The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 3/4 ton wheels- help

I need some advise on wheels for my stock '53 3/4 ton truck. My original splits (15 inch I think) are in good shape, but I want to put some rims and radial tires on the truck. Nothing fancy, just basic steel rims with the right amount of offset. Can someone give advise on donor rims from another vehicle which will work?? These are 8 lug of course. How about mid 70's 3/4 ton pickup or van rims??

thanks

You might encounter some brake drum clearance problems when going to drop-center rims. When I installed a 14-bolt GM axle in my F-350 flatbed, (it was handy, and free!) I had to use the inboard split-ring wheels from the Chevy to clear the big brake drums. I'm using the tubeless rims on the outside, but they won't fit over the big early Chevy brakes. I don't know if the 3/4 ton brakes are big enough to cause a clearance problem or not.
Jerry

I swapped modern rims on the front of my 53 3/4 ton Chevy stake bed and the tie rods dug into the fatter radials. Ended up using a spacer plate between rim and drum. You may need to also have longer studs installed as the spacer plate pushes rim outward and you'll run out of threads. I finally went back stock on my truck as it's not a long distance rig anyway and I like the look of the stock rims and caps. Also took off the dually adaptors and add on fenders under the flatbed. Went back to stock rims on the back also. Seams all 8 lug rims are same bolt pattern, not sure about brake drum clearance.

I had the same problem with my '54 3600 and I stuck with the original rims and found a local tire shop that specializes in big truck tires who put new tubes and radials on the rims. It's made a huge difference in the driveablity and I think the hassle of calling around to find a shop willing to put the radials on is less than finding replacement rims IMHO. Hope this helps.

maby i am just lucky, but i bought the cheapest set of (new) chrome rims i could find, and they clear fine (16" rims)

BrianK

this was on a 49 3600, stock

I have a 51 3/4 ton and put a set of stock rims from a 96 3/4 ton chevy on it. I did have a clearance issue in the front due to the original tie rod ends (the type that is adjustable) I found 1/4" spacers for $12 and they now fit, but I am about to replace the tie rod ends with new and this will let me remove the spacers. The wheel look good with 7.50/16 tires beauty rings and an original set of hub caps.

JohnnyBoy,

On my 1951 3/4 ton I got real lucky on wheel replacement. The guys at the local Les Schwab put their stock 15x7 8 Lug wheels on it, with new p225/70r-15 tires, it worked perfect, no hitting tie rod ends, and no spacers. The wheels are $26.82 each, in white, and if I remember right add $10 for chrome. Center caps were $20 for 4, and with $32 for lug nuts I was done. I know there's no Les Schwab in NY, but maybe a call to there home office can get you a set, assuming they will work as well on your '53 as they did on my '51. Product code for White wheels is 03508038 Product description on my bill reads,"8057080 15x7 8-6.5 Allied Type 80 White Spokes RWD".

Home office for Les Schwab is Prineville, Oregon. I'm sure you could get their number from information, maybe they would be willing to ship some of these, or tell you who manufactures them, and you may be able to find some closer to you.

Just to be sure they fit fine, I only let them put one on the front, had someone turn steering wheel both ways, as far as it would go, it was close but never hit anything underneath. Maybe I was just darn lucky. Good Luck.

Frank in Spokane

Driving my '51 every day to work, always know the turn signals work, cause I can see the light from them through the holes in my floor.

i just used some aftermarket 16"x7" wheels with a 0 offset (3.5" backspacing) they are the stamped steel mod wheels from discount tire. i got the set with some almost new firestone tires for around $450.

Here's what I wrote in a previous post.

My 16 inch rims.