The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need 52 3/4 wheel help...again!

Called every yard in east TN looking for 80-87 Chevy 3/4 ton 8 lug 4x4 wheels. No luck. Is there ANYTHING that will fit this 52 3/4 besides those? 15", 16" whatever...I don't care. Just got the all original truck running and drove it to work at a good clip...45 mph. Left front wheel is warped and tires are dry-rotted mud grips and bias-plys. Lost 10 lbs from vibration, like one of those old belly vibrating machines. Other than that, all is well. 216 is strong...no smoke, temp is good, brakes are good, 4-speed tranny and rear are good...no wierd noise, but the truck is trying to destroy itself with the #$%@ 3-piece rims and junk tires. ANY ideas appreciated! Thanks.

Dash;

You are one lucky mofo, I'm here to tell you. Why? Well, I like Tennessee, but that ain't specifically what I had in mind. Here it is, if you must know: I'm ahead of you by about a week. My '51 3800 Has been running for a week or two now - drove her to work several times - and you can check my update thread to see what I've done. Your answers are there, and your rims are everywhere. ford & dodge both will fit. I got used i6 x 7" aluminum rims and new 235/75R16 tires. I still have 6 original 17" rims with rotten (but round) tires if you want 'em, but i can't imagine why you would, if you intend to drive much.

Mark.

Mark,
Do you have to watch for backspacing? Or are they all relativly 'decent'?


Dash,
As for your application, you don't need '80's 4x4. That is only for 6 bolt I understand. 8 bolt is more universal.
Good Luck.

hotshoe is right,,the ford and dodge wheels will fit. but i remember something about the center hole on one,,dont remember if it was f, or d.

As I recall, the GM wheels had the small hole, so Dodge or ferd wheels should fit. Actually, I'm somewhat surprized that you couldn't find the GM wheels. It sounds like the salvage yards don't want your business. I have run into that in my area, if you're not a repair shop or body shop, they tell you that they "don't have it". I ran into that a few years back trying to get a rear view mirror for my Blazer. The yard said they didn't have them, but when I left, I counted at lead a dozen S-10s, along with several others that had the same parts. Needless to say, I haven't been back to that yard since. Besides, they don't have any good stuff, ya know , pre '72.

You guys have opened up a whole new world! Can't thank you enough for all of your help!

Dash Riprocker

Last question. If Ford or Dodge 8 lug wheels will fit, do they have to be from certain year models? Will late model stuff work?
Thanks again.

I've been fighting this for YEARS. It's impossible to find these rims (non-split I mean). I finally found some 16.5's that ALMOST cleared the tie-rod ends, then I used a modern 8-hole disc brake spacer for clearance. I have a pair of 15 inch 8-hole, non-split rims that DO ACTUALLY clear the tie rods, but they are obviously SO RARE that I'm gonna put them in a friggen MUSEUM!!! Seriously, I've looked for 7 years, HOWEVER, there is a guy on this forum from miami, Oklahoma that swears he has 16 inch NON split rims that will fit. Find HIM an I think you have found your golden goose. Good luck! randy

Keep in mind that the wheels could be piloted by the hub (don't know your year model). As opposed to being piloted by the lugs. As such, the center hole is all important.

These wheels are very hard to find. The key is to find a wheel that has a 6" width and usually the backspacing will be OK. The wheels on the 1951 1 Ton are not hub piloted and in fact the front hubs are much smaller than the rears.

The newer wheels, 1999 and up or so, have a metric spacing on the studs, so I have been told.

Oh, Stockton Wheel will make up wheels for your particular backspacing. They can even take your old splitters and mount the centers in a new rim assembly.

Thanks guys! I figured the spacer would come into play somewhere along the line. Found a yard close by that has two late model trucks with 8 lugs. I'll be there when they open in the morning. What about so-called "modern" tie rod ends? What's the difference? Jim Carter's people seem to think they will help.

Never mind about Jim Carter. Just checked the site and the "modern" tie rod ends are for a 1/2 ton...and they are 1/2" shorter than original. back to the spacers. Looks like this will be an adventure. Will keep y'all posted.
Dash Riprocker

Update: Found 4 decent radials at a friend's tire store. His dad used to run the place and knew all about changing tires on "Widowmaker" rims. It's like a new truck...going from square bias plys to round radials. Will give me a little breathing room until I find some late model 16's that will work. Figure to use 1/4 inch spacers on the front but I don't think it'll be much of a problem. Got my eyes on some Chevy 8 lug 16s that should look pretty good. I beat this thing to death and it's not as bad as I thought it would be. There IS hope!
Dash Riprocker

I have great wheels on my 49 3600. They are Hayes-Lemmurz trailer wheels and cost me $110 Cdn at Kal Tire. Can't remember the part number, but can get it. They look like late-model steel rims, but don't have a problem clearing the tie-rods. They come grey, but can be painted, and have four lumps to hold wheel covers. My original caps don't fit, though. The flange is too big to fit in the wheel. I'll try to post a picture.

Here is a picture of my 49 3600 with the trailer wheels on the front. Ther are secured with chrome acorn lugs I got at Walmart (Big Spender!) There are two shots in my online album that show the wheel. Hope this helps.

The sticker in the rim says: X-45304 RUDEVECA 109291T (This is the part number, IIRC) 16x6 Made in Venezuela (not clear on that part. HA HA)
Running 7.00x16 tires.

[IMG]http://thumb6.webshots.net/t/34/35/9/24/77/2821924770057214886kILMok_th.jpg]My 49 3600

Good Luck