I am looking to buy new rims and can figure out what my lug pattern is ? I have a 1975 f100, 3 speed manual column shfft, 302, v8. 5 lug rim pattern but need to know exact size so i can order rims. I like the american racing hopster rims but am not sure if they will fit. Let me know if anyone can help. Thanks guys.

Jeff

 

i believe it is 5x5.5

 

It is........

 

Have to be careful on the F100's, some had the 4.5" pattern. The way to measure the pattern is to measure from the edge of one lug or hole to the center of one diagonal to it. You skip one hole and measure to the center of the next, if that makes sense...

Like this

 

really? never heard that before.

 

I don't remember the years for sure, but there were a few years that did do that. It may have been more of an earlier thing, but there were some. I'm not finding the info now to back it up, but have seen mention of it beforem, but it was only for a short time if I recall. And maybe my memory is just faulty...

OK, I just found it, I was too old, it was an 80's thing...

 

Go here. http://adaptitusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=4
It tells you how to measure your bolt pattern

 

All 70's F100's were 5-5.5. Some 80-83 maybe 84 were 5-4.5 but very few at that. Some of the very base model early eighties trucks came this way but in my 20 some years in the brake business I've only seen a couple and haven't seen one in the last 12 years or so.

 

Had a coworker with a early 80s 1/2 ton blow a tire and did not have a spare so we tried the spare from my 75 it would not fit. I was shocked. also noticed large punched out holes in frame rails. Obviously they did try different things. Dave

 

It is 5 on 5.5 and american racing does make the hopster in that pattern. I have a picture in my files somewhere of a 70's with those wheels on it, I'll try and find it and post it. They look good.

 

Yup - those F-100's were the VERY light duty trucks. Frames are known as the "swiss cheese frames" for obvious reasons...

 

1953/79 F100 wheels are all 5 lug on a 5.50" bolt circle.

Some 1980/83 F100 wheels are 5 lug on a 5.50" bolt circle.

Some 1980/83 F100 wheels are 5 lug on a 4.50" bolt circle.

Not only are the wheels different, but so the front/rear brakes, shocks and springs.

Did'ja know that you could not get 4WD or a Super Cab on 1980/83 F100's?

Did'ja know that the largest engine available in these trucks was the 302?

Did'ja know that 1982/83's were offered not only with the anemic 255 V8, but with the horrid 3.8L V6 as well?

We used to call the 3.8L the miracle engine. If one was able to get 60,000 miles from the terd without blowing a head gasket or replacing the timing cover...it was a miracle!

No F100's after 1983.

ALL 1975/96 F150 wheels are 5 lug, 5.50" bolt circle.

 

I have an 80 F350 w the swiss cheese hole punched frame

 

Thanks for all the input. I was dead set on the hopster but was afraid they wouldnt fit. Back to the drawing board. Is there anyway to switch the hubs to change the lug pattern ? Or does anyone know of rims that look similar but will fit ?

 

got any pics of the "hopster"? Changing hubs to change lug pattern is more trouble than it is worth usually.

You might see if whoever makes the wheel offers it without the lug holes drilled - then you can have a machine shop drill the lug holes for you.

OR - if the wheel is offered in a 5x135mm or maybe even 5x5 lug pattern you MIGHT be able to get the lug pattern drilled and sleeved to change it to 5x5.5. Any GOOD wheel shop could do this. "Good" usually means a mom and pop type shop, not the Big O tires or other large chain stores that just sell wheels/tires and don't really work on much...