Thread: 52 Ford F-1 wheel question

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In addition, there are kickers. The first year of 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern on a disc style wheel for Ford was 1940. Those were a 16" wheel, with a 4" rim width. In '41 they upped the width to 4.5" through '48. These had the hub cap nubs pointing to the center for the small hub caps. In '47 the Mercury line went to a 15", 5" wide if I remember correctly, same bolt pattern and cap style. The trucks of those years were essentially the same style and size, though they also offered a 16 x 5 size. In '49 they changed to the 4 1/2" bolt circle for the passenger cars (though the Mercs continued the 5 1/2 circle through '51 with outside cap nubs), the trucks stayed at 5 1/2 as Roger noted. I forget what year they changed the hub cap clamping style from the point in to the point out, but I think it was somewhere '60 or '61. So the bolt pattern after that will match, but the hubcap mounting would be different.

Now, you didn't say what kind of different the two were from the other two. Do you have two pairs that appear different from one another, or do you have three different styles within the four wheels. Since you said you didn't see the difference until tires were dismounted does that mean the only difference is width?

Edit, in the '50s the truck wheels were also available in 15" as well as 16" and with a variety of widths. Randy may be right in his post about the cap nubs going to '66, that stuff isn't in my brain. There's probably a nice chart somewhere on the internet for all this, I just keep it as "why do I remember this kind of stuff?"

Thanks Bob,
Two rims match, the other two are narrow and wider so yes, I actually have 3 different sizes out of the 4 rims. If, I had 4 matching rims, I would have persued buying tubeless tires since 2 of the old tires looked pretty good and I'd only have to buy 2 more. Anyway, at this point, I'd rather just go with a boring standard rim and since the old tires were pretty skinny, I'd like to stay with that look. Bottom line is I really don't care if they're innies or outies. I have the original (inny) hub caps but I figure I can buy some old dumpy looking baby moons if I end up with outies. So now I guess my question is what is the most popular (cheap) vehicle in the junkyard that will have the rims I want?
Jeff

Originally Posted by october-1881

...... So now I guess my question is what is the most popular (cheap) vehicle in the junkyard that will have the rims I want?
Jeff

Jeff, you've got a pretty wide range in the "Any Ford 1/2T truck from '40 to '96 range", and I don't see how you'll find anything that would be cheaper in a salvage yard. Tens of thousands made, and no big demand for the OEM steelies.

Roger,
Thanks, I probably should have phrased my question....... "If I go to the junkyard, what will be (specifically) the most popular vehicle that would have my rims?" All in all, I guess the question has been answered.....any 1/2 ton, ford rim, 96 or earlier.
Jeff

Originally Posted by october-1881

Roger,
Thanks, I probably should have phrased my question....... "If I go to the junkyard, what will be (specifically) the most popular vehicle that would have my rims?" All in all, I guess the question has been answered.....any 1/2 ton, ford rim, 96 or earlier.
Jeff

Jeff, you can also check out craigslist in your area and find things like this sometimes:
Ford F100/F150 Truck Wheels

Thanks everyone, I think I'm on the right track now.
Jeff