17.5" wheel ?

[stormking]

So what hubcap does the 17.5" 6-lug wheel take? Is it the same as a 15" 6-lug cap? Feel very lucky to have found these having been looking for just over a month. Hope it doesn't take too long to find the other two. These look to be new old stock and are covered with 50 years worth of dust.

[MusicMan70]

Nice find SK! Didn't you also get some freebie 19.5's recently too? Where did you find these?

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by stormking

So what hubcap does the 17.5" 6-lug wheel take? Is it the same as a 15" 6-lug cap? Feel very lucky to have found these having been looking for just over a month. Hope it doesn't take too long to find the other two.

I predict it will take a long time, they are very rare. They take most 7 5/8" inner ring hubcaps. There were 2 17.5" 6 lug wheel designs 55 thru 59 and 61 thru 68. You'll need to test fit a 55 thru 59 7 5/8" cap and a 61 thru 68 7 5/8" cap to find out what generation it is

[stormking]

MusicMan, Found them on a shelf in an old wrecking yard not far from my place. Thank you for the Info factorystock, I will have to find some 1/2 ton caps as I only have 3/4 ton examples. I was afraid it might take a while to find the other two but I'm a tenacious hunter.

[60-66]

Stormking, these wheels are dated and I also see a parts tag, can look up the part number. You will find the dates in the center of the rim between the beads. Will give size and width Kelsey Hayes and then a tinny date of like 58 or 60 or 61, could be any date .

[aerotruk63]

A month ago I mounted the 7 5/8 inch hubcap on my 15, 16 and 17 1/2 inch wheels.













17.5 inch converted to 17 inch.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

A month ago I mounted the 7 5/8 inch hubcap on my 15, 16 and 17 1/2 inch wheels.

It appears your wheel with the tire mounted is the newer 61 thru 68 17.5" center. The offset has an obvious sharp angle. It appears the 2 NOS black wheels in original post have a flatter offset, which would be correct for '55 thru '59 period,but hard to tell looking straight on at the photo, would be easier to determine if the photo was taken a 45 degree angle of the wheel.The 61 thru 68 7 5/8 cap may not clamp on securely to the older flatter 17.5" rim, however the older 48 thru 59 hubcap will fit both generations of 17.5" wheels.

[stormking]

I looked between the beads on the black pair and they actually have quite a bit of info stamped on them. The size, Kelsey Hays, 1 56, and Firestone. So factorystock appears to have them pegged as 56-59 wheels. I'm going to use these on a '63 GMC 4x4 Suburban even if not completely right.

[stormking]

I went back to my honey hole and found one more NOS wheel. Getting anxious to finish the set, the last one will probably be the hardest to find. While I've been looking for these I also came up with a set of 16"x4" rims w/clips, anyone know what they fit? Nice job on those wheels aerotruk.

[60-66]

I've been collecting 16 inch wheels for a 1960 4x4 short bed custom I have. The rims that are 4 inch seem to all or mostly have six clips. Found a few with 3. 3 is correct for early sixties, but they are either 5 or 5.5 wide, not home to check. I have two nos correct 59-63 era. (I'm sure I'm off a few earlier years) wheels I've posted before. What I've seen anyway are the 4 inch wheels are 40s passenger car wheels.
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[stormking]

Thanks for the info 60-66. I got one with 3 clips in the deal and it is wider. Would the 40's passenger cars be 6 lug?

[aerotruk63]

The wheels on my truck are 16" with 3 clips for the hubcap. They came with a 62 K10 I used to own.
I split the two outer rings off the hoop, then welded in a new wider center section.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by stormking

Thanks for the info 60-66. I got one with 3 clips in the deal and it is wider. Would the 40's passenger cars be 6 lug?

Look in between the needs for dates and sizes. There were several offsets on those early rims . 50s truck was narrower and yes early Chevy cars are 6 lug.
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[60-66]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

The wheels on my truck are 16" with 3 clips for the hubcap. They came with a 62 K10 I used to own.
I split the two outer rings off the hoop, then welded in a new wider center section.

Aero, I'm liking your idea more and more. The 17.5 tires just jumped another 100.00 plus dollars on the Internet . Can I ask what rim shell you used for the 17s you did ?
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[stormking]

Was looking around a wrecking yard for a headlight bezel and literally tripped over another 17.5" rim. Thought I was living lucky until I realized it was the later version (at least it only cost 5 bucks). Factorystock is correct, these aren't even close in profile with each other. Now I'll have to complete two sets.

[aerotruk63]

17" Dodge Magnum supplied the new hoops, as they are for rear wheel drive. My buddy has a tire shop and has a selection of winter steel wheels. He had these in stock for awhile . As Captainfab pointed out they don't have the same weight rating. Would suggest looking into a truck wheel if you want to load it.

[stormking]

Found another 17.5" wheel today but I'm not any closer to completing a set. This is kind of like torture, but it hurts so good. (three 56-60, two 61-66)

[bonestock72]

Originally Posted by stormking

Was looking around a wrecking yard for a headlight bezel and literally tripped over another 17.5" rim. Thought I was living lucky until I realized it was the later version (at least it only cost 5 bucks). Factorystock is correct, these aren't even close in profile with each other. Now I'll have to complete two sets.

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[bonestock72]

Storm king, just came across this post I need 1 of the 19.5 red rims you have shown, I have 2 17.5 and one mismatched 19.5. Would you be interested in a trade? Thanks
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[RKS0069]

Just an FYI: I have eight of these 17.5' wheels, four loose wheels plus the ones on my truck now. I'm willing to depart with the four loose ones anytime and the ones on the truck will hopefully be available in a few month.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by RKS0069

Just an FYI: I have eight of these 17.5' wheels,

You have the 8 lug version, which are easier to find ( because they were standard equipment on 3/4 tons) The 6 lug versions for 1/2 tons are very rare. The 8-17.5 tire is still used today in commercial trucks. I'm sure plenty of C 20 owners would like a set of yokahama 8R-17.5 radials on the one piece 17.5 wheels and use period correct hubcaps.