Hi all - been reading a lot about these widow makers. I "might" have two on my '56 F500. But my question is: does the band going around the inner circumference (not under the rubber - visible from the outside) automatically mean it's a widowmaker?

If I remove the rubber is the rim stamped with the "Firestone" information I'm looking for to identify these rims?

If the band proves they are widow makers, anyone in New England or the tristate area have two 6x20 5 lugs they're willing to part with?

Edit: just a note, what's throwing me off is that I'm seeing what looks like rivets around the circumference of the rims next to this inner ring sticking out. I can't identify these rivets in typical widow maker pictures or cut through diagrams of the rims.

Thank you!

 

The sure sign that you have WMs is if you remove the tires is the rim halves will collapse inside each other.

Also, all 20" wheels, as far as I know, are multi-part wheels, either the two part WMs or the type with the lock rings.

 

Thanks! The tire on the wheel sitting in my garage is shot. Looks like it's time to have some fun with the sawzall.

 

The first WMs I dealt with were on an old parts truck I bought. I took a sawsall to the tires, it was cheaper than having a pro dismount them. I cut them off and thought I had a decent set of rims until an older friend came over and told me they were junk. I couldn't see why because other than some surface rust they looked to be in pretty good condition. He walked over to the rims and stumped on one and it collapsed into the other half. The rust between the halves was doing a pretty good job of holding the halves together. My friend then gave me a lesson on WMs.

 

Here's the best pics I have of the things. The center is riveted to the face side of the wheel, forward of the joint on 20s, while the side ring mounts from the dished concave side. On smaller 17" widow makers the center disc is riveted to the joint hump, but not so on 20s. You'll see the Firestone RH-5° on the inside rim surface. Stu

 

I've always wondered how you get the two pieces apart, or back together? Are there places where the lips are relieved to allow them to slide past? Or do you just have to force them over?

 

Even if you use a saws all and if there is any chance of that thing flying off put a chain around the tire and wheel to be sure. A little extra caution with those things is the best method.

 

Here is a pair that was on ebay near you and they are the 22.5 tube less so they are safe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Ford-F500-Tubeless-Wheels-22-5-5-Lug-F-500-1953-1954-1955-Truck-/171582297433?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item27f31a1559&nma=true&si=kBtkjaVYi2M6OZs8J8mo4qeJ194%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Ross - there are indents. Let's see if this is readable. I couldn't get the thing to include all the words along the edge. The missing words in the upper right say "Catch the cutaways over the edge again. Put the straight flat end of the tool in the tool slot and pull outward. Hold onto the tool, and hammer the ring between the slot and nearest cutaway. This makes the ring and rim start hooking together." The others I think can be figured out from what is there. This is from Firestone's 1957 rim catalog. Stu

 

That's great Stu! Thanks!