Need to get some newer tires on my ride before I move forward. I want to drive it while I save up for IFS front suspension and a new rear end. Stock tires are weather cheked and shot. Wide Whites, Blackwalls or raised white letters? Any advice or pictures? 15" wheels.
I'm all about the WWW. Call Bill at diamondback tires. Tell him Russ sent you. You won't be dissapointed.
I hear ya.....but I am leaning more and more towards cheap black walls at the moment to get er rollin.
First thing you need to do if find a local tire shop that will even mess with your original 2 piece split rims. Once you get the tire shop to break them down & remove the tires & tubes.... you can then decide if they are not too rusty to use.
15" Wheels & Tires # 1 first thing : $hitcan those split rims !! . they'll kill you unless you personally learn how to mount & dismount them.... 8 lugs , right ? . Buy a set of used wheels then go to Discount Tires and order up some Korean 15" LT RADIALS as once a tire blows at speed on one of these rigs , things get hairy real fast . There's no shortage of good used rims , just go beat the bushes a bit . your local self - service junkyard gets them in all the time but usually takes the good tires off and scraps the truck rims , you go and you'll find 'em .
I found a local shop that will mess with the split rims.....but I would prefer to get away from them. I was told my only options for 8 lug steel rims were 16" trailer rims, which I wanted to avoid. 8 x 8 is pretty standard in 3/4 ton trucks......but I know the backspacing is an issue. Advice Nate?
Not true~ I can't remember the brand, but I think the 8 lug wheels I got were brand "F"? There are rims that will fit. Sorry I can't tell you for sure on which they were. PM Brian Wolf. (Wolf) He got some steel rims for his ride and black walls to boot. Good luck!
If you are going to redo the front and rear-end to a 5 or 6 lug set-up later just go and get some white or black spoke steel rims or up for a set of Aluminum rims till you 1/2 ton it with all the modern items you have been discussing here. As it sits now the steel spoke will look good. If they have the rims for mine and Gaters 3804 9ft. bed 1 tons they have something for a 3604 3/4 ton. As far as the split rims go if you learn how to deal with them you can change them on the side of the road any day of the week without the cage... Below are some shots of rims on 3/4 and 1 ton rides.
I sea a ton of AD 3/4 trucks with different rims, but have had a problem getting good info on what will fit. http://http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=794092&page=1 Tie rod clearance seems to be the biggest issue. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2388772720100505384IUtZxc
My 48' truck came out of Rapid City S,D. and the Alum. wheel were on her so I know the rims are out there close to you, the white steel rims on my truck now are from Americas tire stores and they were told of the size issue and the first ones they tried fit. Worse case would be for you to have the centers of your rims put on some new outers by a wheel maker. Remember if you see us out there with out issues you can have the same, also Brian's rims on his Blue G fit good and he hauls great loads and has no issues.
https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=11532 Here is what I did! I went to several places that worked on split rims. Everyone of them told me no when I brought mine to them. So that is why I ended up getting those in the link. My tie-rod ends are close! But they clear. Its been 3 years, but I think they were about 30 bucks a rim, and they were already powder coated in grey. Thanks Charles It can be tough with the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks finding these little things. But we do have that open drive shaft I would really love to get some lower gearing someday. 45mph isn't quite fast enough I would like to do 55, that would be sweet!
Thanks for the info Wolf. Looks to me....unless I am blind, that only 16" are available now. Not a huge deal I guess. I am going to turn the local junk yards upside don bfore I spend the cash and see what I can find. I will definately report back........thanks again!!