The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 49 4400 wheels,brakes & rear end. HELP!

Ok I have spent hours and days researching as I go in the restoration of this bigbolt! The frame is beautiful. I put in new wheel cylinders, kingpins, turned the drums, blasted and painted it all. Resurfaced the brake shoes. New tie rods. It looks brand new. THEN the wheel issue. I know 19.5 with bushings or win the lottery and custom build at $500 a pop (x7). The 19.5 I was about to settle on until I tried the rear! No go! So this brings me to what to do now. Been searching every post and tip.

Do I swap the rear to something that I can fit ready available wheels on? Leave the front as is.

Do I swap the front and rear to get everything matching?
If so with what? (I read the tip by grigg is that the best way)

I am going to use the truck for it's intended purpose. To carry it's max load.

I value your thoughts and experience. I know this is not a new topic and has been discussed to death but I'm not sure I have found a resolution in all my searching. Thanks in advance.

Brakes I am less concerned with because that will practically work itself out when the wheel issue is resolved.

What is wrong with the original wheels?

If you've already rebuilt your stock brakes and front axle may as well stick with what you've got.
Run good multi-piece 20" rims, stay away from Firestone RH5* split rims, and look for some 22.5" wheels if you want.

If you'll be working the truck and it has a Stovebolt 6 you need the gears you've got. Swapping to a newer single speed rear or anything with much faster gears won't let you work the truck very much.

Grigg

I would like to keep the work I have done on the front. I am going to power this truck with a fresh rebuilt 55 235 and use the original 4 speed trans. What really keeps me from having more options is the small center hole of the 49 wheel. I have the original 3 piece wheels but have tried many many shops to mount up new tires with no luck. Small or large shop they will not touch them.
Is there a way to put a later model rear axle in that is close to the ratio I currently have? (The common speed issue is not a worry for me) If so what should I look for? Please be specific because I am not very knowledgeable in this aspect of the truck. With this "modern" rear i would hope to gain wheels that are easier to fit and brakes that would be good substitutes for what I have. Thanks ALL for your input!!

Look up you closest Wilks Tire Store...they can handle 3-piece 20's.

Mike B

The simplest solution is don't mess with what's not broken. Find a shop to change your tires or do it yourself. Up here it's no problem at all. Check around some more, try big truck shops and tractor places, road side tire service for truckers too.

Easy to find and pretty easy to swap axles with 10 lug on 7.25" bolt circle come under P-30 chassis and 3500HD chevy's (when HD meant something).
Look at the options here
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/bigbolts/p30swap/

One consideration is it's not recommended to run disc brakes (those rears have them) on the rear if you don't have them on the front as well. Not sure how important that is or what can be tolerated with a proportioning valve and slow speeds?
The Dana 70HD can accept gear ratios from 3.54 down to 7.17. what you'll find will more than likely have 4.56, so you'd be swapping gears or not hauling 10,000 lb.
The Dana 80 can get only as slow as 5.13 or perhaps 5.38.

Also some of the original 1.5 ton axles/brakes will fit in a 19.5" wheel.
I don't think 19.5" wheels look very good on an AD bigbolt though

Grigg

Thanks for the lead on Wilks. I have contacted them. Checking on a price for tires. They have one "experienced guy" that will mount them up. They are a couple of hours away but that is nothing compared to the cost of new wheels. Grigg thanks for the advice if I can get all six tires on the ground that were on the truck when it came from Minnesota I am gonna be one happy big bolt owner. Only thing is it will be a tough day if I have a flat! I'll keep you updated on my progress. BTW where on the forum do I put my project pictures? I have been keeping a pretty good documentation of the process.

Flip,

Put you pictures on a Flickr or Photo Bucket site (or any other photo site you like), then start a new thread with the link to your photos. Then as you update your photo site you just hit that thread again with the details and we'll check your progress.

You can also send your story and a few pictures to Peggy (Stovebolt editor) and she will put you in the "gallery". She can also put your link there as well.

Mike B

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