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Because clearly, I have too much ****ing time on my hands. I need help identifying wheels on a 61/62 Mercury M500 (Ford F500). I would post this in 61/66 but my posts keep getting moved to heavy duty, even though imho a M500 is more of medium duty than heavy duty. Anyway, I am rambling at this point, here are pics of the wheels.
Widow maker Firestone RH-5°. And I agree, moving your threads was pointless, and another example of inconsistency on this site. Stu
Inconsistency not!
I asked a mod to move the OP's threads to this Large Truck forum...because the OP will get better help here.
In the 1961/66 forum, F100's predominate followed in popularity with F250's & F350's. Members that own these trucks will not know that much (if anything!) about 500 and larger series trucks.
Plus, AFAIK, only one member besides myself in the 1961/66 forum has a 1957/63 truck parts catalog....but he's not very skilled with it.
Looking up 500 and larger series truck parts is a lot tougher than the F100/350's.
What wheels should I use to replace them? I need to know everything about these wheels, what size, what bolt pattern, how they mount on. The nearest junkyard that MIGHT have wheels is over an 9 hour drive ONE WAY. I need to know what wheels can replace these.
What wheels should I use to replace them? I need to know everything about these wheels, what size, what bolt pattern, how they mount on. The nearest junkyard that MIGHT have wheels is over an 9 hour drive ONE WAY. I need to know what wheels can replace these.
Wow, not sure I have enough space here to tell you everything there is to know. Let me find some old threads where I've tried to spell it all out, then will come back to add links. It'll be in the morning. Stu
There has been so much written on this subject that it makes most sense to study old threads. Here's a couple pages of threads on the subject from the various FTE forums.
Of importance I think is that you keep the cart in front of the horse by making sure the M-500 you've found is really worth expending money and time on before chasing wheels and tires that most likely will rival the purchase cost, or more, of the truck. I give you huge credit for coming to this realization before getting butt deep in the truck's restoration costs. Stu
I would not worry about the wheels till get other problems sorted out. They will air up and roll like any other tire. If you are scared to do this you need to quit messing with this old junky stuff right now.
Agree in spirit, but would add that most exposure risk exists at the rear outer duals. If one of them lets go the ring explodes out from the truck. As an interim measure you could leave fronts and inner duals aired and mounted, and release the air and demount the outers to let you move the truck around. If one of the remaining four blows while mounted it blows in toward the truck rather than in your face. Stu
I would not worry about the wheels till get other problems sorted out. They will air up and roll like any other tire. If you are scared to do this you need to quit messing with this old junky stuff right now.
Even in new condition, these were man killers. OP should use an attachable chuck, and some kind of device or rig to block the rings when he detaches it.
A little caution is always pretty cheap compared to the ring breaking your legs in 2 places each, or worse if you happen to be crouching in front of it......
Agree in spirit, but would add that most exposure risk exists at the rear outer duals. If one of them lets go the ring explodes out from the truck. As an interim measure you could leave fronts and inner duals aired and mounted, and release the air and demount the outers to let you move the truck around. If one of the remaining four blows while mounted it blows in toward the truck rather than in your face. Stu
Widowmaker rims are at their most dangerous state when airing the tires up to full pressure. Their second most dangerous state: keeping them at full pressure.
Best way I've found to reduce this danger: Reduce the maximum air pressure. I've owned my truck for 5 years now. Although the front steer tires are rated at 5700 Lbs. @ 110 psi maximum inflation pressure (with the rear traction tires just a little less), there is no way in HECK I'm going to pump that much air in them! Those are pressures for fully loaded work trucks rolling down the road all day long, everyday of the week, all year long.
My truck has widowmaker rims. I run 60 psi max. air pressure in my tires. The truck is used mostly for pleasure driving, and occasionally hauling a load. Best I can recollect, I've only had two occasions where I was loaded close to capacity. I've never had a tire problem, nor have they ever gotten hot from under-inflation. The 60 psi represents about 2/3 of their maximum inflation capacity, which I feel is about right for good condition tires and the light usage my truck gets. And as a side benefit, I sleep much better at night knowing I don't have six pressure-bombs sitting in my driveway, waiting to blow apart at any time or any place.
Even though the tire or two in your photos look a little weather checked, the rims look halfway decent (hopefully they are all at least this decent). You could probably go ahead and air them up to no more than 1/2 of their rated pressure. This should put you somewhere in the 40~50 psi range max. This would allow the truck to be drivable, yet chances are almost nil that the rims are going to blow apart. Ultimately though, you will need to be the judge on the condition of the rims and the tires, and if you think they can hold half the pressure. If you decide to go ahead with it, be sure and use truckdog's advice for airing them up, and read up on all the split-rim mounting and safety advice you can find.
I currently get about 8.75 mpg, your mileage may vary.
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Those are pressures for fully loaded work trucks rolling down the road all day long, everyday of the week, all year long.
