The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk An unexpected adventure and change of plans today.

I set out this morning to get the hardware and tubing I needed to install a new double acting fuel pump on my '51 Suburban.. New fuel lines, vacuum lines, the whole shmear.

On my way back home, just as I hit the entry ramp to the interstate, I felt the left rear tire go into what I thought was a dip in the road. As I accelerated up the ramp, I felt quite a bit of vibration. I chalked it up to cold nylon tires, and then I started thinking I was getting a flat. I pulled off at the next exit and drove on home as I was just a few blocks away.

I got out of the truck, and here is a picture of the left rear wheel.

Split in rim

The darn rim split!
Here is a closeup, you can see the tube between the split.

Closeup

The tube and tire were OK, and I had the tire shop put them on my spare. I looked closely at the rim, and there was a little corrosion inside the rim, but no real pits. The metal was full thickness all along the split. However in the middle of the split for about two inches, the split was dark, and not bright metal. I guess the rim was cracked here for some time.

The profile of the rim center is different from my other rims. I think I got it off of a junk 48 chevy car about 40 years ago.

Picture of rim center profile

Here is a picture of the rim from the spare:

Spare rim.

I guess I'm glad I had a tube in that tire, because it sure would have gone flat in a hurry otherwise. Can you say blowout?!



Kurt

I don't think I've ever seen that before. And for it to get you home is the luckiest bad luck you can get. Glad you didn't suffer injuries.

Wow. Well there's your problem! That sure is better than a blow out, but who'd a thunk it?

I ran for several years with a wheel that had split like that some time before I got it,and had been welded up. It worked fine,never leaked air and wasn't too hard to balance;I guess I was just lucky,should have scrapped it ASAP,but... At least now I know why it was like that.
Speed

Kurt, it could have been a bad situation. Thankfully you and your truck will both be fine. Don't forget to say your prayers tonight!!

Prayers said.

Kurt

Speed,

I thought briefly about trying to weld it, and came to a conclusion that this would be "bad very bad"

Also thought that it might be possible to weld a new rim on the center.

But really what I would like to do is find another original rim. All my favorite junk yards have scrapped out all the old stuff, so I guess I'll be looking on ebay.

Kurt

Until you find a suitable original-equipment part, be aware that practically all the 6-lug Japanese truck wheels have the same bolt spacing. Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Mazda all use a 6-lug wheel that's a clone of Chevy. Wonder how that happened?

On the "US-made" side, Ford Courier, Dodge Ram 50, and Chevy LUV are the American-badged versions of the imports. Same truck, different trim!
Jerry