Widow Maker Replacement
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Widow Maker Replacement
Anybody here ever cut the center from widowmaker rims and weld them to one-piece rims? We've got 5 on 8" pattern "widow makers" on the 1955 F500 family truckster and they've got to go. Dylan's a 12-yr old boy and I want him to live to see his fourth birthday (Leap Day child). He couldn't afford the nearly $600 for the last set of RV rims on Graigslist. We're thinking that less coveted rims and a trip to the cutting lathe at the local Drive Shaft King might yield a wheel that fits and won't be so likely to kill him or a buddy.
Comments? Are we crazy?
Comments? Are we crazy?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: San Jose, CA
I'm not positive, but I think that cutting the centers and having them rewelded would cost more than to buy the RV rims. Also, not sure if even touching WM wheels is a good idea, especially cutting out the centers with a heat source.
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Well, we'd chain them up and unscrew the valve cores before "touching" them. I just wonder if the concept's sane. I don't want to leave him with something as dangerous, or more dangerous, than the widow makers. I don't know if the drive shaft shop would even consider the job. We're just weighing options.
He might just have to save up some more money.
He might just have to save up some more money.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
Cutting and rewelding the centers can be done. However, it needs to be done by a true professional and experienced person that has done this in the past. There are only a few companies in the nation that can do this. One of them is Stockton Wheel Company. They've gone through a "restructuring" since the previous owner committed suicide, but they're back in business. Just because a person can cut and weld, doesn't mean that they should, especially when it comes to wheels. Your "newly made" wheels could be just as, or even more, dangerous than the WMs.
If it were me, I'd save up for a set of replacement RV wheels. Have you checked the classifieds here? I believe that Stu (truckdog) and Josh (jmadsen) both had several available for sale. You may also want to expand your search. If you're willing to drive some distance, you may be able to save money on the wheels by finding them in a different area.
If it were me, I'd save up for a set of replacement RV wheels. Have you checked the classifieds here? I believe that Stu (truckdog) and Josh (jmadsen) both had several available for sale. You may also want to expand your search. If you're willing to drive some distance, you may be able to save money on the wheels by finding them in a different area.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 76
From: Utah
If you can get Rv 19.5 wheels with good tires for $600 I would say to buy them now before someone else does... Or find some good lockring 20"s I can pick up 20" lockrings around here (SLC UTAH) for around $25 each but then would still need to find decent tires to put on. Tires (and sometimes wheels) are a big expense for these big trucks.
I have paid $350 before for a set of 19.5 Rv wheels and $600 for almost new tires that were takeoffs.
Good luck in your quest.
Josh
I have paid $350 before for a set of 19.5 Rv wheels and $600 for almost new tires that were takeoffs.
Good luck in your quest.
Josh
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
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From: Central Illinois
Cutting the rivets and taking the center out of a widow maker isn't dangerous if its tire is deflated. As I understand, though, it's a real tight fit in the rim and probably made tighter by years of rust.
There's been guys look into building their own tubeless wheels using widow maker centers and demountable Dayton style rims. I had one guy a couple years ago that was an accomplished engineer who went through the planning of it in great detail. I never heard back from him, though, to know whether he followed through. To me there's great risk in doing this yourself because there's a lot riding on (literally) the ability of your welder. And there's great liability if you have a wheel failure out in traffic that puts both you and others at risk.
I don't have any 19.5s right now. I'd suggest watching CL or doing your own yard search to get tubeless wheels. Stu
There's been guys look into building their own tubeless wheels using widow maker centers and demountable Dayton style rims. I had one guy a couple years ago that was an accomplished engineer who went through the planning of it in great detail. I never heard back from him, though, to know whether he followed through. To me there's great risk in doing this yourself because there's a lot riding on (literally) the ability of your welder. And there's great liability if you have a wheel failure out in traffic that puts both you and others at risk.
I don't have any 19.5s right now. I'd suggest watching CL or doing your own yard search to get tubeless wheels. Stu
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
I checked with a local truck stop a while back who had a fair selection of used tires for about $60 apiece. These were tires from trucks whose owners bought an entire set to match and had few that were still roadworthy. Most, if not all, big truck tires are high miler tires and can be regrooved and driven many more miles. Considering these tires are made for trucks hauling huge loads for long miles on a daily basis I think they would be plenty good for a vintage truck that is going to see relatively light duty.
Just a suggestion.
Just a suggestion.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2012
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Likes: 17
Contact your local FedEx Ground terminal (the trucks with the green and purple FedEx logo). Those guys are contractors for FedEX, and may have a couple of "parts trucks" that they would be willing to sell the rims from.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
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From: Crossville, Tn
Sorry Tiredood, but any truck that FedEx would have would be too new to have the lug pattern needed.
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