The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wheels and tires

My old bias ply tires are shot@! I have a 1950 3800 with 15" split rims. The folks at the local tire shop (Les Schwab) said that it's not a good idea to use radials with a tube. SO, I'm looking for wheels AND tires. The tires I have are 700-15 and are 29.5 inches in diameter. They recommended either 16 or 17 inch wheels. I have an eight lug wheel. The cost seems WAY to high. I was just hoping for a decent black wheel and tire.

Anyone have any advise and experience? Pics would be helpful..

Thanks

David IS you're 3800 really a one ton? Because if it is,and has the 5.14 diff it's one slow,high rev puppy. And bigger dia wheels would help rev's some. OR a 4.10 rear with 16's or 17's would be sweeter.I have 5.14 with 18's and should still rev a little on the high side.

...new...

This bolter used trailer wheels on a 3600.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=748601

Good luck

Mid 80's K2500 16" rims. Works for my 1946 3800.

'73-'87 3/4 or 1 ton wheels should work fine, Dodge 8 lug wheels from the same time frame will also work. I would suggest a 215/85/15 or a 235/85/16 if you want to keep the narrower tire, or an LT245/75/16 D or E load range if you don't mind a wider tire.

David, I got my wheels at Nuera trailer parts @www.nueratrailerparts.com They have a huge selection and very inexpensive. I got the 8 lug 16" artillery style, 4 of them for $165 with free shipping. Then I got my tires, 215R85/16 8 ply, from a place called Tire Buyer out of Tex. or Tenn, 4 for $408 & free shipping also.
Terry

That would be me. Everything is working OK. Glad to help if I can.

Harry

sorry, miss typed. 3600.. 3/4 ton.

Yeah, the trick was using the 16" Nuera trailer wheels. I then was able to mount the clips and old school hubcaps.

Thanks Harry. Sounds like a great idea and most likely what I will do.

Thanks Gus, I'm really excited about Wheel Vintiques finally introducing a wheel for the 3/4-ton that actually looks correct. I'm gonna get an email off to them right away to see about ordering a couple of sets of 16x6 wheels with a 3 1/2" offset. Been waiting for this for five years for the '50 and have been agonizing over the same thing for the '54 that I've had a year now. Anyone gotten any pricing on these new wheels???

Now if we could convince some machine shop that's setup to grind gears to run another batch of 3.90:1 gears for the HO52 axles for the tens of thousands of 3600 and 3800 trucks that are waiting for them, we could have trucks that are practical to drive on the street.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

On my 53 3600, found that a Ford Econoline 16" rims worked great, picked them up from local scrap guys cheap. AND the center is large enough to accept the 3/4 ton Chevy cap.I've tried lots of other 8 lug rims and the Ford is the only one that would let me fit the big 3/4 & 1 ton cap. I had to add the spring clips to hold the cap and that was a bit of a trial and error exercise to get them in the right spot. I bought a bunch of the spring clips that Chevs of the 40s sells which are a little different than the 3/4 ton ones but worked fine. I talked with the Wheel Vintiques guy and wanted to drive to their shop to measure the rim, NO not allowed!!! Lucky for me as then I found these Ford rims.
Now no more hassle with split rims.

If anyone is looking for the Ford rims, be sure to get 1998 or older. After that they are metric and won't fit the bolt pattern.