Anyone taken the stock center from the 17" split rims and put a later model hoop?
I really like the stock center caps and wheel center, if I could get rid of the split rim so when I get my truck on the road I could take a flat to a shop to get fixed if I need to.
It is SPENDY but I went the Stockton Wheel route, sending my 4 centers , the cut them down and welded the centers to 16'" solid outer rims. I then mounter radial tires on those and have absolutely NO regrets except the cost Jerry
Why can't a flat shop do it? I have done my own as well as a flat shop doing it, what is wrong with them?
In some states it's illegal for shops to do them because there is the possibility when airing it up and the bead sets the ring blowing off. At the shop I worked at we had a big cage that you would put the tire in and clip on an air chuck from the tire machine and air it up.
Here's a video of what can happen. Most of the time it's because the wheels are in poor shape, rusty, dirty, and worn.
Originally Posted by 1951Chevy1Ton
It is SPENDY but I went the Stockton Wheel route, sending my 4 centers , the cut them down and welded the centers to 16'" solid outer rims. I then mounter radial tires on those and have absolutely NO regrets except the cost Jerry
This is what I'm wanting to do with mine... but do it myself. Cutting the centers down and chucking it on a lathe and welding isn't a problem, I'm just wanting hoping someone else has done this and already knows a wheel from a later model that is suitable with minimal cutting of the center.
...I'm just wanting hoping someone else has done this and already knows a wheel from a later model that is suitable with minimal cutting of the center.
Absolutely zero cutting if you use 8 lug 19.5" wheels center all; just bolt them on your truck and drive. It'll take a little searching but it's by far the easiest method of running tubeless wheels on these old trucks.
...I'm just wanting hoping someone else has done this and already knows a wheel from a later model that is suitable with minimal cutting of the center.
Absolutely zero cutting if you use 8 lug 19.5" wheels center all; just bolt them on your truck and drive. It'll take a little searching but it's by far the easiest method of running tubeless wheels on these old trucks.
Grigg
Is this an AD wheel? I don't really want to go as large as 19.5" but what did these wheels come on?
19.5" wheels are not original on an AD truck but they are a great upgrade. They came out about 1956 and were used for many years on some (certianly not all) 1 tons, step vans, NAPCO 1 ton trucks, and even on some similar ford trucks. With 8R19.5 tires they're about 32" tall. That is a tad taller than 7.50-17 tires, helps with road speed, and nicely fills the fenders. Still a tall skinny tire look, many people don't notice they're non original.
You would have to watch the backspacing on those, as it is about an inch deeper than what the original wheels used. The E250/E350 wheels will fit better. Now a word on the whole split rim issue; most modern tire shops simply do not want to put the money or training time into handling obsolete split rims, it's simply not worth it to them. As mentioned in an earlier post, in some places it's even illegal for them to be serviced. Even shops that handle big truck tires are getting away from them, as for the most part, even heavy trucks do not use splits anymore.
The new Ford E250 and E350 wheels come without the center nubs. They are almost identical to the older wheels.
Look for take offs from a 2007 and newer.
1999 and newer Ford 8 lug bolt pattern is 8x170mm which will not work on GM 8x6.5"(165.1mm) 98 and older Ford and all Dodge are 8x6.5" bolt pattern so there are a lot of possibilities to check out. Also all 2011 and newer GM 8 lug single wheel bolt patterns are 8x180 and the duallys are 8x210.
