Dual wheel options for 69-72 C30

[CCCC]

Needing some new or good used 16" dually wheels (8 hole) for a C30, and am wondering if those that came on Fords and Dodges - even up to the present - will fit my 1972. In the mid-90's I bought some "take offs" from a new truck and used them just fine on another C30, but do not remember if they came from a Chev/GM or one of the other makes. If you know the possible applications here, I would appreciate the info. Thanks. PDW

[special-K]

The only thing you need to watch are the Ford metric pattern wheels.I believe they started in`96 or whatever year the body changed from a hanesome classic to what it is today...when they started all the Super Duty crap.Also,the studs got bigger with disc brakes.But,you have a`72.I put all new wheels on a`70 C/30 and they fit fine.This was when a Budd wheel was a Budd wheel and there weren`t 15 different styles.

[Blazer1970]

The bolt pattern is the same on all of them, but since "Budd" style dually wheels are ALL hub-centric, only GM wheels (any year) will work on your truck. The reason that Budd wheels are hub-centric is that you can not use acorn style lug nuts to center the wheels on the hub. It just won't work on the back where you have two wheels sandwiched back to back. Ford and Dodge wheels will have bigger center holes, and there is no way to keep them centered on a GM truck.

[CCCC]

Hello Blazer1970 - thanks Tim. I was concerned about that very issue - the hole diameter differences - because I had seen that problem elsewhere with dually wheels. Do you happen to know if GM wheels still have that same hole diameter until today, or the year through which GM wheels will still fit my 1972 C30? Thanks again. PDW

[special-K]

I`m not sure since going from`72 to`73 the factory went from HO72 to 14-bolt.I`d say`73-up would be the same.I ordered chrome Budds and a pair of new painted for the inside on the rear of my`70 C/30 years ago.Never gave any of this a thought and neither did who I ordered them from.They never asked any specific questions,either.I ran it for years and never got around to boring for the bigger studs.So,I had stubs smaller than the wheel holes.I know thw front rode on the center with a correct fit.When I did my brakes,I cut bevels in the wheels for chamfered lug nuts,but was advised that boring drums may not be true?I didn`t agree but went that route.I never had any issues from this in all the years I hauled an 11' utility body full of tools,a ladder rack full of scaffold,and a siding/brake/etc. in the bed...ignorance is bliss?

Light load.I heaped it on when moving to a new job.

[Chris H]

According to Accuride's wheel catalog, wheels from 1976-2000 C/K trucks are the same (16"x6", part #29587). These wheels have a 4.56" center bore, and are supposed to be used with a clamp plate and 90 degree cone nuts (clamp plate is GM part #472536).
Previous to 1976, the factory single piece wheels were 16.5", and they will work too.

1971 and 1972 C30 trucks have the larger 9/16 studs, so the wheels are a bolt-on. 1967 1968 1969 and 1970 used 1/2 studs. I had always thought of having some small bushings made to fill the gap so the wheel couldn't rotate (I had a 68 C30 motorhome). The alternative was to install the bigger studs (or take your chances)

You can get by with less, but its hard to justify when you think of what might happen if you lose a wheel or break all your studs. Much easier to make things right in your driveway!!!

[ChevLoRay]

Finally, I understand the phrase, "Hubcentric". Thanks.