The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Another Question about Split Rims

My 53 Chevy 3800 has split wheels. I took them off and put a set of 16.5" Ford wheels on but the back spacing is wrong. It rubs the tie rods on the front even with 1/4" wheel spacers on. The reason I put the Ford rims on was because I cant find any one who will work on the split wheels. I would perfer to have the origanals back on so I can run stock Hub caps. Any of you guys know of any shops around NC or SC that will work on the splits?

Car tire shops won't know what to do as a general rule.
Semi truck and farm tractor tire shops will, or as previously mentioned any tire shop that's been around for dozens and dozens of years.

Likely you have lock ring wheels and not "split rims" check the pictures and definitions in this tech tip http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/
Pretty much the only ones that no one will, or should, work on are the Firestone RH-5 design. Nor should you mess with any type of multi piece wheel in bad shape (rusted).

Grigg

Two comments about the Ford 16.5 wheels.

First, make sure you are using the right lug nuts. The taper on lug-centric wheels is important, and if these are really Ford wheels they likely do not have the same taper that your truck started with.

Second, 16.5 tires have become hard to find. You may have trouble finding replacement tires for these wheels, so you're right to look for another solution.

I'm too far from your area to help with specific shops, but as Bruce said look for an older shop, a shop that services big trucks, or a shop that has farmer customers.

There are wheels that are almost always dangerous to change, but the ones that came on your 1-ton should not be that type. All it takes is someone who knows what they are doing. Unless he or she grew up on an old farm that person is probably 50 or more and been in the tire business a long time. It just may take some looking to find that person.

My stock wheels have a Band that goes around the wheel. From the pictures I would say they are Locking Ring/2-Piece Wheels. They are 17 inch and accept a Hub cap. I will carry one up to a old tire store here in town and let them take a look. I dont like messing with old tires. I have heard too many horror stories about them. The truck was my great Grand Fathers truck. They used it on the farm to haul wood hay and pull a cotton trayler around with. I was told by my grand father not to evev try to put air in the wheels because the ring could come flying off and take off your head. So I threw these Ford wheels on to move it around. I did use the stock lug nuts so this could be part of my problem.

did some calling around today. One local company refered me to carolina tire and rim. I checked out their web site and found a vendor who can make custom solid wheels to fit your application. So I sent them a Email with my specs. I'm waiting to here back. I also found this... http://www.wheelvintiques.com/?p=303 tell me what uou guys think. My only concern is that I dont know if a 16 inch wheel will be large enough to clear the rear drum brake.

I used to run around with a guy that has a '49 3800 pickup (single wheel), we ran 16s on it with no problems. Actually, 2 different sets. 1 set was a set of Outlaw 2 American Racing wheels, 16x7 w/3 1/2" backspace, the other set was just regular steelies off of a 3/4 ton late '70s/early '80s Dodge. Didn't have any problems clearing the brakes. The only issue whe had was the left wheel hitting the drag link, but that was because the steering box was moved over to allow for the 350 that got dropped into it.

Thanks LONGBOX. I will keep you all informed.