1960 gmc 4000 grain truck

[jesdude7789]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

To take it one step further measure the frame and then check local junkyards for a newer school bus, they keep the spacing pretty common with the commercial stuff. That could get you way newer brakes\seals etc. but not quite up into the air brake sized stuff most MDT's have. Buses also usually have 1 piece 20-22.5 wheels. You can get 8.25 or 9.00r20 tires online pretty easy with places like simpletire, prioritytire etc but if you can find the 22.5's it's much easier to find tires local or if you are out along the rd with a flat.

https://buytruckwheels.com/products/...IKbCs8Iah7mAes

If you keep the stock axles the military also used that large 6 bolt pattern for 2.5T trucks and trailers so there are plenty of those wheels out there but watch, some are split ring rims still.

Thanks for the info on the spacing. I have seen the wheels in the link several times and because they cost so much I'm realizing I should just update the axles to modern/common axles and wheels. I have seen some nice tandem axle sets for sale on fb marketplace and a few 80s GM trucks that look like good donor trucks. One of them had a pretty rough cab, but the frame, axles, engine, etc all looked good to go. I'm hoping to buy an entire donor truck in one shot instead of piecing everything together over time from junkyards. If the frame spacing is pretty close and all I have to do is maybe drill holes in the frame for the modern spring hangers and hardware to swap over then so be it. I'll be happy with that.

With the military trucks, I was noticing they had six lug 20 inch tube style with split ring wheel OR some trucks like the m35a3 could have 20 inch tubeless beadlocks, but they are also pretty expensive. Boyce Equipment has those. The beadlocks would be cool, but I'm on a budget so spending thousands on old wheels and using outdated tire sizes versus spending about the same money on modern wheels and tire sizes PLUS getting axles, suspension, maybe a big block gas engine as well... seems like the best route at this point.

I also see diesel engines on some of the potential donors. I don't know squat about all the big diesels. Is the Detroit diesel pretty solid? Should I consider cummins or cat engines as well? An engine swap is waayyy off my original intentions with my 1960 gmc but I'm curious about them for another project.