Hi everyone, I have a question about wheels/tyres:

My F3 has 8 stud wheels, they are not the widow maker ones, and i would like to have radial tyres rather than the 7.50 - 17 crossplies that are on there.

I removed a tyre off one of the rims today (i have a spare set of rims which are identical to those fitted to the truck) and looking at the rim construction, it seems i would not be able to fit tubeless tyres.

So I am wondering,, can anyone tell me if the 8 stud pattern is available on later wheels from some other truck which can have tubeless radials fitted??

I am in the UK so sourcing american stuff is a bit tricky lol

Heres a link to my truck by the way - i know you guys love to see pics YouTube - ‪Ams & the beast‬‏



Cheers!!

 

Can you post detail pictures of the wheel you took the tire from?

You can also get radial specific tubes for some size tires.

 

oh ok, yeah i will take some tomorrow.



cheers

 

Liners are available for wheels that were not designed for radials, you will also need radial tubes. Here in the US, radial tires were at one time scarce, most automakers didn't offer them "as an option" until the 1970's.

The first US vehicle to have radials as standard equipment was the 1966 FWD Oldsmobile Toronado.

The first vehicle in the world to have radials as standard equipment was the 1955 FWD Citroen ID19. Citroen was then owned by Michelin, who invented radials.

 

sounds good ..your ears must hurt with that giant smile !!!!

 

Since your truck is a 1951 F-3 model, your solution might be very simple. Or it might be very difficult. It will depend on whether you have a stock rear Timken axle in an early '51 build having 14" rear brake drums, or a late year build having 12" rear drums. The 17" wheels used on F-3s (which are no doubt widow makers) were needed to clear the 14" drums. In mid year 1951 Ford changed brake design and went with Bendix 12" units on the rears, but unfortunately continued use of the "advance design" 17" Firestone RH-5° wheels, today known as widow makers.

So, if you have a stock rear Timken axle with the early 14" rear drums, you'll have some difficulty finding old stock wheels to fit over them. The option I've suggested here before are the 17.5" tubeless wheels first offered on 1956 F-250s. I have a set of these and know they fit over these rear drums. Another option is custom 17s from Stockton Wheel that are also discussed below. Stockton I'm told has now reopened under different ownership since the death earlier this year of its former owner. I'll link in old discussion threads about this issue.

If, however, you have a late year production truck, any 16" F-250 wheel from 1948 to 1997 (HD only) will work for you. They all have 8 lug x 6.5" bolt pattern. The only issue will then be whether you wish to continue use of your hub caps. If you do want hub caps, the early F-250 wheels have your same "innie" hub cap nubs that are formed into the centers of the wheels. IIRC, Number Dummy has told us before on a different thread how long those were used. I don't remember that off the top of my head. Stu

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...9-ford-f3.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...questions.html

 

I remember it off the top of me noggin, cuz I have a reason why. When one deals with this jazz on a regular basis for almost 40 years, one is like an elephant, never forgets.

8 lug 6.50" bolt circle pattern wheel: 1948/97 F250 (except '97 F250's under 8,500 lbs. GVW) / 1967/97 F350 / 1969/74 E300 / 1975/2011 E250/350 / E = Econoline.

1967 and later wheels are "outies." So called because the hubcap snaps over tabs located on the outside of the wheels center section.

While Ford made some 1983/89 F250 so-called Light Duty's, the wheels and the brakes are the same. The rear axle is different, it's an 8.8."

 

Thanks Bill. Same light duty/heavy duty applies to the 1997 F-250s. The light duty was based on the half ton platform and, do I remember right, had seven lug wheels? Stu

 

1997 F250's under 8,500 lbs. GVW: 7 lug 16" x 7" 150MM wheels.

The "big lug" thought you were referring to 1983/89 F250's w/8.8's.

 

Didn't Ford switch to hub piloted wheels with swivel lug nuts, I think maybe in the 80's? Jazzydog would want the earlier stud piloted wheels.

Craig

 

Craig - I know that's correct on some of the bigger trucks, F-600s of the '60s in particular, but I don't believe the F-250s during those years were hub piloted. At least not before the switch to metric sizing in '98. Bill might be able to verify that. Stu

 

Thanks guys - pictures should be here:

Pictures by jazzydog234 - Photobucket

Not sure if this is the best way to post pictures?? (my first attempt-lol)

What's weird is the hole in the rims for the valve to pass through is in the centre of the rim??? All i want is to be able to fit radial tyres for a smoother ride, if it means getting hold of a set of later used rims then that's fine - but what am i looking for ??

By the way the rear axle fitted is out of a 1965 ford truck

I don't think they are widow maker wheels - they are one piece??

I had the brakes rebuilt while the truck was still in the USA, but we couldn't find brake parts which fitted the rear despite trying several different sets, in the end i went for a later axle which we could get brake parts for . . out of a '65 truck not sure now of the model ? If i remember rightly the drums were 12" ....

Cheers

 

Those wheels are not one piece. If you look at the center where the Firestone 17" x 5.5" is written, you'll see next to it stamped into the metal RH-5°. Then take a hammer and start hitting the wheel on the back/concave lip. It will break free and you'll see that they are multi-parts. How'd you get the tire off, cut it off?

The fact of it having a '65 F-250 Dana 60 rear end is good news. You should be able to use any of the F-250 wheels described above. Finding them in GB might be an issue I admit. If you need some salvage yard contact info in the states I can post some, and probably others will add some too.

Also, one of our members not long ago told me he had a set of the 16" F-2 one piece wheels for sale. Don't know if he still has them, I'll do some checking and come back to post. Those would allow use of your hub caps. Stu

 

Thanks Stu,

Yeah we had to cut the tyre to get it off !!

Sorry, the rims are two pieces joined - but i thought the widow maker ones were different somehow in the way the parts attach, crikey ! never realised i could kill myself with these !

Seems i am seeking some F250 rims then....

Thanks a lot for the advice and knowledge, Cheers

 

If the Dana 60 is from a 1965 F250, the rear brakes are 12 1/8" x 2." / If from a 1966(/72) F250, the brakes could also be 12" x 2 1/2."

This change was made in 1966, it depends on what the GVW is.