Yes, Connecticut has no clear laws on registering a old vehicle. It's all up to the inspector. For years there were certain DMV offices you did not take your old cars and trucks to, because you knew before you started, you'd fail. I've had them tell me that I'd fail before the inspector even looked at my vehicle. Each office has a different take on the rules. These guys go out of thier way to fail you!. Right now we only have to get vehicles 25 years or older inspected. Anything 10-24 years old, you just go get a plate. Now we have enclosed buildings that have brake machines that measure each wheel response. There are a few obscure offices that are the old style with the inspection lanes outside.
I had a WW II GMC 6x6 truck I went to get inspected. It wouldn't fit in the building. THe inspector came out and crawled under and was amazed by the way the driveshafts and Hendrixs suspension was mounted, he passed me without checking anything. I chatted him up real good and it worked! I got lucky!! They hate anything without signals and single tail lamps. THey flunk you over wiring, any rust, etc....
I'll bet if Ron takes the truck to another office, it would pass. Clean up the wheels and put paint on them, they may never even check other than tire condition.

Barry

50 F-1

 

From what I understand (at least locally) is that they weren't allowed on steer tires? We still run them on our drivers but never on steer tires. These aren't long haulers or anything, mostly belly dumps and limited road use trucks (the ones pulling belly dumps).

I guess I'm not positive what the DOT rules are. Not sure if the local tire guys will still change them, but I still do them myself. Always using a cage, of course, and pounding on the ring, seating it as it airs up. Heard too many horror stories of the ring coming off and cutting people clean in half.

Jordan

 

All this may be true, but.... the two truck tire places I went to 100% agree these can not go on the road, Period. and if you take the chance of going down the road and hit a bump, and the ring flys off, say good by to all your worldly posessions, cause if the state don't screw you, the private owner that got hit with the ring, (if he's still alive) will. I plan on using the truck for gravel, fire wood ect, I have to find newer rims!
If any of you visit you local junk yards and find solid or lock-ring rims, please let me know. Could be the difference of fully restoring or selling!
Reamer

 

I guess you should move to Canada. In my little town of 1250 people we have two tire shops. One will replace the tires and the other place won't touch them. Last year we got a flat tire on our '65 M-350 with split rims. They replaced the tube no problem. I still have split rims on my '51 M-3 and so far they have worked fine. I have seven good wheels out of nine. I've had the truck up to 110 mph and not a single vibration!

 

Ron, Try Camerota truck parts in the Enfield area. They also have a yard in Mass. All they specialize in is larger trucks. It's supposed to be a large place. I know they have new and used stuff, so I'll bet you can find rims there.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Hi Barry
Thats one place that don't have any replacements and are "Dead set" agains the rims I have now.
51Dueller, do you have the rims with a 2" wide ring that goes around the center of the rim, or the lock ring by the bead?

 

These are the rims with the split down the middle. The ring faces in so if it blew off it would only hit the springs. I have inflated a flat one on the ground (ring facing down) and me standing on the other side. The duals on our '65 M-350 have the ring facing out and we've had 1 1/2 tons on it but it rarely driven in town. Two years ago we had new tires put on our '69 C-750 with the lock ring by the same shop. I think as long as the rims were kept in good condition they are safe. A couple of years ago a friend of mine needed new tires on their '64 F-500 and they went to the other place. They bought new rims and the truck uses a 5 bolt rim. So maybe you could try asking for rims for a 60's 2 ton? They might not have anything listed for our older trucks.

 

I did some digging and you may have to go to a 18 inch rim to find something that will fit. Up until 1964 they used various widths on the 20 inch rim with 5 bolt and 8 inch circle. The only later rim I see is 18x5 with the 5 stud and 8 inch circle. It has a 1973 part number (D3TZ 1015-A) and was a popular rim on the F-600 rental trucks. There's tons of these old ex-Ryder trucks out there. If you have a rim off your truck, make a pattern of the bolt circle and center of the rim. Measure the offset on the rim and go to Camerota's and see if they'll let you dig thru thier rims and tires. Try to match something to it. You can put 18's on and still be correct, they did come with them back then. It's worth a shot.

Barry

50 F-1

 

There is a truck shop here in Easton MD named MD Truck Parts. They are a large truck dismantler/recycler. Maybe they would know something. There was a company in all the Hot Rod rags that made and repaired wheels. I'm pretty sure it was called Stockton Wheel. Maybe someone has a number on them???

 

Here is their web site Stockton Wheels. They seem to have a lot of stuff but most of it looks like it is 17" and smaller. They might be worth a call, though.

 

Hey 51Duller and George,

51, The ring on the front tires and the inside tires on the dually face in. The dangerous ones are the rear outer rims, that ring faces out.
Thanks George, I had already called Stockton, They can't help.

 

I don't know if this will help or not but back in the late 60's my uncle and I put 2 rims on a 50 F5 for a neighbor whose son had mangled 1 Front and 1 Outside rear, ( 5 bolt Bud type rims like my 48 F5 20"). The ones we used came off a similar sized IH/Cornbinder/Farmall/ Harvester/ whatever name they use now. They fit perfectly, at least in my part of Ohio there are alot of old IH trucks in salvage yards. Maybe because we were 40 mile from the Ft. Wayne Plant. Might be worth a try, Good Luck
Ed

 

Thanks

I'll add that to my hunting list!

 

So far ....I'v contacted 69 Junk/salvage yards, 8 Might have 1 or 2 rims.

Man this is interesting I've covered CT and Western MA with "minimal" luck.

 

I don't know what you want to spend on this "adventure", but have you tried going for new style rims? Try Goodyear Truck tire center ( Wethersfield) or Firestone . I worked for Goodyear for a short time and they could get rims in a tube or tubeless design. I was always delivering rims and tires to fleet accounts. You have to give them the size and lug spacing you need. Don't tell them what they're going on. That'll turn them off. Just a thought.........

Barry