I recently was able to buy a set of 15 x10 wheels with the correct 5 x 5 1/2 wheel pattern, and the correct center that mounts the 48 - 52 Ford F1 center hubcaps. In other words .. the mount buttons, nubs, whatever they are called face inwards as required by the original caps I have. Even the set back was right for my truck ... on the rear anyway. The wheels were on a Jeep CJ of about 71 vintage, and had very little use.

So ... .now I am needing a set of wheels for the front, but they need to be able to clear the disk brakes I've installed, and if possible I'd like them to be 6" wide. Were there such wheels in use on either the Jeeps or later F series trucks with those inner hub cap mounting buttons, and built to clear disks?

I've talked to several wrecking lots with no success so far. Maybe if there are in fact some Jeep wheels that would do, that might open up the chances of getting what I'm after.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And yes I know I can buy them from Vintique and others. I'm hoping however to find stock stuff of the right kind, and not have to pay the high prices the aftermarket folks all have, plus I've been told that Vintique has their wheels made so that it is difficult to mount original caps.

RG in Spokane

 

There was a 15" x 6" K-H wheel made back in the '50s with the inner hub cap nubs that was used on Ford Marmon-Herrington half tons. They'd be expensive if you found a set, and there's no way to know whether they'd clear your calipers. There was also a 15" x 5.5" used on Ford half tons through 1966 that had the 8.092" diameter inner hub cap nubs, but I doubt disc brakes had been intro'd by then. Others using the 5 lug x 5.5" pattern were Jeep and IHC, but the catalogs don't say whether they have the inner nubs. Unless you get lucky and find a guy that's hit and miss found a solution, I think a set of custom wheels, built with your needed offset and drop center profile, is your logical answer. Stu

 

What is your interference with the calipers? The rim ID at the inner bead, the "well" in the center of the rim, or the inner face of the web (disc) of the wheel?

If it is the "well" or inner face of the web, you are going to need more offset than a common wheel of that era has. If you only need a small amount to clear such an interference, say 1/4 to 1/2 inch, you might want to look at using longer wheel studs and a spacer with a stock wheel.

Also, might wheels from a Jeep J series pickup work? I do not know how if they have inner or outer nubs, but you wanted to add inner nubs you could make some out of a piece of flat stock and braze or silver solder them in place.

 

That is a good tip on the wide jeep wheels, thanks. Do they fit under your fenders with good clearance? I used 8" wide.....10's looked a little tight.

I've heard about IH wheels, but never actually seen any to verify...not many old IH's laying around here anymore. Too many scrappers.

 

IMHO, I doubt if the wheels you found on the Jeep were really Jeep wheels. Although older Jeeps had the 5 x 5.5 pattern I've never seen any that had inner nubs for mounting 48-56 Ford hubcaps nor have I ever seen any Jeep wheels that wide. These were probably aftermarket wheels originally intended for a Ford pickup...

 

Great North,

You are very likely right about the originality of the 10" wheels I got. The fellow bought the wheels new from a wheel warehouse that used to be here in Spokane back in the 70's, but couldn't tell me anything other than explain what he had them on. The wheels are Firestone built ones, as per the stamping inside the rim.

Tinman,

I'm running a stake bed on the F1, so wheel well clearance on the rear wheels is not an issue. I mainly liked them since the new big tires I already have will fit best on the 10" wheels. I was lucky in finding some after market trailer fenders to use with the bed that are just right for the big tires, so all that in the rear is solved. I think I'm likely faced with modifying a set of wheels I have from an early 80's bronco that do clear the front disks I have. I can fit those with some weld on hub cap nubs. I've even thought of riveting on some clips like another brand of truck uses .... but I will have to experiment with that idea some.

Thanks to all for your advise. This forum's members are very helpful in sorting out such issues.

RG in Spokane

 

Here are some 5x5.5 rims that fit our trucks
15x6 Ford f-series 1997
16x7 Dodge Ram 1998