Hello All,

I need 4 rims to replace the widow makers. Where do I find the 3 piece lock ring rims?
I have 2 already in the front and need 4 more, it's a duelly...
its a 5 lug budd 8" circle

I am in Tucson.
I have checked American Wheel Specialists in WA ---

Thanks -- u guys rock, but u know that already... I hope.
Chris

 

Interesting request. According to the literature of the era the three piece rims were used on the bigger models, like yours, because the design allowed the "side ring" to move with the tire bead under heavy loads while the small "lock ring" kept the package together. Some references called it a Firestone "AR" mount, others called it a Kelsey-Hayes "AR" mount. Probably Firestone patented the design, and K-H at some later time adopted it. There were also two "AR" designs. An old style and a new style. I'll post cross section pictures of each.

I have a small supply of 20s, but none with the "AR" mount. Josh Madsen will probably be along soon too. He has more 20s than I do, but I don't know whether he has any with this mount design.

As a practical matter, does it really matter what type lock ring design you use on your rear duals? As long as the rings and rims aren't mix matched they all work together interchangeably. Plus, from an appearance standpoint, the rings of the rear duals would face each other and not be visible.

If you've already talked to Shaun or Juan Murillo at AWS, that eliminates my best guess. When I visited them a few years ago they did have some "ARs" out in their yard to my recall, but that's been a while back. The only other option to me is to go searching yards. You live in a part of the country where they should be well preserved, if not plentiful. I did a junk yard tour a few years ago on the way to and back from Tucson. There are a lot of great yards along the back roads of Arizona and New Mexico. Stu

 

Yep, I only got the 2 piece lockrings style, I think? the goodyear styles. I have 9 left, one of which appears to have the same bolt pattern etc, but has a smaller Diameter bolt holes. Never noticed it until last week when I sold 2 more wheels to a local Rancher/farmer for his hay trailer and we noticed the difference.

know of anyone from up north going south for the winter? I'll gladly throw 4 or 5 in with their load south

Cheers


Josh

 

Josh - Please tell me more about that odd wheel with the "smaller" lug holes. I think what you might have there is a GMC wheel that would have been made by Motor Wheel Corporation. It could be hub piloted which would make the lug holes appear smaller, but they would still be 3/4" diameter. Just without the ball seat like our normal stud piloted wheels have. Is the wheel face perfectly flat around the lug holes? The GMC wheel would have a 6" center hole. If what I've said doesn't match what you see, can you post a picture of it for me?

There was a guy over on the YT site last week wanting tubeless wheels for his '46 GMC, but assuming none exist, he might be a person that would be interested in your wheel. Here's the link to that thread. Stu

Yesterday's Trucks - Discussion Forum

 

OK Gang,
Thanks for the responses... I shot from the hip and posted before exhausting other possibilities... next time I'll slow down - (grin)

I found 4 here locally in Tucson... Jacks Surplus (lots of military trucks) ... outstanding ol timer... he had 5 left and I got my 4. They are actually 2 pieces... the rim with a ring. I paid $100 each and it cost me another $1300. for the 6 new tires... just an FYI

Thanks again.
h.

 

Glad you found them locally. Saved you a lot on shipping. Stu

 

Ya mine are only $25 each and I gave the rancher 3 for $40 I know I can't add

you could have had these for a steal, plus free shipping as long as you picked them up!

Ouch on those new tires $$$ I just picked up the 52 F5 5 star cab with 6 Actual Budd Wheels been repainted
(BUDD is stamped into them) with 6 brand new tires, Cab in perfect shape (no rust anywhere) 12' ford script stakbed, I am the 3rd owner running flathead v8, rebuilt brakes on one end, with 39k original miles for $1500

(Non Sychro) trans though otherwise you could have first dibs on it if you needed it?






oh ya partially disassembled , the neighbors are going to be really excited on Sunday when this beast comes home to sit next to the F6 the two are going to morph into one sweet truck overnight! I hope..


Stu, I have the wheels in the back of the F3 temporarily stored at a friends house, I'll try to get by there Sat or Sunday and take a look at that rim.

Cheers

Josh

 

I'm looking for replacement rims for the Firestone RH5 that currently have 8.25x20. Are you offering these them for sale and are they a viable replacement?

 

Welcome to the FTE family!, Yes these wheels http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...228160&cat=599
are the alternate to using the "Widow Makers" that you mentioned having.

Swing by in the morning and you can take as many as you want! Oh wait, Are You in New York?
You can probably find some a lot closer to you if you can scout out some old truck yards in your area??


I did ship 2 of these recently to someone in Ok.
he paid about $25 each to have the tire removed from the rim, and about $50 each (if I remember right) to have shipped ups to OK. so he was into them about $100+ each
A lot of work and time on my end to get rid of two wheels but glad someone could use them.

they weigh aprox 59 lbs each

 

I've been looking around NY in my area with not much luck. Here is the full story...

Last year I became owner of a 52 Ford F6 FireTruck. Last fall, the tubes stopped holding air. I wen to a truck tire shop and learnd about the widow maker curse and that I was infected 6 times over! 300 miles away, near my parent's house, I found someone with an old rust pile that use to be an International Harvester Tow Truck that happened to have the desireable safe goodyear rims. I replaced all 6 on my truck :-)

This year, I had a tube malfunction and lost a lockring on the highway on the inner drivers side rear dualie. The rim is good, but dosn't retain a tire with out a lock ring :-(

 

I may be interested in 2 or more (how many are available?) and see what i can do for shipping research. You have a guy who will remove the tire for $25 a pop?

 

I have about 8 or so that should work, couple of them might be rusty (I would pick out the best one's) I had to take them to a big truck tire shop to get them dismounted after attempting to use the local tire shop who said they could do it for $15 each! 2 days later and one ruined wheel I took them elsewhere

Just figure about 60 lbs each package (1 wheel per package) and approx dimensions of 24"x 24"x11" from Zip code 84020 and that should get you close.

We Probably should take the trading, buying/selling of off the thread so we don't get spanked! So if you want to email me use the "email seller" button in the add link here.

ksl.com - Classifieds for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming

Thanks

Josh

 

Depending on where in NY you live, I'd bet Chuck Mantiglia in Hamden, CT, would either have wheels or a source for them. I know that he watches for the tubeless variety, so would think he'd have a handle on lock rings too. Here's his site. Chucks Trucks LLC., Chuck's Trucks, Chucks Trucks

BTW, you are right to look for complete wheel and ring sets. There are a great many different rim/ring designs, and mix matching designs is very dangerous. Stu

 

I have reached out to Chuck (prior to your suggestion) and am awaiting to hear back on what he has in stock that is not tubeless. I'm just not ready to convert to tubeless right now.

 

Here's a couple of pictures, and my very crude measurements, ( left the micrometer at home with the axe and splitting maul )









the standard wheel lug bolt holes I have measure approx 1 and 1/4" while this oddball one measures 1 and 1/8" and it is stud piloted as well. and looks just like the other wheels???

the second picture down shows the stamping "GY 6.50 700? ****" can't make out the rest of it and I should have written it down, but didn't...
'