The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Correct wheels/hub caps for 51 Chevy

When I bought my 51 Chevy 1/2ton 3100 Series, it came with 15" 6 lug wheels. Each wheel has a series of six clips welded to the wheel just outside the lug pattern. Q: Do the wheels sound like original equipment? Also, I've located a set of correct hub caps but the seller said they were from a 3600 Series truck. Will they be the right diameter and will they fit the clip pattern? Thanks - KenZ

Ken,
The GMCs usually had the six clips and the Chevies had three clips. I was lucky enough to get four of each with my '54. I didn't want to blast the original paint off the better rims, so I used two Chevy and two GMC rims on the 'finished' truck.

Note that the clips were riveted on, not welded as far as I could tell. Are your rims still wearing the original paint? If so, the pinstripes are pretty distinctive - to help determine if they are original or not.

I put GM repro hubcaps on, and they fit the GMC rims just as well as they fit the Chevies. As for the caps, I believe that the 3100s came with EITHER 15" or 16" rims - I don't know what the 3600s came with - see if you can get the wheel size from the seller. The GM authorized repro hubcaps are pretty widely available if the 3600s are too big. Good luck.

Kenz,

Chevy 1/2 ton trucks usually came with six-lug 16" wheels through 1954...

On the other hand, GMC 1/2 tons did have six-lug 15" wheels.

All the old-style wheels with hubcap clips that I've seen, the clips were rivetted on...

Most 3600 series trucks were 3/4 ton, and had eight-lug wheels, which require larger hub-caps...bigger than standard 1/2 ton.

Also, after 1948, Chevy car hub caps will not fit the 16" 1/2 ton wheels...'48 & earlier car caps will...

Can you post a pic of your wheels ?

Folks - Thanks for the feedback. You were both right on about the clips being rivetted and not welded. The 3600 series caps that I was looking at are, in fact, too large for the 7 1/4" diameter I need to fit onto the 6-clip arrangement that's on my wheels, so I had to pass up that deal. Also, I suspect you were both right about the wheels being off a GMC and not a Chevy. My wife and I have not yet figured out how to attach pics to a Page posting so I can't do that at this time. However, I can attach pics to emails, so I could sent one out that way if you thought it would help ID the wheels. Frank, you OK with that? (Frank - we have a vacation home on Lake Wallenpaupack and plan to move up permanently in about 18 months. I may get a chance to meet up with you one of these days.)

Frank - I am experimenting with attachings pics to my postings, so I thought about our prior conversation regarding the wheels. Here goes!!
Let me know if you get the pics. Thanks

http://community.webshots.com/users/janlziegler

opps - it is:

http://community.webshots.com/user/janlziegler

I don't know what the 3600s came with - see if you can get the wheel size from the seller.

3600s came standard with 15" wheels with 17"
wheels as an option according to standard
catalog of chevy trucks. My '52 3600 has
15" wheels. (original)

GR - Did your wheels have clips for the hubcaps? If so, how many? If you click on my last posting, there are a couple of pics of the wheels. Do they look anything like yours? Thanks.

Ken,

I took a look at your pics...

I can't identify your wheels for sure, except to say that they are NOT from an Advance Design ('47-'55-first series) Chevy or GMC...

I think these might be from a '37-'46 Chevy or GMC 1/2 ton or perhaps a GM car from the '37-'48 period. I once saw pics of somebody with a '48 Pontiac with these style wheels, but they were not factory.

These wheels with the steel "spokes"(14 of them?) and all the "Vent holes" around the rim are known as Artillery wheels...and I think I see the rivets that once secured hubcap clips to the rim...

I think I did once see a '42 Chevy panel with these wheels...

Any Art Deco experts care to comment: six-lug, 15" artillery wheels ?

The "correct" wheels for a '47-'55 first 1/2 ton are six-lug 16", with four vent slots around the rim, and six hub-cap clips. GMCs had a 15" wheel option.

To All - Thanks for the feedback. Frank - Another Bolter that I've been corresponding with by email mentioned that he too thought the wheels were off a much older model Chevy, so your right on track. I appreciate the knowledge.

Sure...I'll comment. If you have a chance to buy them cheap and in good shape, do so and someone will take them off your hands.

