17x7.5" wheels for 1950s Chevy 1 tons?

[Aaronw]

Anyone know of a source for 1950s Chevy 1 ton 17x7.5 wheels?

If there is nothing I'm thinking of making my own but I'm having a hard time finding decent photos of original wheels. I think they are just steel wheels like in the 1950 3100 1/2 ton kit, just a bit larger / wider with more lugs? (15" or 16" vs 17", 6" vs 7.5" and 5 lugs vs 8 lugs?)

Thanks

[Longbox55]

To my knowledge, there aren't any wheels like that available. The only wheels i can think of for a truck of that vintage are the 18" duallie wheels from the old Jada and Welly tow trucks. You're not too far off as to what the wheel for the single rear wheel truck looks like, however, it is a split rim, instead of a drop center style. There is a gutter with a lock ring that runs around the outside perimiter of the wheel. The duals were similar, plus they had 17 and 15 inch versions for the 3/4 ton. There are also a few other differences, as you have noted, the 3/4 and 1 tons are 8 lug, instead of 6 like the 1/2 tons. The hubcap is also larger.

A good starting point to make some would be these http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41698. You would just need to add the lock ring details. Here's a pic shwing what they should look like http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/elam_mike_1953.html

Edited June 19, 2011 by Longbox55

[Aaronw]

Kind of what I thought, oh well guess I'll try making my own, how hard can it be.

Thanks for confirming that they should basically look like the 3100's steel wheels.

[Foxer]

Just a note .. Ryan's 8-lug wheels scale out to 16.5" diameter. They are very well done.

[Aaronw]

I saw Ryan's wheels and they do look good, but I don't think they are quite right for a 1950s truck in the 50s. They would probably be fine for a restored 1950s truck since many people replace the split rims with more modern wheels / tires (a big part of the reason I had trouble finding photos of the correct wheels).

The Opel Blitz wheels are great for the wheels on 1 1/2 - 2 ton 1950s trucks (except for the lug pattern), but they are too large for a 1 ton (19.5", 20"?), and the wrong style.

I did find a site that sells 1-1 reproduction vintage truck tires which will be very useful for tread patterns and dimensions.

http://www.stausaonline.com/tire-site.html

[cdnmodman]

Plaskit (Daniel Gallioux) offers a real nice set of 16.5 for a 1 ton. The castings are real

nice 6 tires 2 front wheels and 2 ,2 piece real dually wheels.

I used them on a few race car haulers I built and they real work nice.

Rick

http://images36.fotki.com/v1156/photos/1/1306191/5990308/IM001924-vi.jpg

Edited June 19, 2011 by cdnmodman

[Aaronw]

I've used Plaskit before, Daniels stuff is great. Unfortunately those wheels won't work. I'm need non-dually wheels and wheel style is wrong anyway (need plain steel wheels). Thanks though, I'm warming up to the idea of making my own.

[Chuck Most]

If you do make a set and end up casting them, I'd be up for a set or two.