I am new to this site-there is a lot of good information here. I have a 46 1 ton (overload?). It has a 51 rebuilt flat 6 (I have the original block). By and large the frame is in good condition minor rust in a few areas. I am trying to find out if the stock wheels on a 46 1 ton overload are the dreaded widow makers and if so what are the options for replacing them-it sounds like there are some wheels that were from a van that would fit. Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Billy

 

Billy - Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you, and another Illinois guy at that.

The answer to your question is "maybe". Your wheels are unique because Ford tonners from 38 - 47 are the only vehicles to use five lugs x 6 7/8" bolt circle aside from the deeply dished Budd dual style wheels fitted to war era Dodges. There were both 5" and 6" widths made. They would have all been two piece design. I have literature that says that the early ones were a "lock ring" design that used a solid one piece (Firestone "RI" design) ring. Lock ring wheels are still serviceable at truck centers in most areas as long as they are in good condition. No serious rust or other road damage. Please see my reference to "truck centers". Regular car tire places will think you're crazy. Big truck shops know about these wheels.

In the mid 1940s Firestone introduced what they called an "RH-5°" advanced design. This design used what they called a "side ring" instead of a "lock ring". I have seen tonners that have these wheels. They are the bad ones that are now known as "widow makers". No reputable shop will touch them for lawyer reasons. You can identify these by a raised band that encircles the concave side of the wheel. The wheel's halves connect at about the middle of the wheel, and the raised band is where the connection is made. If you can go over to the 1948 to 1960 FTE page and do a forum search for Firestone RH-5°, split rim, multi-part wheels, or widow makers you'll find a lot of diagrams and pictures that I've posted over time of similar wheels used on the later model trucks. They will show you the raised band that I mentioned. Another point, just because your truck is later in the model run doesn't mean you have the RH-5°s. All of these old trucks have lived a hard life and lots of times replacement wheels got mounted to replace a bent original. So, it's possible that you have older lock ring rims.

If you would, come back after you've done a search and let me know if yours are lock ring or RH-5°. Just for my own curiousity. The earliest record I have in any of my books of the RH-5° design is 1944, but that reference is for the bigger truck wheels. I don't have any reference to connect them to the later tonners, only my having seen them. Take care. Stu

 

Thanks Stu I appreciate the info. I am currently deployed and so I won't be back for another few months, but I will give you an update when I get back. I'm pretty sure the wheels are original. I've looked at the diagrams for the RH-5, is there a diagram for the RI anyhwere? I'd like to compare and see.
Thanks
Billy

 

First, thank you for your service. We are in your debt.

Here's a group pic of the RI with others. I stand corrected on terminolgy. They call it a "side ring" also. The point is, it isn't like the RH-5° in that it mounts on the lip of the wheel rather than being a whole half of the wheel. Stu