The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wheel problems

I got a 59 1-ton 3800 and i want to run newer style tires, and wheels. i got a set of wheels from the junk pile at work that are from a 70-80's style c-20 pickup, 16inch 8 lug. they fit like a glove on the back axle, but if i use them on the front, they fit but when i tighten them up they hit the steering knuckle. I used some washers to space them out 1/2 inch, that worked but the lug nut bolts are to short to mount the wheel. Here's the problem, if i change the studs to longer ones, and make a spacer,won't that make the wheel to far from the brake drum and wheel hub? That would stick the wheel closer to the side of the fender. The oem wheels are 8-17.5, that's about 2 inches narrower than the newer 16" wheels that i'm trying to use. Did chevy make any wheels that are 16" and as narrow as the old 17.5's?? If so can you mount newer style tires on them like 235-75-16 or bigger?? Does anyone make 8-17.5 radial tires, that would fit the old wheels??

Alot of people use pre-1999 F-250/350 wheels. Some Dodge wheels will work too.

There's been plenty of discussion on this, as late as last week. Have you tried a search?

16" drop-center wheels for tubeless tires won't fit over the brake drums in the back. The standard wheel for that truck is an 18" tube-type, or a 19.5" tubeless. I had a 59 1-ton 3800 for several years, and researched just about every wheel/tire option possible. A lot of step-van type bread trucks were built on the 3800 chassis, and came with the 19.5's, so check with the bakeries in your area to see if they have spare tire/rim combinations they would sell or donate to you.
Jerry