The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need to find safe rims - 1955 2nd 8 lug 3600

I am so confused. I have read many articles from members with 50-53 trucks that have found nice replacement or trailer wheels. I have a late 55 3/4 ton pickup. It has 30 year old tires (dry rot and can't hold air) with original split rims with plenty of surface rust. Without changing the tie rod ends - can anyone recommend or let me know what has been a succesful replacement while being a 'standard' rim (non-split). It currently has 15" rims - 8 lug. I have no problem going to another diameter.
Thanks- Mike
[email protected]

Should be fine using 16" 8 lug wheels from up to '87. You want to stay with no more than 3 1/2" of backspace.

The only thing I could find at the junkyards around here were 16.5" wheels off a '70 3/4 ton. Hated to go with them because they are dinosaurs, not much choice. Only problem I ran into was that same old crap of the backspace. I had to use a spacer on the front to get the clearance with my stock tierod ends.
So Bill, seems like we've been around this part of the track 500 times. Are you saying that any 16" 8 lug GM wheel up to '87 will fit without a backspace problem?? Problem now days is assembling a decent set of 5 rims from 25+ year old GM Trucks. All the junk yards around here haven't really been able to tell me what the rims are that they have stacked up in the corner. All they know is they're 8 bolt and that's that!

Sure wish one of the wheel makers would come up with a replacement wheels for the 3600 series trucks that had the proper backspace and centers that would take the stock hubcaps.

Denny graham
Sandwich, IL

Wheel Vintiques sells a 16inch 8 lug OE wheel for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks

8 lug oe wheel

Not sure if they take the stock hubcap

Good Luck

There have been many posts on this topic, as you know. The OEM style trailer wheels did the job for many of us and now Wheel Vintiques are making wheels which I understand should fit. However, we now have an additional tool for the wheel search. If someone is willing to put in the time, the GM Chev specs for these older vehicles are now on line. It seems to me that one could look at the wheel specs for some of the 80s trucks to find a match.

I wonder if the 16.5 vs. 16 puts the rim at a worse position for hitting the tie rod?

Dodge 8 Lug wheels from the 80s and very early 90s (not sure what year, exactly) will also work. I believe they are 16 x 6.

Also check out this thread. The wheels referenced in the first post (17-153) can be purchased several places. Here's a PDF with specs for them. You may want to look for another option other than the 17-153 if you are going to max out the 3600's payload on a regular basis. (Note: I have not tried these wheels myself.)

19.5" wheels are also an option.
My 1 ton has a set waiting to be installed with the next round of rebuild/upgrades.

Grigg

Thanks for everbody's input. I think the link to the trailer wheels -
17-153 is a great option!
They have a 3 1/2 backspacing as well!

A couple of days ago I received the one 17-153 I had ordered. It is a heavy duty. Rated at 3500 lbs.! It clears everything on my 3600, both front and rear. Now to order the other three and find some tires.

Did you end up finding tires? If so, what size did you get?

Just FYI - I found some American Racing 16x7's that fit perfect with no spacer needed and 235/75 tires. Work great. They obviously aren't stock style at all, but they are the look I wanted.

Hey carfolite were you able to put the hub caps on them new rims?