This is for the F350 version... '53 to '66. Maybe this isn't appropriate for your F4 because you said five lug. I didn't see how to post a photo on a pm. But if you want to convert to an 8 lug modern rim, this is what I did. I cut off my six lug F350 flange with an angle grinder. I had the hub spinning from an electric motor from an old bandsaw as seen in the photo. Cut with a cutoff wheel on a 10" angle grinder. Used a 'toledo adapter' from wheeladapters.com. It bolts to the 8 bolt on 6.5 pattern that holds the brake drum, after you get rid of the old school 6 lug flange. This should be done by a machine shop, but mine came out fine. 65 mph, no vibrations down the road like a magic carpet ride. Anyways here's a couple of pictures of what some say isn't possible. I later welded the remainder of the hub to the toledo adapter, JIC.

 

Many thanks for this information. My hub to wheel is five lug as well as the hub to brake drum is five bolt. Wheeladaptor web site says they don't do different bolt pattern adapter but they contradict themselves with a new offering of eight to ten. I will contact them about making such five to eight lug adapter if I run out of options. I am trying to determine if a later hub may fit the spindle of my F4. Homemade, Garry has a conversion to eight lug on his new hauler and is trying to determine what was incorporated in the change. He said it looks like some kind of adapter, spacer.
This eight bolt wheel change is something I would like to do but I do have the Firestone wheels on the truck now that I can and will run. Going eight lug all around would be much better.
Thanks again, Rep points given.
ray

 

Here's a picture for others who start with six lug. Somewhere there is an 8 lug hub that fits your 5 lug setup....

 

Ray, this looks like the adapter on my 49 hauler, mine doesn't look quite as deep as these but may be, still haven't been to the garage, Garry











R

 

Dragging this old post back into the spotlight because I’d like to know what the story on that 8 to 8 lug adapter is! Bought or built? I get some of the machining you had done but curious if there’s a few other pics or anything. I wanna do the same to my 53 to be rid of the 6 lug pattern but want to retain the dually wheel look.

 

Can you do the same thing and use a 1989 drum on the outside of the spacer, to make the drum eseiar to replace.

 

I know this is a really old thread that I am dredging up.

I recently purchased a 55 f350 dually and I am considering this mod.

Just curious if the OP has had any issues with this mod, or if anyone else has tried this mod?

 

I’m sure I posted this info someplace else (mostly sure lol). But I ended up doing this six to eight conversion to my 55’f350. Only difference was my spacer/adapter were from a I believe second gen dodge dually.

I will admit I thought long and hard before chopping my hubs. But so far everything seems to be just fine. I’ve put several hundred miles on the truck and had it running 65mph with no issues.

I also swapped the rearend at the same time. I used a cab and chassis rear from a 96’ dually with 4.10 gears and limited slip. This gave me the same 8x6.5 bolt pattern front and rear. Then dressed her up a little with some aluminum Ford wheels made by Alcoa.

 

Great work there Bvab! Haven't seen to many others attempt this, but is pretty straightforward and really an 8 lug pattern is soooo nice. I also have a sterling with 4:10s on the rear. I sold that '59 about 8 years ago to a guy here on our island. I ran into him at the lumberyard last spring and mentioned I never see him using it. He told me it won't start so I made him an offer right there and he took it. I had converted it to a cummins 6at, automotive version of a 120 hp cummins/onan genset diesel. 6 cyl with factory turbo. Heres a video I made 2 minutes after I drove the beast home that day. I tow-started it at his place as it needed a starter, which I bought on amazon for maybe 125 bucks. Took me a week to wipe the grin off my face!

 

Nice looking truck and score Gary, glad to see the beast back home where she belongs!

 

GB, long time, no post in 48-56! It's good to hear from you here. I guess you hang out at the 47 and older forum. It's cool that you got your 59 back. So now I guess you'll be in the 57-60 forum!

 

Thanks GB. I’m not gonna lie, I spent a lot of time staring at the hubs before I finally chopped them. It’s hard doing that to a part that you know is extremely hard to replace.

But in the end, I couldn’t be happier. Truck rides great (its still barn door pushed down the road), and is much more user friendly.

 

I call that the "hand wringing" stage. Sometimes it can be crippling. You worry yourself to death, drive your buddies nuts talking about it, toss and turn, etc, etc, etc. But it always seems to go pretty smooth once you finally dive in and commit.
Nicely done!

 

You nailed it on the head. Was actually gonna have a buddy who’s a machinist do the work. He backed out because he didn’t wanna screw up an obsolete part. So me and a six inch angle grinder went to town

 

Nice GB!! That is a super cool truck- just right!!! I too am glad to hear from you.