Found a set of Kelsey Hayes 16.5 x 9.75

[DeadheadNM]

Grabbed this set from a nearby small town tire dealer. They'll need some work but I think these are the real deal. Offset is ~4.25"

[MusicMan70]

Nice find! Can't wait to see them cleaned up...how much did they go for?

[srvivor71]

That's a great score! And a full set too. Just a heads up... I got a great deal on blast and powder coat bringing my steelies to a local tire dealer that specialized in truck fleet work. Apparently, they have all sorts of special equipment so that they can make quick work of redoing rims. I got mine (which looked as rough or rougher than yours) for $24.50 each! I'm not sure if a lot of big fleet tire dealers are set up like this one, but it would be worth a look.

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks fellas! Total cost $80 and that included a 16.5" wagon wheel spare. I probably could have haggled down the cost but that seemed fair.

[72 Super]

Great deal Pete!

Ray

[special-K]

I'm glad you landed that great deal. Those will clean right up. They are different from the ones I've had. Do they say Kelsey-Hayse on them? Yours actually look cooler. The rim is straight all the way back. The ones I've had have a step/raised area then back down again. You can see what I mean on these:


EDIT: I think your wheels are made with centers for 8-lug 15" wheels. See the differences in the steps in the rim and the distance from the rim to the ring where the hub caps nubs are?

[mcmlxix]

Isn't that a MOPAR Dodge/Chrysler logo to the right of the "17" in the last pic?

[cdowns]

look nice/ looks like whoever widened them did a good job

[special-K]

Yes,that's a Chrysler logo. But,they don't make the wheels. It would be a jobber like Kelsey Hayes or Dayton. It looks like a KH stamped there,too. The wheels will work on GMs.

[dougo]

Nice find! Those will clean up real nice.

[jeremy zander]

I have had a couple sets cleaned up and powdercoated..

[DeadheadNM]

The rims have welded seams and I suspected they may have been widened. Never seeing KH 9.75" wheels before I wasn't sure that was abnormal or not for this size. Yeah the Chrysler logo was puzzling but I thought KH wheels were installed on Dodge trucks and maybe a factory option so I grabbed them.

Anyone know what the stamped code says? I thought the "K" referenced Kelsey Hayes. Otherwise I cannot find any stamp referencing KH on the wheels.

Special K and Jeremy thanks for the pics. I hope these clean up as well as yours. Dougo it's your Suburban that inspired me to keep an eye out for a set!

With a 4.25" backspace will these clear stock 4wd suspension with 33 x 12.5 tires?

Thanks guys.

[DeadheadNM]

Special-k just saw your edit. Good observation. I hope these fit over my brakes! Only one way to find out I guess....

[DeadheadNM]

After sleuthing around a bit I found a stamp indicating the wheels began life as 16.5 x 6 (see first pic) below to left of "Made in USA". Second pic shows the seams on the inner surface. There are no visible spot welds. Third pic shows the inner rim.

My wheels have implants! ARE THESE SAFE WHEELS???

[Gobbles]

Safe all depends on how well they were modified. There are companies that widen wheels, but I have never had experience with them myself.

I imagine you can find a local wheel ?widener? and see what he thinks about them.

[special-K]

I believe they'd be safe after all the years of use. As long as all the welds look good and you see no cracks when they are sand blasted I don't see any reason for concern. They look really well done to me from what I've seen. The back spacing is right. See what I mean about the rim being straight all the way back? They look nice that way. That step in mine and Jeremy's is for strength,so yours may not be quite as strong. Our wheels were called Duplex wheels for "adding" carrying capacity. I bought two of the set I showed when someone gave me a pair back in the early '80s. The ones that were given came off a '72 single wheel C/30 cab & chassis that had 9.75 rear/8.25 front. The 9.75s had a deeper dish (less backspace) than the pair I bought. It worked great when they were on the back,but were kinda odd when on the front. They cleared fine with 14.50/37-16.5s. I ended up buying another pair that matched the other two I bought. By then they were being sold as "For Trailer Use". I think yours are more like the first pair I had with more dish.
Here are some other pictures. Check these out on a spool dolly:


Those I showed above I had powder coated glossy black in the '80s,then stripped them again and had them done in white in '91. They just recently came off of a truck after all that time. Yours will look as good as this 8.25 set after sand blasting and powder coating (or a good paint job). I gathered this set from all over individually in various condition. Some were much worse than yours:

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks for your input!

My K20 came with 10.00 tires listed on the SPID so I assume the OEM wheels were 8.25" wide like those in the pic. I don't hold out much hope of tracking down a set of those anytime soon. I've got a line on a set of the 6 inch OEM wheels. So, maybe one day I'll have a set of the tall and skinny and a set of the deep and wide.

I'll be sure to post some pics once they're powder coated.

[special-K]

That's right. Your truck came with 8.25s. I'm doing the same thing. I have a set of stock wheels for tall skinnies for mud and will put a milder tread on the 9.75s for sand. I have 12.50/37 Swampers for the 8.25s. So they will look like jumbo tall skinnies. I can't wait!