Carl - are you saying only two will clear your rear drums? Or are you saying only two will clear the rear hub? If the latter, probably two are Chevy wheels that have a smaller center hole. Same issue the man is having with his "AR" 17s. JAFFAR3869 will need to keep this in mind while doing his search, and Josh will want to check that on the two he's found. I've had mine on a parts truck with 14" drums so know they clear. Stu

 

Stu, take a look at the photo of my truck (somewhere on page 13). The front wheels have an offset that conflict with the brake drums. They have the same opening as the rears so they would fit the hubs. The spare wheel is like one of the rear wheels, so it will fit on any of the wheels if I get a flat. The origin of the wheels remains a mystery to me. All that I know is that they fit and take the large 8X 17.5 STA Super Transport tires.

CarlH
1949 F3 Express
1997 F1

 

Wonder what they're from. I'm looking at them on my iPhone, so don't have a great view. Do they all have the "innie" hubcap nubs, or am I seeing hubcap clips? Maybe sometime when you have them off the truck see if you can find part numbers. They'll be on the inside along the drop center if Budd products. Maybe mostly for my own curiosity I'd like to look them up. Stu

 

I am in Charlton, mass. about 30min south of Worcester. auburn, Spencer, oxford area. I will have to call chucks soon. Ill do a good search if not I'll have to try and pry some from the guys on the site.

 

Stu,
You are seeing hubcap clips on all four wheels. My spare wheel was on the truck and had nubs instead of clips.

I got the wheels from someone in SoCal named Bill (DagoF2 on our FTE site) who had them on an F2. The centers on the rear wheels had been enlarged to clear the hub. I do not recall seeing any markings on those wheels, although my spare wheel has the markings "C 58 7" on the inside.

CarlH

 

Jeff,
Glad to have another F3 restorer in the neighborhood. I know Charlton, near Sturbridge on the MassPike. Describe your truck to us...or better yet, send photos. This site is full of very knowledgeable guys who can help with your restoration project!

Although my truck is put away for the winter (prematurely, it turns out...we have had the warmest December ever!), I hope to get it on the road next summer. I had hoped to be on the road last fall, but I have had an unexpected battle with starter motors, outcome yet to be determined.

CarlH
1949 F3 Express
1997 F150

 

say for example I found someone to service my wheels (truck tire shop, semi tire shop) This wouldnt hurt me right? I would be able to use the "widow makers" if I had to right? Trick is finding someone to service them......

 

While the primary risk is to the service tech, there's lots of stories about them coming apart rolling down the road or sitting at a light. That would be most likely to happen if a tire is going flat. The risks on an F-3 with single rear wheels is less than the risk on an outer rear dually because the WM ring will blow in at all corners. Might cause a wreck, but wouldn't fly into traffic or at a pedestrian. Stu

 

I just went back and looked at Josh's text message. The 17.5s he found are the Budd #73240s. These are Ford/Dodge and have the larger center bore and hubcap nubs. My two are the same, except one is an older part number. It is #70720, same wheel just older. Stu

 

So if it came down to it, What would you or someone else sell me the wheels for? Or if I decided to go with the risk of the widow makers would I be able to get two or 3 more to make a set??

 

I still have my F3 WM's sitting here and don't have any plans for them. If you lived close by you could get one heck of a deal! I have some hubcaps too, but i know one of them looks like it was used for batting practice...
edit: I don't want to encourage the use of them though

 

I think you should continue to educate yourself on your wheels. I think it unwise to keep the widowmakers in service. I'd also suggest you do your local search for replacements before we discuss mine. I'm not eager to sell mine but would if no other option is found. Stu

 

I guess I should have picked those wheels up while I was staring at them. probably would I have but my hands were full of old ACL soda bottles

I've got to go back out there for some wing vents for my 53 so I will grab the two I found and do some digging in the piles of tires to see if any others turn up. there very well could be more out there. I don't have a need for them so I can have them dismounted and packaged for shipping if you don't find anything else. send me a PM and I'll let you know as soon as I know a ballpark price of them.


I also have 2 of those regular 16" 8 lug wheels with the Innie hub cap nubs if anyone is looking for them.

Josh

 

Yes I will definately have to do a local search for the correct wheels. I'd like to fix it the "right way". I need tires anyways so I might as well take my time to put them on the right rim! Ill be calling a bunch of yards asap and hopefully something turns up.

 

on another note, Some wheels studs broke today. Anyone know where I can get new studs and lug nuts? Are they the same as an f2 or f1?