The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Split Wheel Info for 52 GMC 3/4 ton

Hello, just wanted some info on these 2 peice "split wheels" that came on my GMC. I want to take them apart and restore them. Any special way to take them apart? After they are restored, do I need to get tubes for the new tires or can I just have new valve stems on and get any tires on there?

Thank you

I can't describe how to tear down that rim without seeing a good photo of it & knowing what size it is. There are several different kinds. You will need a new tube. It takes a flap also but you might be able to use the old one.

take rims to a tire shop.you can get hurt with these rims when you air them up.I thought they banded this type of rim.someone chime in on this subject.split rims

Tell you what I did with mine...

I wanted to see what shape they were in without paying a mechanic. I pulled the valve cores and let them deflate. I was able to squeeze the two sides together and get the lock ring out... Should have waited. The next challenge was to unseat the beads. Crowbars, large C-clamps and BFH were all used for this task. It may have been easier if the halves were still locked... More leverage on the beads.
Once I got the tires loose, I looked at the (small) ridges that work against the lock ring. Corroded and pitted. Considered the force on them with a fully pressured tire and decided discretion was the better part of valor... Got solid wheels and tubeless tires.
Take them apart if you want, but find a big truck shop to check them, repair them and mount them. A split rim that lets go could quite easily remove the roof on your garage... And your head and torso if it hits them first.

My tires were junk so I just used a saw to cut the tires off in peices. After the rims were apart I junked them. The front two were too rusty and I wanted to go with a modern tubeless tire anyway.

Oh wow, I didnt know they were dangerous to work with. They are on my 52 3/4 ton GMC. 16" rims/ 8 lug. Are there any aftermarket rims, or some rims from a newer (1950s or 60s) truck that will fit? I would like to keep the classic look.

Good condition 2 or 3 piece split rims are not a problem, if the person servicing them knows what he's doing. The big rig rims that snap together in the middle are the dangerous ones, or badly rusted, bent, or otherwise damaged rims that can no longer be assembled and inflated safely. Millions of multpiece rims have run billions of miles without decapitating everyone in a 100-yard radius of the trucks they've been mounted on, so they're just not as dangerous as some of the guys with lace on their panties around here seem to believe. Yes, there's a learning curve to doing it right, with deadly consequences for doing it wrong- - - -just like learning to drive.
Jerry

Lol @ lace on their panties

Anybody know what other years I could grab a set of these 8 luggers that will fit right on my truck? I seen a set of 1975 Chevy 8 lugs near my house for a wopping $50. I would rather run these so I dont have to use a tube. So far my only other option is those white "wagon wheels"

If you get the 75's, check for tie-rod clearance. If they have more than about 3 1/2" of set-back, the will hit the tie-rods. I found some standard steel trailer wheels, 16x6, 0 offset, that fit perfectly. The original wheel covers don't fit, but I'll find some plain domes that do.

I believe you will find those rims from the '75 will fit just fine except for the front offset as was just pointed out. I have a 1" adaptor on the front of my '50 but could have gotten away with about a 1/2". One of the best ideas that I've heard but haven't tried yet is to use spacers to move the steering knuckles inward to clear the rim. Then you wouldn't need a spacer or adaptor. These would be a snap to make for anyone with access to a small lathe.
The rears clear just fine and look great. The reproduction hubcaps for the 3/4 ton trucks will not clear the free floating hub but the original hubcaps will.
$50 for the set is a steal.
DG

I think you may have to add your own hubcap clips to the wheels.

Oh yeah, that goes without saying Fred. The ones the vendors supply are to short in most cases. I made spacers up in the lathe and one of our new members just posted some pics of his spacers a week or so ago.
DG