Hope everyone had a good day. It's night and I'm settling into a little computer time... I'm trying to understand about the '53 only 1/2 ton steel wheels. First, were they always painted black or could they have been painted body color? If they were painted body color were the wheels pinstriped? If the wheels were painted body color, what other options, if any, would be found with the same rpo that called for the painted wheels? Anybody have a good photo of original '53 pin striping on their steel wheels? Thanks guys. Tony
I guess we all got caught up with how nice your truck was to give you our universal motto, so eloquently coined by Nate soooo many years ago! Simply put, it goes like this: You're paying the bills, so do it like you want to! From the resource info I've got, 16" wheels were the only option available on the '53. There is no mention of "body colored" wheels or pinstripe options. BUT, given Nate's Axiom, if you like or want "body colored" wheels, go for it (you're paying the bills)! You like pinstriped wheels (Lord knows, I do!), according to Nate's Axiom, go for it! You like wide whites? Not an option in '53! But guess what? Nate's Axiom says you can have them as long as they are Diamondbacks (I agree and I paid the bill on those!) Wanna see a typical pinstriping scheme on a '50 steel wheel and wide white radials? Did I mention that I love beauty rings on my wheels? Only down side to that is that they have a tendency to cover up part of the outermost stripe on the wheel.
If pinstriped, there were 2 -3/16" stripes just off the hubcaps and 1 around the outside rim, interrupted by the fill valve. Look on my how to assemble an AD thread for pictures.
TonyinKC I think the wheels are color with a deluxe cab and also wheels striped. Black wheels were used on the standard cabs. Mine is a medium cream truck with standard cab and it has black wheels. tippy283
Dayton Timberline HT LT215/85R16 bummer. Diamondback tires just informed me that the Dayton Timberline HT Commercial tires are no longer available in LT215/85R16 for wide whites. This is the tire Nate recommended...
Re:Wide Whites Does anyone still sell porta-walls? I remember installing those back in the day. Deflate the tire,break it down, install them and then pump em back up with a hand pump.
yes. my 53 is not a deluxe, has green wheels (blue body) and the above mentioned pinstriping. when i bought the truck, it was supposedly all original, but it was a farm truck, so who knows what kind of swapping went on before i got it. hope that helps... i myself am going for red steelies and wide whites - bummer about diamonback tires! we should all petition them to offer those tires again. jon
The problem is that our current administration keeps causing importing problems with many of the popular tires Bill uses. The AS4 tires I have on mine are no longer available in the states.
here is my thread on the rims for my truck. mine is a 3/4 ton so it will be different! maybe this will help ya out https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=11532
