Have been looking for different wheels for a 51 F-5 for three years (trying to get away from locking rims). Cannot find any or they cost too much. I am planning on taking a dozen wheels/tires down to the truck tire service company and having them take them apart with the hope of finding 5 sets that I can put new tires and tubes on.

The tires are new 10- ply Desmon 750/20 (at $101.45 each). Will these fit on the stock wheels and not rub on the front when turning?

 

I'd keep looking. I found 5 solid "tubeless" 22.5" rims in the 5-bolt pattern for my
'48 F-5. Being power coated right now. New radial 9R22.5 going on!
Good luck!
Reamer

 

I have a F-4 with 22.5 X 8 on the fronts and they come close to rubbing on the edge of the fender when the wheels are turned. Were you able to check clearance? Where were you able to find the tires and, if you don't mind, how much were they? My UPS delivery guys uses a smaller truck in the afternoon that runs 22.5 X 9 but when I called the local tire distributor, who I was told has the UPS account, the salesman acted like I just landed from Mars.

 

Correction, that's six rims not five.
anyway
9R22.5 Gripper, retread, mounted, 160 each.
9R22.5 Steering, New, mounted, 238 each. (balanced too!)

 

Howdy, I have a 55 F-600


I ended up using rebuilt lock-ring wheels that were rebuilt by a company in Eastern WA. Les Schwab Tires http://www.lesschwab.com/ obtained them for me ($199 +$22.50 for sandblasting/powder coating EACH).

I had 8.25-20 tires on it and I went to 9.00-20 TOYO radials in the front and 9.00-20 recap radials in the back.

They are VERY close in the front and I'll probably have to trim my front fenders or do a little bending on the sheet metal to give me more clearance.


I tried my best to find 5 lug tubeless 20" or 22.5" wheels but I could not find anyone that would even talk to me about it. There is one company in Stockton, CA http://www.stocktonwheel.com/ That will make wheels to order, but their idea of "Heavy Duty" was 3/4 ton. They said they couldn't make 5 lug BUD wheels.

If you have "Widow makers" (2 piece split rims), most tire companies will not put them together for you.... and some of them will condemn them on the spot! (and keep them!) It's a smart thing for them to do this since they get sued even if they give them back to you, you assemble them, and you kill yourself with them!


Lock-ring wheels are still ok and they will service them for you.

I paid about $2800 for 6 wheels, tires, tubes, flaps , and mounting. big trucks are not cheep huh?

I also had to replace the rear wheel bearings, brake cyls, lining, master cyl, brake booster, front cyls, lining, kingpins, bushings, front leaf spring bushings/pins and on and on......This is supposed to be fun isn't it?



Cheers,


Rick



btw...
The above company (Les Schwab) will take wheels and sand blast/powder coat for $22.50 each as long as they're going to sell you tires. I did the same thing you want to do....I took them 10 wheels hoping to get enough good ones to make 6. Every one of them were so rusty and worn in the lug contact area that they were unsafe. They look very close at is where the lug bolts/nuts contact the wheels. If that area is too thin they will condemn them.

The thickness should be about the same as a nickel. Mine were sharp....hardly enough to hold the wheels on!

 

In my experinence late 60's IH rims will work on older Fords, have installed them in the past. They are usually pretty cheap in salvage yards.
Ed

 

Hey HT32,
You are in the Washington Area?
That's were I got my solid rims with the 5-bolt pattern from!
Had them shipped clear across the country. That hao "rare" they are around here.
(I better come up with some sort of rim locks for these babies!)

 

Washington meaning Wa State.

I did a LOT of asking around and ran into a lot of "deer in the headlights" looks when I asked about 5 lug BUD wheels!

I would have LOVED to have found a set of tubeless type wheels for this truck.....I really did not want to use tube type tires. THey'll work but I really wanted to get 22.5" wheels/tires. Can't change it now though. I am happy with what I got....They look just fine on the truck! The 9.00-20's are a little larger diameter...but it looks like they'll fit ok.

THe truck really looks good with them. No Pictures yet....but I'll post some soon.

I'm looking for a starter now....the current one is completely shot! What fits? I have a post asking that very thing!


Regards,

Rick

 

Found all the one piece wheels I needed for my 55 F-600 at the local junk yard for $10.00 each. Wire brushed all the rust off and rattle can sprayed them. The tallest tires I could get under the front fenders is 8:00X20's. 8:50's rubbed the fenders. I went with 10:00X20's with a mud grip pattern on the drive axle. This is just an old hay truck for general farm use and looks like the grapes of wrath, not any sort of show truck at all. I would love to gussy it up some, if I could find a better cab and sheet metal. Been looking for some time, but just can't find anything with less rust than what I already have.

 

I think these trucks came with 7.50-20's

The 9.00's are close to be sure but I think I can trim the fenders a little and all will be well.....I may also put a 1 or 2" lift under the front and back springs to give me a little more clearance.

Mine is not much to look at either! I don't have severe rust but the cab corners will probably need to be replaced. I also may either put a 300 cu-in 6 + C6 auto in it or possibly a Cummins 6BT I-6 in it in the final restoration. I have to find another rear end for it. This one has a 6.80:1 ratio! Taller tires are better for sure!


Cheers,

Rick

 

The '55 F-600 has the 6-lug right? Much easier to find than the 5-lug!
Yep, Washington State

 

Instead of asking for 5 lug bud wheels, ask for 10 lug bud wheels. Chevy used these on the P-30 delivery vans with 10 lugs on the rear and 5 up front. Same wheel, just every other lug hole.

Fran

 

Fran,

Have you actually compared the bolt circle of the P-30 van to the circle of the Ford rim? I have never thought of this, maybe these are the same rims I have heard that were used on the older Chevy RVs that are suppose to fit the Fords.

 

Bob,

I haven't actually measured the P-30 rim. I got the dimensions from an on-line Alcoa wheel catalog (no longer available?) which had the correct dimensions of 8" BC and hub diameter. I don't know if the Chevy MH wheels would work, but the old, large Dodge MH wheels will (if you can find them!!!)

Fran

 

I don't know if the 55 F600 was offered with 6 lug BUD's.

Maybe in 56 or later they were available........seems the 5 lug BUD's were available up into the 60's or so......I found a 60's F-600 rear end with 5 lug BUD's on it.


I may be changing them out in the future if I get much newer axles/hubs.

I'm going to get my money outta these though!


R