Hey, Guys.
Does anybody, preferably in the Ark-La-Tex, have a couple of old 5 lug, 20" widowmaker rims they don't want?

 

I'm just going to throw this out there because my curiosity is getting the best of me...you're not actually thinking of using them on your truck are you? You want them for lawn décor, right? Or perhaps to use as a boat anchor. Or maybe to make a garden in...RIGHT?!

PS-Sorry for being blunt.

 

I've been dying to ask too, Calvin. Another use would be to pull their centers to remount into 22.5" hoops. If the intent is to put them back in service, I'll suggest a better option is buy these three locking side ring wheels now on CL in KY. Stu

https://bgky.craigslist.org/wto/6020...?lang=en&cc=gb

 

WMs do have some value. I used two sets of four to exchange for a set of six 19.5s off of two different Dodge chassised RVs. The RV owners needed something to tow the RVs to the scrapyard.

 

I've got 3 I'll be scrapping in a few weeks, I was planning on driving them to the dump or lighting 10 lb of thermite on top of them...unless someone wants to pay shipping.

 

There is a reason that they call them "widow makers". Take Stu's advise and don't take a chance on widowmakers.

 

The shipping from LA would be pretty high, I think. I would love to have them.
Guys, I already have Widowmakers on my '54 F6.
I want these to weld together.
I'm not going to weld mine up because that's all that keeping my truck off of the ground. haha

 

My widowmakers still have the 1954 tires on them with 18k miles.
B F Goodrich Silvertowns

 

If you weld them together you can't get tires mounted over the rim lips. Stu

 

I have the snap rings on my 1947 mercury 1 ton rims how are they removed?. Are they dangerous like split rims?

 

Your Merc tonner has rims that are called the Firestone RH, not to be confused with the RH-5° widow maker. They are safe to use, but like all multi-part rims must be handled with care, aired in a cage, etc. Removing and installing the rings takes some training, and is best left to an experienced hand. I'm not gonna try to talk you through it. I'll edit later to add a cross section diagram of the RH, and a picture of the ring showing the indents on each side of the inner surface. Stu

 

thanks very much Stu

 

Are these interchangable with the widowmaker?

Part Number - R68710-3

 

Yes, Wheels Now seems to make it a practice to reuse old Budd part numbers on newly available reproduction wheels. I find the Budd #68710 first catalogued in Budd's 1960 catalog, and it remained through their 1979 last listing for the 5 x 8" bolt pattern. The original had a Goodyear LBW split locking side ring rim.

The same is seen in their reuse of the Budd 89340 number on their imported 19.5" x 6" tubeless wheels. If the 68710 follows the 89340 in practice, don't expect it to resemble an old original wheel. The new import 19.5" and 22.5" wheels each have a wider and flatter face, and small round hand holes. Stu

 

I requested a quote. The online catalog does not show an image, so it could be interesting. They are tube type, is that a function of the size?