wheels for 1948 F-135
#1
08-31-2009, 08:19 PM
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wheels for 1948 F-135
Hello,
Just found this wonderful forum and being in a process of bringing my truck back to life I have a question.
My truck is 1948 F-135 (I was told it is canadian designation for 1 ton), anyways the truck originally came with 22 inch steel wheels (duallys in the back) and the only problem is - they're ugly as sin...any idea if there are any wheels that would fit on my truck from some other vehicles? (ie. F450 with 10 bolt setup).
My setup is 5 lug but I find that the biggest problem is the back hub (almost 10 inches in diameter).
So..any idea what could fit without going custom breaking the wallet in the process?
Thanks for any help
cheers
Matt
Just found this wonderful forum and being in a process of bringing my truck back to life I have a question.
My truck is 1948 F-135 (I was told it is canadian designation for 1 ton), anyways the truck originally came with 22 inch steel wheels (duallys in the back) and the only problem is - they're ugly as sin...any idea if there are any wheels that would fit on my truck from some other vehicles? (ie. F450 with 10 bolt setup).
My setup is 5 lug but I find that the biggest problem is the back hub (almost 10 inches in diameter).
So..any idea what could fit without going custom breaking the wallet in the process?
Thanks for any help
cheers
Matt
#2
08-31-2009, 10:31 PM
Welcome to the board Matt.
You question is a very common question. The wheel guru here is Truckdog. He and I and a few others have been working on this problem for the last few years. Since you're new here you have too few posts to use the site search option but you can do a Google search for Widow Makers or WMs. Also use Truckdog and my name, you should find all the information you're looking for.
If you want check out this link to show you how to do the Google search:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7429325
You question is a very common question. The wheel guru here is Truckdog. He and I and a few others have been working on this problem for the last few years. Since you're new here you have too few posts to use the site search option but you can do a Google search for Widow Makers or WMs. Also use Truckdog and my name, you should find all the information you're looking for.
If you want check out this link to show you how to do the Google search:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7429325
#3
09-01-2009, 06:14 AM
I'll add my welcome. Glad to have you.
Your truck probably would equate with an F-5 here in the states. Your stock wheels will be either 20" x 5" or 20" x 6" and are probably a design having the technical name "Firestone RH-5°". They have a 5 lug x 8" circle bolt pattern. And like Bob said, they've come to be termed "widow makers". You can identify them by a raised area on the inner/concave surface that is about 2" wide and about 1/2" tall. That is the joint where the rim's halves connect. I'll include here a couple pictures of one. If you have these wheels you are right to get rid of them for safety reasons. Plus, no reputable shop will work on them anymore.
If you don't find that joint area, then you might have what are called "lock ring" style wheels. On those you'll see a separate ring on the surface side of the wheel. These can still be serviced and used.
Finding replacement rims is the problem. The best solution is to find 22.5" tubeless wheels having that bolt pattern. They are very rare. I posted here last week about a partial set I found in the Salt Lake City area. If you find a set of them you'll want to find the last version made. They are 6.75" wide and will accept a 9R22.5 tire which is the narrowest now available. The early 22.5s were 5.25" wide and were designed for 7" or 8" tires that are NLA.
Another solution is to find 19.5 x 6" wide tubeless motor home wheels. They are more common, but still will take some looking. Tires for them will have a much shorter diameter, +/- 35", than your stock 20s or of the replacement 22.5s. Both 8.25x20" and 9R22.5" tires have about the same 38" outside diameter. Motor home wheels also won't have the load capacity of your stock 20s if you intend to use the truck commercially.
The only new wheels being made that will work that I know about are available from American Wheel Specialist in Pasco, WA. They are a new motor home wheel having a somewhat wider face to allow clearance of disc brake calipers. They look a bit different than stock wheels, but are an immediate solution and safe as you could ask for.
American Wheel Specialist can also remount old wheel centers in new tubeless rims. I have a set and know of two or three others that have also had this done. AWS as I understand has a limited availability of the narrow 22.5 x 6.75" tubeless outer rims, but did find them for one of our members.
I'll link you to some of the threads where all this has been hashed out. If you have additional questions please ask. Stu
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ew-22-5-a.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ck-wheels.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...xperience.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...tern-rims.html
Your truck probably would equate with an F-5 here in the states. Your stock wheels will be either 20" x 5" or 20" x 6" and are probably a design having the technical name "Firestone RH-5°". They have a 5 lug x 8" circle bolt pattern. And like Bob said, they've come to be termed "widow makers". You can identify them by a raised area on the inner/concave surface that is about 2" wide and about 1/2" tall. That is the joint where the rim's halves connect. I'll include here a couple pictures of one. If you have these wheels you are right to get rid of them for safety reasons. Plus, no reputable shop will work on them anymore.
If you don't find that joint area, then you might have what are called "lock ring" style wheels. On those you'll see a separate ring on the surface side of the wheel. These can still be serviced and used.
Finding replacement rims is the problem. The best solution is to find 22.5" tubeless wheels having that bolt pattern. They are very rare. I posted here last week about a partial set I found in the Salt Lake City area. If you find a set of them you'll want to find the last version made. They are 6.75" wide and will accept a 9R22.5 tire which is the narrowest now available. The early 22.5s were 5.25" wide and were designed for 7" or 8" tires that are NLA.
Another solution is to find 19.5 x 6" wide tubeless motor home wheels. They are more common, but still will take some looking. Tires for them will have a much shorter diameter, +/- 35", than your stock 20s or of the replacement 22.5s. Both 8.25x20" and 9R22.5" tires have about the same 38" outside diameter. Motor home wheels also won't have the load capacity of your stock 20s if you intend to use the truck commercially.
The only new wheels being made that will work that I know about are available from American Wheel Specialist in Pasco, WA. They are a new motor home wheel having a somewhat wider face to allow clearance of disc brake calipers. They look a bit different than stock wheels, but are an immediate solution and safe as you could ask for.
American Wheel Specialist can also remount old wheel centers in new tubeless rims. I have a set and know of two or three others that have also had this done. AWS as I understand has a limited availability of the narrow 22.5 x 6.75" tubeless outer rims, but did find them for one of our members.
I'll link you to some of the threads where all this has been hashed out. If you have additional questions please ask. Stu
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ew-22-5-a.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ck-wheels.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...xperience.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...tern-rims.html
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