16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I bought a 72 C10, nice clean Idaho body.
I picked it up last night and as I was loading, I was surprised to notice that the truck had 16 inch wheels.
16 inch 5 lug wheels on what appears to me to be a stock 1972 1/2 ton truck.

Can anyone shed some light on this? I will be looking for a build sheet tonight, but they were not listed on the SPID.

I will attach a gratuitous picture.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I've seen 16" - 6 lug, but I don't know if they were even stock? Are you sure they aren't 6 lug?

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I just got rid of a suburban that had 16" 5 lug wheels. The p/o said the railroad used those wheels alot. They were not factory on the truck I had.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I have a 71 K10 Suburban that has 16" wheels listed on the glove box door. 6 lug of course.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Yep, I know about the 16" 6 lug, but this truck of mine is 5 lug. It even has a spare 16" 5 lug wheel/tire in the back.

I got a chance to do a little poking in the 1972 Chevrolet restoration pack, and found that ordering the 5400 GVW package required either H78-15B tires or 6.50-16C tires, as well as power brakes and 1550 lb front springs and 2000 lb rear springs.
I suppose that this truck could be a heavy half-ton, and that most people would have ordered a 3/4 ton? I will have to check the GVW tonight too.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

My friend Mike had a 72 short bed with 5 lug 16" wheels on it too. They are the only 5 lug ones I have ever seen.

What are you going to do with this one Chris??
I am on vacation for 2 weeks starting Monday, give me a call when you have some free time!

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Edited by Moderator.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...dpics11115.jpg


They are 16x5.5, steel, and riveted togather. Only on special order trucks such as fleet truck, goverment, and utilities. I like them because they set the truck up like a 3/4 ton. Ive got eight (four on the truck above, 1 spare from my truck set, and 3 rims i got from a salvage yard that are in almost below useable shape, still trying to get back at those A-holes.)

They are not orignal to my truck, a buddy found them for my dad at a farm sale and got them. i just like how they make my truck look like a 3/4 ton, since she is a work truck.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Well, I got to spend a little time outside last night... I thought I would have to do some hardcore hunting for the build sheet, but this was just too easy:
-fold seat forward
-find build sheet

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Now carefully fish that dry paper out like it was the lost copy of the Declaration of Independence!!

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Scan a legible copy...

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

And a few more pics of the truck... I know you guys love pictures!
Another question I have: is this what the factory rear step bumper looks like?

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

My 71 longhorn cheyenne/20 parts truck had that same bumper on it. No idea if it was original, it was rusted on like it was there since new though.

That's pretty awsome... verified original rims with the build sheet.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I have to agree that it is cool to have a little detective work pay off!
Now if I can just convince Xzibit that his next ride needs a set :bling:

I was trying to think of useful search words to put in this thread:
sixteen inch wheels
five lug wheels
5400 gvw

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

That bumper was very popular here in the midwest. I believe it was really option code MOO v43 because it sure does look like you could use it to sneak up on a herd of Holstien dairy cows. (sorry for the late night farm boy attempt at cow humor.)

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

my 69 i got out of montana originaly from texas has a step bumper just like that. personaly i thought it was an aftermarket and don't like the way it looks on these trucks but after geting it i have seen the same bumpers on several other trucks of this vintage. most of my SPID is iledgable so i dont know if it was listed , dealer instaled or if it came later

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

dealer installed aftermarket, youve got to remember alot of trucks came bumperless and then had add ons once a dealer got it. If my memory serves me right, hence why my 68 has a dealer bumper on it from a dealership that my dad worked at and that sponsered his dragracing back in his days in the AHRA.

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Just noticed... My '72 K5 was also sold new from Larry Barnes Chev in Boise Idaho! I have the protect-o-plate but not build sheet. Love the automobile archeology (sp?).

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

man i wish i had the build sheet for my truck


thats a nice truck you got there though, personally id leave the paint as is on the truck and wheels and just redo the drive train and drive it

PATINA RULES:metal:

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

I know alot of these trucks came bumperless, and remember well growing up in Texas all the trucks that had bumpers with dealer info stamped right into them.

On this truck, the build sheet shows V43 rear step bumper option, so I am assuming that this is what the factory step bumper looks like?

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

haha, you might be right, it sort of looked like the bumper on my 68 though, and its dealer option, maybe the PO bought a factory step bumper, its possible. Most people bought deal bumpers becuase of a 10 dollar to 100 dollar difference for a bumper, who needs it?

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Chris, Here is the bumper that was on my 71 4x4, it has the V43 option code also. I have seen this bumper on trucks before so I think it is correct? The chrome one looks soo much better though!!

Re: 16 inch 5 lug wheels?
 

Joe, that does look so much better in chrome!!

So is the 1971 V43 bumper different, or does one of us not have the original bumper? (yours looks more "correct" than mine?)

Anyone have a good picture or dealer literature with a pic of the right bumper?