KENZ, if you are looking for hubcaps, I went with re-productions..Everything I found was pretty much junk. I figured 4 re-pops was easier than refinishing rusted out old ones..I realize they are spendy....

If you E-mail me a shot of those rims, I will post them with a link in this post.

I'm with Frank - those are not the stock rims for that model truck. My GM authorized repro hubcaps are great - they weren't that bad - I think I got the set for $120.

I do have some hubcaps from an older truck that were on the rims, but like 46 said, it just isn't worth the work to refinish the oldies AND they still wouldn't have looked as nice as the repros. Of course, now that you know the rims aren't stock for your truck, you don't have to feel compelled to get the repros anyway!

I have a 1949 Price Information booklet for Chevrolet trucks and it lists the following:

15" and 16" 6 lug wheels were available on the half ton (3100). Option Numbers were 273H, 282G and 288B. The latter two numbers were for the 16" wheels. There was also an 8 lug 15" wheel available, Option Number 280F.

the 3/4 ton (3600) had 15" 8 lug wheels and 17" 6 or 8 lug wheels available. Option Numbers for the 17" wheels started at 272A, 277A and 278A for the front, with the same numbers but a 'B' suffix for the rear. It does not show 16" wheels at all for that model.

Incidently the price for the optional chrome grille was $10 and the Deluxe cab was $50! A LH mirror and bracket was $1.70 and the oil filter was $10!

Kimberly - Good point!! The 55-56 hup caps are starting to look JUST FINE. I think I'm just thankful the truck has wheels and tires on it, period, and that it runs (SOMETIMES), goes (when it feels up to it), and stops (Amen, Amen!).

To all - the knowledge you guys have out there just blows me away. Thanks for the education.

BUT Point of Order Mr Chairman!
Those artillery wheels are worth a few pennys to someone who needs em.
An ifin I was Ken I,d make em available to whomever as long as they got me the Correct Wheels AND CAPS for my truck
And they,d still be making out on the deal
Regards

I second that motion...those arttie wheels are worth some coin. KENZ, do a search on E-bay for artillery rims...if you have not done so already...I wish I had 4..or 10..

I was cruising the Gallery last evening looking for those wheels - it seems they were common to Chevy/GMC 3/4 ton trucks from '37-'46 ?

As for Advance-Design 3/4 tons, every one I've seen has had the eight-lug wheels...either 15" or 17" "split" rims.

My '49 GMC 100 (1/2 ton) was the first AD truck I came across that had 6-lug 15" wheels, but these are the later 4-slot wheels.

Every now and then I see folks pulling home-made trailers with these 3/4 ton artillery wheels on them...

Steve and 46 - Right on, right on!! I just got off eBay. A set of four that appear to be just like mine sold for $660.00. Those wheels and incorrect 55-56 hub caps are starting to look better and better to me every time one of you post a response. Very Cool!!..and Thanks.

Ken -Thats mine and 46,s point
You can get everything "correct" for your truck,
Wheels and caps,for probably 1/3 to 1/4 of what you can get for those artie wheels

Steve - Got it. Thanks. I just thought it was cool to have a truck with a little different look.

Noted your address. I was born in Jamaica, Queens, raised in Valley Stream (went to Central High), and lived my early adult life in Massapequa, working in NYC (Uggg). You a life-long Long Islander?

KENZ
Sorry for the delayed reply,Work you know! :p
Yup on the Life-long Long Islander.
Born in Farmingdale/Plainedge,Parents moved us to W.Amityville,Now E.Massapequa,when I was about 1
Went all thru Amityville Schools.
You,d be surprised at how many people from all walks,still ask me about The Amityville Horror
Interestingly enough,Ronnie DeFeo,who killed his whole family,was 2yrs ahead of me in H.S.
Married a Gal From Lindenhurst 26yrs ago and the rest is history

Steve - Yep! You're a Long Island Lifer alright.
Many Stovebolters there now? I've only been posting a couple of months and still can't get over the education I've gotten of the Page.

We better stop reminiscing here before John and Peggy pull the plug on us (ONLY KIDDING!). Look forward to meeting up with you on another posting. KenZ