58 Apache rim and hubcap help needed

[keenebolter]

I have a 58 Apache that came to me with what I believe are none original rims. They are 15" rims but the center lip where a hubcap would fit in is different than what I believe an original 58 should be. There seem to be four pronounced bumps on the outside edge of the center lip of which two are larger and have a deep groove in them as seen in these pics.

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...t0vac.jpg.html

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...oic95.jpg.html

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...x0bux.jpg.html

What I would like to put on my truck are the original dog dish hubcaps like these here.

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...i0own.jpg.html

I was hoping I could install the metal clips and make these original style caps fit. I do not have an original cap in hand to see if it would physically fit in the center but I did take some measurements. The inner circle diameter looks to be 7.75"

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...gdj2c.jpg.html

The outer diameter to the surface of the two larger knobs is 10.25".

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...ergkp.jpg.html

Does anyone know if the original hub caps would fit in these wheels? If the originals won't work, does anyone know what style dog dish cap would work with this style rim?

[keenebolter]

Well I can't seem to get the pictures to work. They are all in a folder here:

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/kee...ry/58%20Apache

[JimDirt]

Not sure if i am correct or not , , as i am trying to remember back about 50 years , but if i recall correctly , (because he complained about how unsafe they were if you got a flat) , my dads truck had 16.5" split rims originally , and he swapped them out for "normal" rims that also had a tire size that was more readily available while traveling (H78-15) , my dads 58 (which i have now and still has the same 15" rims on it that he switched to in the mid 70's) , originally had 16.5" Split Rims with those "dog dish" hubcaps (they were white)

The hubcaps would not fit on the 15" rims he swapped to , so he went with conventional full hubcaps , so i am saying/guessing the "original" rims need to be 16.5 split rims to be "original" for the truck , unless they actually did put 15" rims on TF trucks , which i guess could have been a "Option" , but i don't know the history of the TF trucks enough to know what options they all came with , since there seems to be so many versions of these trucks that were produced

[_Ogre]

use the IMG tag to post into the forum

[JimDirt]

Forgot to mention , the rims that are on my dads truck (the ones i mentioned he swapped to in the 70's) look the same (4 bumps outside) as the ones in your picture , with the exception they are silver on my dads truck
[IMG][/IMG]

[Foot Stomper]

Here's what I learned recently while fitting my 59.
In 56 thru 59 GM offered 15" and 16" rims. Not split. They had three hubcap clips, 5" bead width and no lobes. See picture below of the yellow rim...this is what you want.

They are different from 55 and earlier for two reasons...you can tell by the 6 hubcap clips and they are a 4.5" bead width. See picture below of ugly green rim that you don't want!

Now comes the arguable point. Because these earlier rims required tubes some folks will say you have to because if you don't, a modern day radial will not hold the bead for lack of the "safety bead" which is a very low profile lobe that runs on the inside of the rim parallel to the bead....just far enough to hold the bead of the tire. Failing to run a tube may cause the bead to break on a hard turn... they claim. Others will claim that for many years they've run radials without tubes and never had a problem.

I've decided to run the 16" x 5" three clips to accommodate the dog dish caps. I've also purchased the Coker Classic radials that look like a bias ply tire and they advise running a tube...so I will.