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Wheel difference question
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
Wheel difference question
I have these wheels that I took off from the 49 Panel parts truck. All of them are 16". However, the rear wheels have an extra locking??? ring around the wheel bead, while the front wheels don't.
Why the difference? What is the purpose of this additional ring around the bead? Can this ring be removed and not put back on?
Thanks, Ilya
Rear wheel on the left. Front wheel on the right.
Rear wheel
Extra ring around the bead.
Front wheel
No additional ring around the bead
Why the difference? What is the purpose of this additional ring around the bead? Can this ring be removed and not put back on?
Thanks, Ilya
Rear wheel on the left. Front wheel on the right.
Rear wheel
Extra ring around the bead.
Front wheel
No additional ring around the bead
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,893
Likes: 3,133
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Ilya,
Your rim is not the type that has been topic of many threads on the board. The Ford "Widow Makers" are the kind to stay away from. They are made of two almost equal halves. The type you have have the snap ring retainer and are still used today on many big trucks. The biggest concideration when it comes to multi-part rims is the condition of the mating surfaces. They have to be clean and undamaged. You should have the rims blasted to clean off the rust and check for any damage.
If I were you I would keep looking for rims to complete a set of stock Ford rims and stay away from multi-part rims altogether. Not that the rims you have aren't safe but multi-part rims of any type aren't as safe to use as one piece and since there is an one piece rim alternative I would go for that.
If you are still going to use the rims you have take them to your local tire store and ask if they are any good and will they work on them. I bought a frame just for the 20" wheels but before I did anything else with them I took the frame, with the wheels still bolted on, to a local truck shop to see if they were still serviceable. The truck tire guy told me they were still good. Now I'll take them down to be sandblasted and painted.
Your rim is not the type that has been topic of many threads on the board. The Ford "Widow Makers" are the kind to stay away from. They are made of two almost equal halves. The type you have have the snap ring retainer and are still used today on many big trucks. The biggest concideration when it comes to multi-part rims is the condition of the mating surfaces. They have to be clean and undamaged. You should have the rims blasted to clean off the rust and check for any damage.
If I were you I would keep looking for rims to complete a set of stock Ford rims and stay away from multi-part rims altogether. Not that the rims you have aren't safe but multi-part rims of any type aren't as safe to use as one piece and since there is an one piece rim alternative I would go for that.
If you are still going to use the rims you have take them to your local tire store and ask if they are any good and will they work on them. I bought a frame just for the 20" wheels but before I did anything else with them I took the frame, with the wheels still bolted on, to a local truck shop to see if they were still serviceable. The truck tire guy told me they were still good. Now I'll take them down to be sandblasted and painted.
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Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
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From: Central Illinois
Ilya - The one with the silver thing looks to me like a trim ring. I know of no wheel that would have such a thing integral to the wheel. The other one, that has a seam and a notch to the left if you look close, is not a Ford rim that I've ever seen. It's a "lock ring" wheel, and I'd suspect still serviceable by an old timer that knows how. Even though it has a seam, if I'm seeing right, the ring is joined solid. I have some Budds like it for my MHs, and the books identify them as a Firestone RH design. Not the RH-5° like the one Bob mentioned above, but a plain RH. The ring is fixed solid at the seam, but has two indent areas on the ring's inner lip that allows it to be stretched/forced over the outer edge of the rim proper. I fought with mine, gave up, and found an old guy local that smiled and said "it's easy, if you know how". I'd say find youself a truck shop if you want to use it, or better yet, like Bob said, find some correct wheels.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
The wheels with the beauty rings are no problem. I'll use both of them. I guess I'll try to sell the rear wheels, the ones with the lock ring. I should have at least three more rims in storage that are 16". I'll just have to make sure that I make a matching set, because, I've heard, some 16" wheels are wider than others.
Thanks for the advice.
Ilya
Thanks for the advice.
Ilya
