel, the center section may be smaller where it welds to to a single piece rim. Welding up a multipiece wheel probably won't work very well for mounting tires.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I agree with Kevin's response, but I REALLY agree with John's comment on the man buns. 🤣 I have hair well past my shoulders but have never considered a bun. Now-a-days the only folks who know about a split rim are the folks working on bigger equipment like tractors, loaders or mining equipment. I love checking in on these forums that I really don't even need to just out of interest. I truly appreciate all of the Stovebolters.
Brendan 1940 Chevrolet 1/2-Ton Pickup Restoring Dad's old truck In the Gallery Forum
I’m in the same boat as John and wanting to find some-one piece rims to mount tubeless radials on. This is for a 1953 one ton, single rear wheel truck.I think it has 16.5 three piece rims on it now and I would like to get rid of the dry rotted bias ply tires.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
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