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1959 F-350 Replacement Wheels Sources

I recently purchased a 1959 F-350 and I am having a difficult time locating sources for replacement wheels. It has 8 x17.5 front rims and 7.50 x 16 rear rims. The rears are split rims. They are dangerous to install new tires on and with no local tire store willing to touch them, I am searching to see what rims / tires are available. I would like to put the truck back into service on my family farm. Any help would be appreciated.

6 lug wheels on a 7.25" bolt circle: 1953/66 F350 & P350 (P series Parcel Delivery).

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Savage (Post 18280237)

I think you are gonna have some yard search time to factor into your schedule. I’ll assume your truck is DRW based on it having the 16s on the rear. If that is wrong we’ll have a different discussion. There were two versions of the Budd Company 17.5” x 5.25” tubeless wheels. They are Budd #71320 having 6 hand holes and #79120 having 3 hand holes. Same Ford assigned part number. You’ll find one of the cited numbers on your front wheels, probably along the drop centers on the concave sides. No other DRW one piece wheels, in different diameters having this bolt pattern, were ever made. Nobody is reproducing them to my knowledge, and the 6 x 7.25” bolt pattern has been out of use industry wide since 1968. Bill has told you which Fords to look for in yards. Dodge, IHC and Studebaker are other possible donors. I sold a set of 79120s early this year, and don’t know of any now available. But I will text message buddies that rescue them when found like I do to see if any are available. Stu

Edit : I’ll add, there is no point looking at any yard donors earlier than 1956, the year tubeless truck wheels became optional across the industry. Stu

Edit edit: my buddies that also rescue wheels don’t have any right now either. Stu

Thank you. I believe mine are 7.25 bolt pattern.

Thank you. I was hoping for better news but it is what it is. I wonder if it would be possible to have my four 7.50 x 16 inch centers removed from the split rims and remounted into 7.50 x 16 inch non split rims they are riveted on and not welded. I do have a friend who has two more of the 17.5 x 8 non split rims and if nothing else, I could mount these on the rear and run the truck as a 4 wheel pattern. I would rather have a dually, but it is better than letting her rot in the barn.

Those two 17.5s would at least give you a roller, and would buy time to find two more.

Now let’s go back to your 16” rears. They have two piece semi-drop center outer rims known as the Firestone RHP. They were common and not considered to be particularly dangerous if handled with respect, cage, etc. It is the Firestone RH-5° / “widow maker” that has poisoned the well for all multi-part truck rims. So few of these solid / unbroken RHP ring design wheels are still in service that shops, particularly the chain shops I believe, are not willing to train staff to work on them anymore. That has been my experience locally after my former shop got bought by a chain. I’d suggest looking for an old rural shop, or go to an OTR or agricultural type shop. Stu

https://i286.photobucket.com/albums/...restoneRHP.jpg

Stu is spot on about finding a different tire store. A dealer that works on semi and AG tires will probably have somebody who has experience with those type of rims.

Thanks for the info. I am not exactly sure which one I have but the tire center that did my brakes said they tried letting the air out of one of the rears and the ring popped off the rim when the tire pressure was released? I have tried our local agriculture tire shops and the auto repair shops and no one will even consider working on these for insurance purposes. Were the 16 inch rims only made in split rims?

I have tried every local location. I am really leaning toward converting all of the wheels to the 8 x 17.5 just to get away from the split unless I can find un-split 16inch wheels are have mine converted to un-split rims.. My 59 F-350 has a 292 Y and a four in the floor w/ granny gear, so I don't think it would mess up the gear ratio too much.

Yes, all 16” DRWs will have multi-piece rims. Might be that that wheel/ring had damage. You having peace of mind is what’s important, so the search is on for a couple more 17.5s. You’re going into the wrong time of year to do a lot of yard searches. Unless you get lucky with weather. You should also learn how to do a nationwide CL search, and watch eBay. Stu

Edit - I’ll also do some research and see if I have a reference to give me the outside diameter of your center discs, then compare that to the inside diameter of a 17.5” rim. If there is a close enough match that could be an option too. I’ll be back later. Stu

Thanks Stu. I really appreciate the help. Some day this truck should be a lot of fun. I like the classic lines and have enjoyed most of the restoration process. But right now with the wheel problem... it has been a lot of headaches. I found it much easier to restore my 47 IH Farmall B tractor.

Your 16” two part rim wheels are Budd #65340 / Ford assigned number TCAA 1007B. There might be a later Ford number change but that doesn’t matter. Firestone describes the outer rim as a 16” x 5.50F and shows the inside diameter of the rim to be 15.12”. Firestone also shows both their 17.5” x 5.25” and 6.00” rims to have an inside diameter of 15.125”. I doubt that .005” difference, if it really exists, would slow down your shop that does your welding. So it seems like a viable option. Stu

Stu,

Thanks again. I will print the info for reference and check around.

Bill

Make sure the backspacing of the original wheels is retained. You must not end up with dual wheel spacing that allows tires to rub.

If you want to go with a professional company known for this type service, I will recommend American Wheel Specialist of Kennewick, WA. I have visited them, and bought a similar set of custom wheels from them a lot of years ago. Nice folks. You live east so they would work with you directly. Guys out west would have to go through retailers like Les Schwab or Commercial Tire because AWS is a wholesale supplier to them. Stu

Good point. I will have to double check this.