I need wheels for my F-4 - gotta get rid of the the widow makers. Ive seen many threads about ideas for replacement.

The current wheels have 7.00 x 18s...

Any updates?

 

what's the bolt pattern? 8 lug?

 

I'm a few miles down the road from you.

Too bad any of my F2 stuff is already sold.

 

They are 5 bolt.

 

You won't find replacements in your 18" size. Lock ring 18"s were made, but the only place I've seen them is in the parts books. Your options are 20" lock rings, 19.5" tubeless, or 22.5" tubeless. Josh Madsen has spare 20" lock rings, as do I, but you're a long way from either of us. Since you've done your homework reading old threads, it's down to doing a search. You local Les Schwab can set you up with remanufactured 20" lock ring style (through their contract with American Wheel Specialist) but you're talking money. I've lost faith in Stockton Wheel after hearing of all the problems they've had getting it right. Plus they'd be expensive too. Yard searches are your remaining option. Lock ring 20s shouldn't be too expensive, but the tubeless ones are getting expensive. Being in CA you've got an advantage because anything you find should be in good shape.

Ilya - F-2 stuff misses the point. Stu

 

I think a couple of the 20" wheels I have might be narrower than the ones my f-6 has? But only have maybe two of those? Have to look again. I think they had 7.5 x 20. ?

If you do end up needing any of the 20" 5 lugs I've got let me know. Maybe we could find someone going that way?
Josh

 

Stu, how many of those 20" lock ring wheels do you have, and how much?
Joe

 

I think I've got nine of them. Most are 5" wide variety that would take a 7.50 tire, and two or three are the 6" variety that would take an 8.25. That's measured inside between the rim lips. One still has a tire still on it, the others are unmounted. One is a Motor Wheel brand that has more hand holes than the others (8 vs. 5) so you'd probably want to put him on an inside dual. A few have Goodyear split rings, most are the Firestone solid/continuous style lock ring. I bought 'em to keep them from being crushed. Have maybe $15 each in them and would take that. Stu

 

OK, I have 750's on the front and 825's on the duals. Where in Ill are you located?

 

Out in the country near Rochester, which is east of Springfield. I just looked at the map, that's a long drive. You sure you can't find any that are closer? Stu

 

As I said, I have not even started looking for any yet. What other trucks would have had the same size and BP?

 

1948/52 F4 w/DRW's as original.

7RTL-1007-A .. 18" Wheel / 5 lug / 5" bolt circle / Original Tire Size: 7.00" x 18"

 

The 18" size with your 5 lug x 8" circle bolt pattern was, according to the Hollander Interchange, only used by Ford. And since Ford had such a strong relationship with Firestone back then, virtually all from the factories were the widow maker RH-5° design. I've got wheel catalogs that list other mounting designs that were manufactured using Goodyear style lock ring systems, probably as replacement wheels, but those will be very rare (if any even exist) today.

Wheels with this bolt pattern in 20" sizes using either Firestone or Goodyear locking ring designs were plentiful back then. Ford, Dodge, IH, Studebaker and (according to Hollander) even GMC used them with a stud piloted mounting system. In your search you'll want to avoid post 1950 Studebaker in particular because they used that bolt circle, but in a hub piloted mount.

Tubeless 19.5s or 22.5s with stud piloted mounts can be found on post 1956 Fords, IHs, and Dodges. You'll want to look for the 19.5" x 6" wide variety, or the 22.5" x 6.75" variety. Narrower 5.25" wide rims in both sizes were made during the early years, but finding tires to fit them today is a problem.

Another twist, if you can find some replacements but not a full set, is to use Budd 17" dually style wheels on the front of your truck. They are very close to your stock 18s in size, and are more plentiful that other sizes. Many Dodge motor homes used them and owners try to replace them with 19.5" tubeless. The 17s will fit your front, but won't clear your rear drums. Hope that helps. Stu

 

Thanks for all the help. I found some of the Dodge RV wheels. 19.5 x 6 w.

 

Hey hey!! Outstanding. You should be set up perfectly now. Stu