My 66 F-100 Camper special still has the original 15" (I think) split rims. I'm trying to restore them, but I'm running into significant rust on the inside of the rims (where the paint has worn off).

Does anyone know how hard it would be to find another set of these type of splits to maintain the original look of my truck? Are they still made? I know it's getting hard to find people to work on them. I'm just afraid after I sandblast the rust off, there may not be enough metal left to work with on the inner side.

Thanks.

 

I just got a 62 4x4 and it has 15" split rims also.I've got 3 rims all in decent shape.I'm like you I need information on these

 

[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="+1" FACE="Veranda"]
I didn't know Ford used a 15" split rim. Are these 5 bolt with a solid detachable ring? Do they have a manufacturer's stampings on any of them or are the dimension stamped in on the rim?
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My 1969 F250 has split rims, I believe they are 16" though and I know they are the eight lug pattern. I'll trade them with tires (good tread, two snows on rear) for a set of 15" steel rims with the eight lug pattern.

Fruck
1969 F250 360 3 on the tree 2x4
1972 F250 390 4 speed 4x4

 

SHHHeeeeeez.....I'm confused now.....let's all synchronize our tape measures, and meet back here in a couple of days.

 

I have seen several trucks with these rims. They look like minature 18 wheeler rims with a 5 hole regular truck pattern. The latest model truck I have seen these on is a '67 F100.
Tom C.

 

I've heard that split rims are pretty dangerous, and have a tendency to blow apart when removing the tires...

FYI- I have a 64 F250 with 16 in. split rims that have the 8 lug pattern... I'll be trading them off soon, and If anyone's interested I'll sell them to you for $25 each plus shipping and handling.

If It ain't broke, you're not tryin'!

 

[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="+1" FACE="Veranda"]
I'd like to know more about these 15" split rims. If anyone has a chance to photo one I'd appreciate it. I'd also like to get the ID markings.

p.s. The believe the dangers on these type rims is during inflation.
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Thom you are correct that the greatest danger is while being inflated, but it's dangerous enough that they were outlawed. The tires used on them had a different beading than the radials offered today. There has been many a body part lost because of them. A cage was developed just to inflate them in, and most tire dealers today wil not touch them. They are dangerous enough, that I wouldn't want them on a truck that I was driving.

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

I agree with John that these rims can be very dangerous. I took mine down to my buddys at the local tire shop and you would have thought that they called in the bomb squad. I just wanted them to dispose of the wheels and tires.They set them all out in the parking lot to just deflate them and set up a 30 foot do not enter zone around them. They did not even trust the wheels when deflating them.


artskyd
66 F100 sb
65 F250 Camper Special

 

I've got 3 15" split rims for sale real cheap

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-Oct-00 AT 08:43 PM (EST)[/font][p]>Does anyone know how hard it
>would be to find another
>set of these type of
>splits to maintain the original
>look of my truck?

It is basically impossible - they all rusted out around the rivets years ago. I gave up trying to find the 6-lug (7.25 inch circle) rims for my truck, and swapped rears to an 8-lug. These dually rims are available cheap in any junkyard. For the fronts I had a machine shop weld up the 8 holes on another pair of one-piece rims and remachine on the 6-hole pattern. Not cheap but preferable to replacing the whole front end, especially since I had just replaced kingpins. At least you won't have to go through all that...

>I'm just
>afraid after I sandblast the
>rust off, there may not
>be enough metal

Rust flakes don't have any structural strength. Do you really want to be betting your life on an unknown quantity? Get rid of them!
Another problem is that split rims require tubes. The label or sidewall on most modern tires specifically warn against fitting tubes, as heat buildup is a problem with the extra rubber, and the inner liner is not smooth so the tube can move without wearing holes in it. At least, according to the Tire Rack people.
As others here have suggested, forget the split rims and get modern drop-center rims and tubeless tires.

 

>SHHHeeeeeez.....I'm confused now.....let's all synchronize our
>tape measures, and meet back
>here in a couple of
>days.


Sorry my truck is in NC and I am in Atlanta. I now my wheels are not 15". They are either 16" or 16.5". They are split rim, two peice, not the three peice that were generally used for dual wheel setups.

There is one place here in Decatur (GA), that I have found, that will still work with the split rims. Although many of the truck tire places may still do it.

 

>SHHHeeeeeez.....I'm confused now.....let's all synchronize our
>tape measures, and meet back
>here in a couple of
>days.


Sorry my truck is in NC and I am in Atlanta. I know my wheels are not 15". They are either 16" or 16.5". They are split rim, two peice, not the three peice that were generally used for dual wheel setups.

There is one place here in Decatur (GA), that I have found, that will still work with the split rims. Although many of the truck tire places may still do it.

 

Sorry for the double post.