16.5x9.75 1972 blazer rims

[ckexswb]

Found a set of 5 firestone duplex 16.5x9.75 rims of a blazer they look odd and rusty are these ok to use. Also some heavy duty braces.

[special-K]

Go Rhino...COOL! Those were the first skid plate/trusses. The wheels and the skid plates look like they just need sandblasting.

[dougo]

Nice find... I had a set of 4 steelies (roughly same size, not as bad rust) sandblasted and powdercoated for $200. FYI in case you price that around your area...

[wilbilt]

16.5 in 6-lug is definitely a little unusual. They were likely custom made using stock centers welded to the 16.5 rims.

It is hard to tell from the photos, but those look like old drum brake wheel centers. If you are planning to use them on a disc brake application, you may want to make sure they will clear the calipers before you invest any time in cleaning them up.

[ckexswb]

Originally Posted by wilbilt

16.5 in 6-lug is definitely a little unusual. They were likely custom made using stock centers welded to the 16.5 rims.

It is hard to tell from the photos, but those look like old drum brake wheel centers. If you are planning to use them on a disc brake application, you may want to make sure they will clear the calipers before you invest any time in cleaning them up.

They were on a 72 4x4 could you get front drum in 72, also there looks to be no nubs for a hub cap. THANKS

[wilbilt]

Originally Posted by ckexswb

They were on a 72 4x4 could you get front drum in 72, also there looks to be no nubs for a hub cap. THANKS

Later wheels had the nubs to retain the cap, early wheels used clips in between the lugs. It appears there are holes for the rivets that retained the clips in your photos, although it is difficult to tell due to the rust.

It is not so much the diameter of the rim for caliper clearance, but rather the contour of the center disc portion of the wheel. As far as I know, 1972 were all disc brake, but it wouldn't hurt to try one on the front to make sure it clears the caliper.

[Longhorn Man]

i would look at your tire choices before spending any money. Being a 16.5, the rim profile won't matter (disk verses drum wheel) becouse the diameter is enough to clear all disk parts.
Find out where the big rig fleets go for sand blasting and powder coating rusty wheels. It can be done pretty cheap.
I highly recomend NOT going with a chemical to get rid of the rust.

[special-K]

Factory 6-lug 16.5s:

[wilbilt]

Originally Posted by special-K

Factory 6-lug 16.5s:

Interesting. They look like 8.25's with "outer-nub retained" caps. I wonder how many of those still exist.

[special-K]

There were factory option as well as aftermarket. There were some aftermarket with no hubcap mounts. Generally these wheels weren't used with hubcaps anyway.Most 4wd owner removed hubcaps back when they were used for what they were made to do. Hubcaps were seen as frivolous since the first time you get into anything they get scratched,dented,or pop off. The wider wheels were simply a way to run wider tires as a functional improvement. The only wider tires made rated over passenger car capacity were made in 16.5. All 16s were tall and narrow profile and 16.5s were born of the Wide Oval era. There were a couple wide base 15" tires made...Armstrong TruTracs/Rhinos and Gates Commandos,but they were a mud and snow tread. The Flotation tire option from GM provided a wide straight tread pattern.

[ckexswb]

Thanks for the help... think i'll stick with the 8".

[Longhorn Man]

I figure they are aftermarket since they say firestone or something on them...

While the shape of the wheel is what makes it a drum or a disk wheel, the diameter or even the back spacing can do the trick too.
If the rounded shape of the rim rubs the caliper, then adding 1 1/2 inches to the total diameter will move the offending part of the wheel away from that caliper.
Back spacing can move the rounded part of the rim away from the caliper too.

[Dieselwrencher]

It looks like it says Firestone Duplex on it. I think Firestone used to build wheels for dodge trucks in the late 60's and early 70's. So maybe they did some for chevy too?

[wilbilt]

Many OE wheels were made by Firestone, Kelsey-Hayes Budd, etc.

special-K, having worked in the tire/wheel business from 1979 to 2000, I can say I have never seen an OE GM wheel in 6-lug 16.5. You learn something new every day.

[Longhorn Man]

here's a SPID that shows the wheels.
I hadn't known that firestone made factory wheels.

[special-K]

See? The option was the 10.00-16.5 tires and the wheels were just a necessary evil,so to speak