I've read several posts recently that referred to some kind of catalog or book that refers to the wheels that originally came on Ford truck,and perhaps optional ones.Is such a publication still available?

 

Steve - I explained what I've got in reply to your p.m. I've never come across one book or catalog that covers it all. I've got dozens on dozens of catalogs from the individual wheel manufacturers, private vendors, and from the National Wheel and Rim Association covering 1927 to 1990 and am always looking to fill in the numberous time gaps that exist in my records. (Please don't bid against me on eBay). I do my best to give clear answers where I can to wheel questions here and on other sites. But I accept that doesn't do much to allow guys to be self reliant. Like I said in the p.m., someday before I go I need to put it on-line with cross reference explanations and a FAQ section so the history is preserved. Stu

 

??
1939 Packard Brochure - The Old Car Manual Project

EDIT - It is NOT a Packard Catalog - It's Motor Wheels Catalog

 

Yeah, that's a good one. It's the 1964 Motor Wheel Corporation catalog. It's the only catalog I know of on-line, and has good cross reference info to National Wheel and Rim Assocation codes, vehicle manufacturer part numbers, and other wheel company numbers. It's not helpful in all situations, but is good for what is covers. Stu

 

Dick,thanks for that link.

Truckdog,thanks,guess I'd been misunderstanding all along.Do you think you'd be able to give me info for the wheels that were available ,either stock or as optional equipment for 1959 F100/F250?I'm keeping open the option of switching my wheels from 8-lug to 5-lug at some future date,in order to upgrade to power discs brakes in the front .AFAIK, all the conversion kits are for 5-lug.I want to stick with stock, 16", 5-lug, innie -type wheels and caps to maintain the stock look.Then,later,I'll switch from a Dana 60 to Ford 9" rearend,so I won't have to carry two spare tires.Any help is much appreciated.

 

Steve - The first part of the question is straight forward. A stock 16" x 6" wheel with 8 lug x 6.5" circle and internal hub cap nubs was used on all F-2s and F-250s from 1948 to 1966. Kelsey Hayes numbers 31282 and 43552 are shown for it. Whether they just changed the number I can't say. It has Ford #7RD 1015B. The National Wheel and Rim Association (NWRA) cross reference number is X-40099. The internal hub cap nub diameter here is different than on the half tons. This wheel has a 8.844" hub cap mounting circle.

Different width half ton 16" wheels with 5 lug x 5.5" circle were made. The easiest solution is the stock 16" x 4.5" used on half tons from 1948 to 1964 (maybe later). It is K-H #31283 and Ford #8C-1015. The NWRA # is X-40096. The hub cap inner nub circle is 8.092".

I also find a 16" x 5" used from 1953 to 1964 with K-H #38189, Ford #B4C-1015A and NWRA # X-40097. I don't find anywhere that tells whether it has internal or external hub cap nubs.

Then there's the rare alternatives. Mercs and Lincolns in 1941 had 16" x 5" with the 5 lug x 5.5" bolt circle. They must have been different in some way because the numbers are different. The Merc was K-H #24191 and Ford #19A 1015. The Lincoln Zephyr K-H number is 23736 and Ford #16H 1015. These have the same hub cap mount circle.

I also find a 16" x 5.5" available for 1940 to 1946 half tons. K-H #28026. No Ford number listed since it was a "change over" aftermarket wheel.

The same applies to a 16" x 6", K-H #27205, available for Merc 1940 to 1947 and Zephyrs from 1939 to 1947. No Ford number for the same reason.

As a practical matter, the 16" x 4.5" stock wheels can be found at swap meets pretty commonly. But you'd never find the others. If wider than 4.5" is your desire, I'd think Coker or similar after market wheels would be the way to go. Stu

 

Thanks,Stu.I guess I need to research what the bolt pattern is on the disc conversion kits, as well as that of the Ford 9" differential.Hopefully they're the same,and those wheels will have the innie nubs.Will those 16" 5-lug wheels for the F100s be difficult to find?If I'm not mistaken,most of the stock 5-lug wheels I've seen ,at least on the 57-60 models,have been 15", but I'm not all that observant.

 

A 9" will have the 5 x 5.5" pattern, and I heard this past weekend that Fatman now makes 5.5" disc brake kits for their system. Others probably know more about that than me. Finding the 16" x 4.5" wheels won't be hard since so many half tons used them. I've found them commonly at swap meets. Plus, after market wheels are widely available. The 16" x 4.5" stock wheels have the inner nubs. Stu

 

truckdog, i understand you have a NWRA catalog from the 20s thru the 60s...

i need a copy, i have pallets full of nos drums with NWRA #s on them i cant identify, my book only goes back to the mid 50s....
please help, i will pay for the copy, my email, info@rochesterclutch.com.
web Rochester Clutch + Brake Company

sam

 

Sam - Not that easy. What I have are individual wheel and component catalogs, some NWRA but many others put out by the individual manufacturers. The whole collection covers 1927 to the 1990s and fills four 3" binders with spill over of odds and ends into a couple more. Making copies isn't in the cards. NWRA numbers for drums aren't something I've spent much time researching, but will look to see what I've got. If you want to make a list of numbers and feed it to me I'll see what I can find. My email is stu_sandymcmillan at sbcglobal dot net. Stu