Wheels for the big trucks......crazy idea
Thread Starter
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Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,000
Likes: 9,897
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Wheels for the big trucks......crazy idea
Last night I was reading this article again;
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...ies/index.phpe
and it got me thinking, could the same process be applied to the big wheels?
I know that people won't work on the "widow makers" anymore and that decent replacements are hard to come by. Would it be possible to use the center section from the old widow makers in a late model one rim?
Just something to think about...
opinions??
Bobby
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...ies/index.phpe
and it got me thinking, could the same process be applied to the big wheels?
I know that people won't work on the "widow makers" anymore and that decent replacements are hard to come by. Would it be possible to use the center section from the old widow makers in a late model one rim?
Just something to think about...
opinions??
Bobby
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 444
From: Central Illinois
I couldn't access your link. Stockton Wheel, though, I'm told will do that on the F-3 17" (Firestone RH-5*) split rims. I've not heard of it yet on Budd style big truck wheels. I think I've even seen articles that it's being done by somebody on 16" Budds as used on Dodge Power Wagons. These won't fit Fords, though, because Dodge used a 6 7/8" bolt circle while Ford used an 8" circle. With the larger Budd style rims used on F-4s though F-8s, and like the 17" Budds on my MHs, it'd be great if a company like Stockton would be willing to make the investment in tooling to allow us to run new tubeless radials on these big trucks. If there's a big enough demand, I'd suspect they might be willing to go that direction. Alternatively, it'd be great if a company like Accuride would reintroduce their 19.5" and 22.5" tubeless rims that have the 5 bolt x 8" circle. There's plenty of demand out there for these.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,882
Likes: 3,126
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Bobby,
The link didn't work, you added an "e" to the end of the address. Here it is again:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...lies/index.php
Either I or Craig , "Dmptrkr", found this site a while back and we're have been toying with idea for a while. There is a place local to us they will do this but it's pretty expensive, I think Craig said they told him it would be somewhere around $200 a wheel, or something like that. The biggest problem with doing a job like this ourselves is finding a wheel with the same ID as the old "Widow Makers". Also, with weight of the big trucks, you better be an excellent welder and sure of your work.
The link didn't work, you added an "e" to the end of the address. Here it is again:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...lies/index.php
Either I or Craig , "Dmptrkr", found this site a while back and we're have been toying with idea for a while. There is a place local to us they will do this but it's pretty expensive, I think Craig said they told him it would be somewhere around $200 a wheel, or something like that. The biggest problem with doing a job like this ourselves is finding a wheel with the same ID as the old "Widow Makers". Also, with weight of the big trucks, you better be an excellent welder and sure of your work.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 1
From: oh
I am proud to say that my mentor when I was in my teens (who taught me auto-body) and I built a wide set of wheels for a customized vw bug. I know--it was a volksie-but we cut the wheels and added 4 '' to the stock width.Back then --1975--it was unheard of--at least near us--California guys did most of the cool stuff-LOL.
They were cut aand I turned then in a lathe and welded them in the lathe. It was very new and for a young kid-actually started me in customizing.Later I got involved in murals and flames and pinstriping.I never got better than my teacher--he was from WEST VIRGINIA and could build ''ANYTHING'' and even though he is disabled now--still a laugh comes over me -when we would go to the local car shows and he would drive the V.W. and people would say--WOW look at the wide wheels on that thing!!!!-a great memory!!!!---sorry for the book!!!
They were cut aand I turned then in a lathe and welded them in the lathe. It was very new and for a young kid-actually started me in customizing.Later I got involved in murals and flames and pinstriping.I never got better than my teacher--he was from WEST VIRGINIA and could build ''ANYTHING'' and even though he is disabled now--still a laugh comes over me -when we would go to the local car shows and he would drive the V.W. and people would say--WOW look at the wide wheels on that thing!!!!-a great memory!!!!---sorry for the book!!!
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 444
From: Central Illinois
Bob - When I called and talked to Wheels Now, the place south of you, they could make me new wheels with flat centers, but could not pull my Budd centers to put in new outer rims. And to my recall, they'd only warrant them for off-road use. Not real helpful. That was a couple years ago, so maybe they have something new.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
You can call Stockton Wheel and get an estimat. Then ship to CA and a week or two later you will get your wheels. I have been down there a couple of times and they are a class operation. Jag 
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,882
Likes: 3,126
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Stu,
It's been a while since I talked to Craig about Wheels Now, I don't remember what the deal was, I thought he asked them about replacing the centers. I could definately be wrong, I don't retain things all that well. Maybe Craig will jump in on the conversation and give us his input.
It's been a while since I talked to Craig about Wheels Now, I don't remember what the deal was, I thought he asked them about replacing the centers. I could definately be wrong, I don't retain things all that well. Maybe Craig will jump in on the conversation and give us his input.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Try a place in Seattle called Six Robles. I prolly spelled that wrong. The have always put whatever center in whatever outer that I ordered without a problem. Chromed or painted to your specks.
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Thread Starter
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Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,000
Likes: 9,897
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Bob,
Thanks for fixing the link for me (fat fingers and a laptop's keyboard aren't a good combination)
I agree that whoever did the welding would have to be first rate as the big trucks carry alot more weight than the 1/2 tons. As I teen I had modified a set of wheels similar to what the article did. I had installed a posi diff in my 66 Plymouth and it was too wide. I took a set of stock steel police car wheels and had the centers cut out and rewelded with alot of positive offset to clear the fenders. It worked out good for me.
The big obstacles I see to this are;
1. finding a donor wheel with the right inside diameter
2. finding a certified welder to stick them back together
I don't have a big truck so I don't really need to experiment with it but I do follow along with the big trucks postings and know that the wheels are an issue.
Bobby
Thanks for fixing the link for me (fat fingers and a laptop's keyboard aren't a good combination)
I agree that whoever did the welding would have to be first rate as the big trucks carry alot more weight than the 1/2 tons. As I teen I had modified a set of wheels similar to what the article did. I had installed a posi diff in my 66 Plymouth and it was too wide. I took a set of stock steel police car wheels and had the centers cut out and rewelded with alot of positive offset to clear the fenders. It worked out good for me.
The big obstacles I see to this are;
1. finding a donor wheel with the right inside diameter
2. finding a certified welder to stick them back together
I don't have a big truck so I don't really need to experiment with it but I do follow along with the big trucks postings and know that the wheels are an issue.
Bobby