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I'm trying to figure out what I'm finding and what I'm looking for. I've decided I want a set of this style wheels and the more I learn the more questions I come up with.
I need a set of 8 lug, which at that time were all the same so that helps. I'm assuming they were all 9.75 " wide ? and they're all 16.5" I assume ? that sucks.
There are 15 spoke, 18 spoke and 31 spoke I think. I'm not sure what's what on that, different style or brand maybe. I like them all but is one more desirable than the other and is there any reason to avoid any particular one ?
The spokes seem to be polished, the pockets just bead blasted ? were they coated or painted with anything ?
Are center caps available to fit them still ?
As popular as these wheels were at the time there's surprisingly little information on them. that I can find anyway.
As far as I know they are all 16.5s ... but they are not all 9.75" wide. I bought a set off Rich a while back that are wider and dont fit on closed knuckle front ends. My build thread has the comparison pictures but I'll see if I can dig them up as its probably buried in there. As far as Rich and I know, they wider ones should fit on the open knuckle front ends.
Wow a lot of info there thanks. so a couple questions ..
You said the 16 spoke fit but the 18 didn't, but is that because of the wheel design or because of the wheel width ? was it the 8 1/2 you had problems with or the 9.75 ? or did it matter.
My high boy is a '76 so it has the open front axle, do you think that makes any difference on clearance ?
The more I look at these wheels the more I want a set.
As far as Rich and I know, they wider ones should fit on the open knuckle front ends.
And to make it very clear I test fit them on a rear Dana 60 and set the pics. I never thought that I should test fit them on a Dana 44 front axle, I assumed they would fit. All I had was a 77, 78, 79 F250 open knuckle disk brake high pinion Dana 44 and NO highboy axle. Again I assumed they would fit all 3/4 ton Ford trucks front axles.
And after we made a deal and I got then hauled (for free) from one state to the other via a friend heading sort of in Ford2100's direction. And when I found out that they would not fit, I offered to buy them right back. We are just having logistics issues to get them a free ride back to me.
And the return purchase offer still stands to this day, if my buddy is heading back that way I will send cash with him and buy them right back. Bottom line is test fit test fit test fit.
So I have a set of 31 spoke 8 1/2" Western's on the way. I think I prefer the 18 spoke but these were so cheap I couldn't refuse. if I find some 18 spoke I'll grab them too.
So I've found where I can get the lugs and 4.9" center caps. but they're just generic ones. from what I've found these would have originally had caps with the red W or Western logo on them. so I'm considering buying a pair of used smaller caps and cutting the logo out to attach to the new Gorrilla caps. the originals are unobtanium of course . am I right on this ?
I really don't understand why no one has started reproducing these wheels in a 17" size. The 16.5 tire choices are really starting to suck unless you want off road or AG/Military type tread tires. I know there's someone remaking slotted mags in a 17x10, cause i want them bad. 16.5" tires are almost completely phased out of most major manufacturers line ups, so I'd be very surprised if BFG had any plans to do another run of them.
BFG got back to me, they are discontinued and they have no plans to bring them back.
The Interco Trux and Vor series are acceptable tires in 33' . I'm by no means in love with them but they'll do for now maybe someday something better will come along.
I really don't understand why no one has started reproducing these wheels in a 17" size. The 16.5 tire choices are really starting to suck unless you want off road or AG/Military type tread tires. I know there's someone remaking slotted mags in a 17x10, cause i want them bad. 16.5" tires are almost completely phased out of most major manufacturers line ups, so I'd be very surprised if BFG had any plans to do another run of them.
Id be happy either way... someone start making 16.5 tires or someone making these rims in a 17. I wonder if battlebornbrakes would be interested. I might message him on FB. He makes repop cactus smashers, hydroboost conversions, leaf spring brackets, etc. Havent bought anything from him before but his work looks top notch. Hes definitely interested in keeping the dentside era alive.
I have quite a few of the washers stuck in the lug holes. they're pretty much flush I could just install the new ones over them. but I'd like to remove them if I could, but they are in there solid I suspect someone used too large of washer and it became part of the wheel now. .
anyone ever find a way to remove them without damaging the wheel ?
I recently refurbished my 15x10 Keystone Turbo III's. with the 5x5.5 bolt pattern
First thing I did was convert the PITA mag lug nuts over to the modern conical style.
I also used the stainless steel center caps sold on Amazon. Fits perfectly
and because the aluminum hub of the wheel is so thick and early vehicles often had shorter lugs, I went with an extended lug nut that partially submerges into the wheel without bottoming out.
Professionals recommend that 1/2" lugs have at least 1/2" of thread engagement (10 turns on a 20 TPI stud).
So I found an old 16.5 rim that came of a '79 F250 my dad bought new and the center hole measures 4.75" as near as I can tell. I don't think there's anything different about it than any other Ford wheel of the era.
Can anyone confirm this ? if so then a 4.9" or 4 15/16" wheel should fit fine.
It will fit, but if the wheel is hub-centric, then it could end up mounted off-center, unless you do whatever it takes to convert the wheels to lug-centric.
I have quite a few of the washers stuck in the lug holes. they're pretty much flush I could just install the new ones over them. but I'd like to remove them if I could, but they are in there solid I suspect someone used too large of washer and it became part of the wheel now. anyone ever find a way to remove them without damaging the wheel ?
See if you can use a long shaft pin punch and go in from the back side of the rim and see if you can catch the edge of the washer and tap it out.
If I had seen those conversion washers before I bought new lugs I'd have probably done that.
I tried catching them from the back and there's not enough to hook. I thought about using a 7/8" tap to get a hold on them and pull them out but that didn't seem like it was going to work either. I may just have to leave them.
They're steel washers, right? Tack weld something over the hole and punch them out from the back. A few good tack welds should hold well enough and won't generate enough heat to damage the wheel but it might be enough to loosen them up.
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