Dorman reproduction ford 16x7 steel wheels

[s10mk]

Hello gents.
I was considering getting the original 16.5 wheels from my c20 sand blasted and powder coated. But then I saw that dorman makes a reproduction 16x7 ford van steel wheel. For just about the same cost of reconditioning my old 16.5" rims, I can buy the dorman 16" rims. I read that its really popular to pick the 16x7 ford van rims from junkyards, but has anyone used the dorman reproduction wheels.

https://www.dormanproducts.com/gsear...parttype=Wheel

[Mike C]

I can't speak to the Ford rims specifically, but you will really be doing yourself a disservice if you don't get away from the 16.5 rims. There just aren't any tire real choices with the 16.5.

I have 35 12.5 16.5 BFG AT's on my Jimmy and it looks like this will be the last time I can use them as all the radial street type 35's are gone in the 16.5 range.

[jocko]

I prefer 16s also, there are more tire choices - but, depending on what kind of tire you want to run, there are still 16.5 choices out there for you.
Stock look: Firestone TransForce HT
Mild 4x4: Firestone Trasnforce AT
Off Road: fewer choices - but several nostalgic bias options (which you may, understandably, not want).
The thing is - if you want powder coat, you'll probably eventually want it on the Dormans. I THINK they come in gray, last time I looked (what does the ad say?) - so you may be in for a paint job on them. Personally, if you can afford it, I'd buy them and powder coat them and get it over with, ha. But it isn't inexpensive, as you've discovered.

Having said all that, I have a pc set of 16.5s sitting on my shelf awaiting their STA Super Traxions when the time comes. All my 16s are crusty in a pile waiting their turn.

The Dormans will work fine - I believe they are lug-centric rather than hub-centric, but it doesn't matter when it comes to function, they fit and work.

What kind of tire are you wanting to run on them?

[s10mk]

Originally Posted by jocko

I prefer 16s also, there are more tire choices - but, depending on what kind of tire you want to run, there are still 16.5 choices out there for you.
Stock look: Firestone TransForce HT
Mild 4x4: Firestone Trasnforce AT
Off Road: fewer choices - but several nostalgic bias options (which you may, understandably, not want).
The thing is - if you want powder coat, you'll probably eventually want it on the Dormans. I THINK they come in gray, last time I looked (what does the ad say?) - so you may be in for a paint job on them. Personally, if you can afford it, I'd buy them and powder coat them and get it over with, ha. But it isn't inexpensive, as you've discovered.

Having said all that, I have a pc set of 16.5s sitting on my shelf awaiting their STA Super Traxions when the time comes. All my 16s are crusty in a pile waiting their turn.

The Dormans will work fine - I believe they are lug-centric rather than hub-centric, but it doesn't matter when it comes to function, they fit and work.

What kind of tire are you wanting to run on them?

I actually just want to run a stock tire. if I do stay with the 16.5s, I will buy the 19.50x16.5 firestone transforce HT. You are correct about the Dorman wheels, they come in grey. So I already figured I would have to give them a paint job. But my first thought was just to give them a coat of white over the grey. I hadn't considered having them powder coated as well.

[Lieferson]

Wheel vintiques makes a 16x6/16x7/16x8 and 16x10 that takes a factory cap and you can call summit and special order them powder coated in whatever color you want. Its their 82 series i believe. Or they come primer black if you dont want them powdercoated

[s10mk]

I went ahead and ordered a set of the dorman reproduction ford rims and a set of firestone transforce HTs in 245-75r16. I'll report back with my opinion on the wheels and pictures of them installed.

[s10mk]

So I returned the dorman wheels. The more I thought about it, I wanted my wheels to be hub centric. So I ordered a set of remanufactured wheels for a early 90s chevy g30 van. They are 16 x 6.5, and I mounted a set of 245 75-16 firestones on them. The wheels came painted silver and I gave them a coat of gloss white. I think they turned out pretty nice

[jocko]

They look great! Not that it matters now, but I hope I didn't steer you away from the Dormans with the lug-centric discussion - that's perfectly fine too and many members run them. Having said that, I went with GM (or GM replacements) just like you did, and for the same reason. I can't explain why, but I just did. I'm running 16x6.5s all the way around on my K20 at the moment. I am still planning on using my 16.5s whenever I get around to it, but that's a whole set of tires away...

[s10mk]

Originally Posted by jocko

They look great! Not that it matters now, but I hope I didn't steer you away from the Dormans with the lug-centric discussion - that's perfectly fine too and many members run them. Having said that, I went with GM (or GM replacements) just like you did, and for the same reason. I can't explain why, but I just did. I'm running 16x6.5s all the way around on my K20 at the moment. I am still planning on using my 16.5s whenever I get around to it, but that's a whole set of tires away...

Thanks!
I'm not sure what did it, but the little voice in my head told me to stick with gm wheels. Plus these reman wheels were only about 55 a piece. I figured that was well worth it for a sand blasted and painted wheel. What year truck or van did your 16x6.5s come from?

[dmjlambert]

Where do you order remanufactured wheels? That sounds like something I need to look in to.

[Joesjunk]

It looks perfect! I have the Ford 16x7's on my 72 with 245/75/16 tires

[Steeveedee]

I went to a local auto dismantler and bought a 16" wheel from a Suburban. It was a spare, so the cups where the lug nuts sit were pristine. I forget what I paid, and it was silver, but I don't care what color a spare is. Also, dog gone if I remember the width. I'll have to look at that for when the new Firestone Transforce tires I bought age out. I drive the thing a few thousand miles a year, so these tires will rot long before the tread is gone.

[special-K]

I remanufacture my own wheels...buy used wheels, check for true and damage (when buying), sand blast, and paint or powder coat.

If Dorman makes them they are not Frd or Econoline wheels.They are simply a standard 16 x 7 steel truck wheel. Accuride made the wheels for Ford 8-lug vans as well as all F250s and F350s. So, calling them van wheels is limiting peoples' searches. Not sure how they came to be referred as van wheels, but it is a misnomer. In fact, you better watch what you ask for because the later vans came with no hubcaps or the plastic wheel covers and the wheels look identical except no nubs for hubcaps. I say this over and over but people keep calling the van wheels. Just trying to help. Been running steelies all along. I find sets of Accuride Ford 250-350 series truck wheels used for what one reproduction wheel costs, because I know exactly what I'm looking for. I hope this helps

[s10mk]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Where do you order remanufactured wheels? That sounds like something I need to look in to.

I bought my wheels through rock auto, with the application of a 1993 chevy g30 van. They are branded "keystone", but they were remanufactured by LKQ. Unfortunately they seem to be out of stock, I would imagine that good cores are starting to dry up.

[special-K]

LKQ is Keystone, a replacement parts giant (just bought Goodmark, so reprodution, too) that is buying up all the junkyards they can. So Rock Auto is selling what Keystone gets from their junkyards and reconditions. If they are out of stock, go to the junkyard and pull a set before they get their hands on them. It seems odd they sell these, yet going to their junkyards they are hard to find because they weld two together to set the cars off the ground on.