The truck is buried in the barn so I can only get near enough to two to look at. Both have the Ford oval. Normally I find the KH stamping somewhere with the oval but don't see that on these two. Doesn't say it's not there, just don't see it. Mounted on the truck with tires the KH could be anywhere. In all my references I find nothing to show that Ford made their own wheels, but instead jobbed them to KH or Budd. But as you allude to, the production 15" wheels weren't introduced on trucks until 1953. So could they be M-H LD7-5366 described as a 15" x 5.50", or LD7-5370 described as a 15" x 6.00"? It's a puzzle I'll have to unriddle someday. Stu

 

I haven't looked at the "wheel section" of the M-H manual lately and need to do that. I did check the '51 and '52 owner manuals and nothing is shown for F1's except the 16x4.5 wheels. However, the specification section of the 49-50-51 (red) Shop Manual (with '52 supplement) shows the 16x4.5K wheel as std. equipment and the 15x5.50F (semi-drop center) as optional. Part number for the 16" wheel is shown as 8C-1015 and the p/n for the 15" is 7RC-1015. Is that 15" wheel a split-rim? I can't find 7RC-1015 in either the "Green Bible," or the '48-'54 Parts Manual that I have. I do see some part numbers for separate rims and flanges for the 1953-1954 F-100's. I've only got one of my 16" wheels down where I can get to it, so will check to see if it's stamped KH or not. I'm thinking the K and F I've listed above in bold, might indicate Kelsey and Ford as the manufacturer. Do you think so? This info was found in the "Specification" sections pages 361 and 84 ('52 section) of the red Shop Manual. - Bob

 

If you, or anybody out there, can find the answer to the 7RC 1015 puzzle I'll forever be in your debt. That Shop Manual chart is the only place I've found that number. I've purchased the old paper copies of the Chassis Catalogs, and the OSI catalogs. And I've got dozens of wheel company catalogs for that range of years. Nowhere else do I find 7RC 1015. And I've asked Chuck if he has any ideas, but he doesn't.

The "K" coding is the Tire and Rim Association design designation for the drop center of the 16" x 4.5" 8C 1015/KH 31283. The 5.50F rim is the designation given to a Semi-Drop Center two piece rim having the Firestone RHP rim/ring design. I have references citing a 15" x 5.50F rim used with multiple applications, but no mention of a 7RC 1015. It's a puzzle separate from the M-H 15" wheel puzzle. Stu




I'll edit to add that a 5.50F rim designation could also apply to a Goodyear LTS split ring design. Seems all I come across are Firestone RHPs because of the Ford/Firestone relationship, but the others exist too. Stu

 

Stu, I just finished copying your response and images to a Word file that I've printed and saved with my M-H "stuff." Thanks!! - for all the research and information that you provide. I would've never known a fraction of this. - Bob

 

Thx, now you can be obsessed with the 7RC 1015 too!

And on the 15" X 5.50" and 15" x 6.00" wheels mentioned in the LD7-4/R3-4 book I went looking again and find a 1953 K-H reference for 15" x 5.50" drop center one piece wheel K-H 23427/Ford 01AS 1015B sold in set #1551, and for 15" x 6.00" drop center one piece K-H 33751. This is listed without a Ford number but is footnoted as used by M-H and available in kit 1551L. That seems to resolve those questions. Stu

 

I did some searching of old threads and see I'm not the first to think they had solved it by finding the reference in the Shop Manual specs. The 7RC prefix suggested a '47-'48 p/n, and that possibly I'd find the p/n in the "Green Bible" - nope! That 01AS 1015B number suggests "special equipment" and '50-'51 for the year, which goes along with what you've been saying.

After looking at that 16x4.5 wheel I have access to, I remembered that a friend who has a tire shop gave it to me several years ago - it wasn't on my pickup when I bought it. It has "FoMoCo" in an oval on one of the stamped bosses that's midway between the lug bolt holes on the front of the wheel. One of the other bosses has the letters NT stamped, with no border of any kind. There are no other stamps that I can find anywhere on that wheel. It's an "innie" for mounting the hub caps. At one time, I knew when Ford started using the FoMoCo logo - was it late 40's, or not until '50 or so? Probably that's been debated here, too?

I've looked a bit at the other 16" wheels (came on the '52) that are stored overhead in my garage and too heavy to get down without some help. Near as I can tell they are 4.5 width, but as you know it's pretty hard to measure with the tires on them and stacked up. Maybe one of them has M-H stamped numbers! - Bob

 

Wonder what the significance is of the NT stamping. I've not heard of that. On your original wheels I'd be doubtful that you'd find M-H numbers on them. Again probably K-H that only numbered their wheels with paper tags located inside under the flaps. Gone decades ago. On the wheels I've pulled off my 3/4 tons all had standard issue Budd numbers stamped into their rims. Stu

 

7RC part number prefix introduced in 1948, so it won't be in the Green Bible.

Green Bible: 1928/47 Ford Trucks & 1928/48 Ford Passenger Cars.

1942/47 Ford Commercial (1/2 ton trucks) part number prefix usually is 21C

 

Thanks! Are you able to locate any 7RC-1015 wheels in stock? - Bob

 

No one has any NOS .. I couldn't find this part number in any Ford parts catalog.

 

I slightly misspoke on the 7RC 1015. The 9/51 edition of the O.S.I. Catalog lists it as obsolete with no replacement number assigned or substituted. Suggesting that some earlier reference contains its mention and the applications it was used on. Stu

 

Stu, does your 15" wheels have the "Innie" hub cap nubs for holding hubcaps on?
I found a 15" wheel at the dump last week that has the same profile look as the ones with the nubs but this one does not have them. the center hole I think is same size as the regular 1/2 ton wheels? its not the larger hole for hubs on the early jeeps so I don't think its a jeep wheel ( I have plenty of those).
Anyway, I don't have it here at the house to go look at but will this weekend.

 

Yes, all the Ranger 15"ers have innie nubs. A picture of the wheel found would help, and numbers if there are any. I'll post a picture tomorrow in daylight of one of the Ranger wheels. Stu

 

This is a pic of one of a pair of similar 15s that are on the Ranger. It has the Ford oval, and innie nubs, but also has holes, I presume for hub cap clips, which I don’t understand. Probably I’ll not be satisfied until I pull all four off the truck and junk the bad tires so I can measure the rims. If they are the rare 5.50” or 6.00” varieties listed in the manual I’ll be having to have others custom built to make a matching set. I doubt even Chuck would have a line on any. Stu

 

Here's pictures of my 16x4.5 std. Ford wheel showing the FoMoCo and NT markings. Does anyone know the meaning of the NT? I think it's a pickup wheel, but not certain. - Bob