OK, I am an invader here, with a 65. But I have a rim question that you lucky fellows (I'd like an older truck too, but alas, dad was born too late!) might be able to answer.

I have an F100 with the standard 5 x 5 1/2 bolt hubs. I'd like to put 16" rims on it. (16" rims were actually common, but they were seen in 8 bolt varieties) But I also want to use my original hubcaps. The hub caps measure 8.125" across the back, and the "nubs" that face inward towards the lug nuts on my rims are about 8".

So, some of you guys must know -- if I find a set of 50's rims that are 16", will my hub caps fit?

Also, the older 16" rims were very narrow, like 4.5" or 5" from bead to bead. Does anyone have experience putting radial tires on them? What sizes of radials seem to approximate the old bias tires?

How about sources for repro rims? I know of Stockton and Coker. Any others to be recomended?

Thanks in advance.

 

I've seen wheel vintiques "gennies" they will acept the hubcaps, but I'm not sure if they offer a 16in rim. Whats the reason behind the 16in swap? -4speed

 

The problem with the 15" radial tires is that they "squat" down much more than the old 15" bias tires. But I like the ride/drive that radials give. So I have been contemplating going to the 16" rims to allow less of a profile, while still getting the benefits of modern radials.

There is no perfect answer. My truck has twin Ibeam suspension, not a bad setup, and with radials it corners and rides really nice for an old truck. I hate to lose that. But the current tires just don't look right. The larger 15" tires look "squatty" -- they just don't stand up like the originals do.

Sounds like I am nit-picking, which is probably correct!!!!!

 

I see a couple of problems using the older 16 inch rims. The ones on my stock 49 use tubes and are very narrow like you said...too narrow for your 65 and it is best not to use tubes with radials if you can avoid it. What you might consider is having the centers removed from your existing 15 inch wheels and installed into modern, tubeless 16 inch rims. That way you are assured that your hubcaps will fit. and you can run tubeless radials. Stockton and other wheel companies can do this.

Vern

 

Can you live with a taller tire? Something like a 75 or 80 series? There are even 85 series out there that would actually be taller than the old bias ply tires for the same tread width. That would get you the taller stance and actually look more like the original bias ply tires while still letting you use your current 15" wheels.

 

Parts books list a rim that's 16 x 5 with a bolt pattern of 5.5 inches. ( B4TZ 1007-A )It's listed for tube or tubless tires. It goes back to 1954 or earlier.

Barry

 

Have you tried using a higher ply tire and running a higher air pressure? We have 8 ply tires on our 3/4 (their 16's but this is just a comparison) and 350 gallons of water only squish the tires some. It think we have 50 PSI in them and their rated at 60 PSI.