larger front rims on a Task Force

[sqrlnts]

Has anyone tried putting a 20" rim on a stock 6 lug solid axle? Would like to see some pictures. Not Mustang II or clipped, stock solid axle.


More thoughts on this.

I am throwing around some different rim ideas. I really like the look of a 19 front and 20 rear. Problems are rotating goes out the window. 20" 6 lug rims are abundant so lets go with that


My calculations look like this.
Current combo is
205/75/15 on a 15x6 rim, 82mm of backspace. This setup is very close to the tie rod. Looks to have about 2" of room to fender.

Question combo would be
245/45/20 on a 20 x 8.5" rim, 127mm of backspace

The calculator says the 20 combo would be 1.3" closer to the suspension, due to offset.

I believe I have two options.
1. 2" wheel spacers to move the wheel outboard
2. 1.5" wheel spacers and "adjust" the steering arms for a bit more clearance. Sid says Ackerman will be fine.

Any thoughts, successes, trials or failures are welcome. Thanks!!!

[G&R's57GMC]

Well clearance is a bit tight.

Here is an example , my '56 with 15x7 front & 15x8 rear wheels with 31x10.5 tires.

The rear tires rub their sidewalls on the fender lip when there is a load in the bed.
The rear wheel is slightly reversed, if it was a standard offset it would allow the tire to clear the fender.

The left front tire inner sidewall rubs the drag link when making a tight left turn.

[G&R's57GMC]

As for 20's your wheel should clear the tie rod BUT the drag link is another story.

My tire has a nice groove cut in it from the edge of the drag link when making a left turn.
I think by its location it would be just about the the bead area of you combo.

This would make a left turn a "bit" wider then a right turn.

A solution would be an aftermarket available solid axle rack & pinion steering system.

If you planning on lowering, fender clearance would be the limiting factor.

Your best bet would be to visit a tire shop that has the wheel and test fit the wheel on the left front and rear. This will show what restrictions the steering system presents.

You then can get a feel about how the tire might fit.

This would only cost a few bucks and answer a lot of questions.

BTW I hope your planning on a disc brake conversion for at least the front and a duel master cylinder system.

[topdown99]

When I bought my 57 it had 20" KMC Rockstars on it... they rubbed the drag link badly and looked absolutely terrible on the truck so I sold them ASAP. This is the only picture I can find here at work with the 20's on it:

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by topdown99

and looked absolutely terrible on the truck

this... never did like rubber bands on big rims on a classic truck/car
i did like g&r and used 7x15 and 8x15 with 31'' tires on truk

[1-ton of fun]

^ good move getting rid of those!

[OneOffStroker]

Why just rims?

Why not get hubs and spokes to go along with them and have complete wheels?

(the term 'rims' is a pet peeve of mine...)

[sqrlnts]

Awesome, hope you feel better. Now lets get back to rims.

[nvrdone]

re rubbing the drag link on left turns: I had the same problem on my AD with
15X6 rims on the front. I welded a nut on the face of the bump stop - the angled piece that bolts to the king pin center pin ? - and that ended that problem. I don't notice any lack of left turn ability

[G&R's57GMC]

Here is a set of 16x7 white spoke wheel with 265/70R16's , they are 30" diameter. They offer a reasonable section height with the look of a larger wheel. The pic is for reference although the truck is a 57 GMC Napco 4x4 they would work on my 56 Chevy 2x4.

How do you feel about a set of 17" or 18" Rally wheels ?

[mr48chev]

To me wheels bigger than 16 inch just look silly on most older trucks. Part of that may be because the local tire stores seem to only be interested in selling the gaudiest, most garish and ugly 20 and + rims that they can can drag in as the local individuals who run them tend to like that in anything they have.
This one was for sale on craigslist a while back.

[dcmalone]

I've been wondering of the Rocket Hypershot 6 would fit with little issue myself. I think they only come in a 20x9 though. I wouldn't mind having a set to put on every now and then, but would probably run the 15x8 with wide whites like I do now most of the time.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

To me wheels bigger than 16 inch just look silly on most older trucks. Part of that may be because the local tire stores seem to only be interested in selling the gaudiest, most garish and ugly 20 and + rims that they can can drag in as the local individuals who run them tend to like that in anything they have.
This one was for sale on craigslist a while back.

mr48chev, I agree with you completely. 99% of the 20" wheels I see are hideous. I do however like what I will call "pro touring" type wheels. Budnik, Weld RT-S, Boze, and a few Billet Specialities.

Originally Posted by dcmalone

I've been wondering of the Rocket Hypershot 6 would fit with little issue myself. I think they only come in a 20x9 though. I wouldn't mind having a set to put on every now and then, but would probably run the 15x8 with wide whites like I do now most of the time.

I screwed around today and tried to mock up a fake 20x8 rim/tire. I could mount the mockup wheel/tire but once the truck was at ride height it became obvious it wouldn't work. If your running stock lowered front solid axle suspension, I would rethink the 9" wide part.

I have come to the conclusion that 20's wont work, not that I really wanted a wheel that big but found a good looking set cheap on craigslist, damn you craigslist. I like the front wheel well to have as much tire/wheel in it as possible, for me 15's dont really cut it. My 6x139.7 bolt pattern and odd 3.56" hub OD almost guarantee's the need for a spacer.

I think the smart route, for me, will be to save the money and put it toward my front suspension redo budget which, will require new wheels!!!
Now I just need to figure out how to incorporate a 5x4.5 lug pattern into the mix because, there are a TON of 5x114 wheels out there.