47 AD Tonner

[Dan Bowles]

Working a deal with my neighbor to purchase his pickup. My 18 year old got to cruise it today. 248 GMC 6 with a 4 speed. Climb a tree gearset (5.14s?) and pretty OK shape for a truck from Indiana!

[Dan Bowles]

I'm looking for recommendations on 16" 8 lug rims. All of my experience with 8 lugs are on my '92 dually with the deep offset. I don't need super wide rims. I'd like to keep the "stock" look, I'd love to be able to keep my caps but don't have high hopes.

I may hit a yard that specializes in Chevy trucks tomorrow to see what is available.

Is there any back spacing concerns for the steering? I had a 1 ton years ago with 16.5"s but I had to stick with some narrow rims on the front to avoid the interference. There are 16.5"s on the rear right now. I recall discussion then (11 years ago!) that Ford and Dodge also had 8 lugs in 16" that were pretty good.

I have stock 15" and 17" rims but all are split rims and I don't really want to go there.

[kulturekat]

if its an 8 lug it must be a 3/4 ton? i have an 8 lug also and wheels got hard to find but what i found worked best was looking into delivery vans like uhaul trucks they match up great.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by kulturekat

if its an 8 lug it must be a 3/4 ton? i have an 8 lug also and wheels got hard to find but what i found worked best was looking into delivery vans like uhaul trucks they match up great.

1Tons are 8 lug too. Ford and Dodge both use the same pattern, EXCEPT a few years ago Ford changed their pickup pattern to a metric version, but the 8 lug vans are SUPPOSED to be the same (as Chevy and Dodge). Thought of borrowing the spare from my work E250 just to try it. Lots and lots of 3/4 ton vans with plain steel rims on them.

[Dan Bowles]

Yep, 8 lug 1 ton. It is a 3800 with a 9' bed. Thanks for the tip on the Ford rims. Neighbor has a slew of old vans in his junk yard, all Ford. Any idea when they went metric? Maybe I'll put it up on blocks and check front and rear clearance with one like you suggested. I remember front clearance issues on my '53 11 years ago...just don't remember what it WAS that didn't clear!

Someone had some nice late model Ford truck chrome rims, 17" on CL. I won't mess with them until I find out about the metric thing. I do know all 3 used same pattern, just hub vs. bolt centric. I may have to put in new lug studs.

[OrrieG]

I seem to remember that one of the 50-60's 3 8 lug wheel manf. (GM, Ford, Dodge) had a sightly smaller center hole diameter and would not fit on GM. I got some for mine when it had a 8 lug 1 ton rearend from 60's that had same bolt pattern but would not fit over the center. My rear end had the 5.12 with a stumppuller 4 speed. would climb a tree but had a top speed of 50 on a good day. I saw lots of stock 8 and 6 lug wheels a couple of weeks ago at a local swap meet but shipping would give you a heart attack.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

Yep, 8 lug 1 ton. It is a 3800 with a 9' bed. Thanks for the tip on the Ford rims. Neighbor has a slew of old vans in his junk yard, all Ford. Any idea when they went metric? Maybe I'll put it up on blocks and check front and rear clearance with one like you suggested. I remember front clearance issues on my '53 11 years ago...just don't remember what it WAS that didn't clear!

Someone had some nice late model Ford truck chrome rims, 17" on CL. I won't mess with them until I find out about the metric thing. I do know all 3 used same pattern, just hub vs. bolt centric. I may have to put in new lug studs.

Ford went metric on the super duties, so your late model rims on CL will be metric.

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I seem to remember that one of the 50-60's 3 8 lug wheel manf. (GM, Ford, Dodge) had a sightly smaller center hole diameter and would not fit on GM. I got some for mine when it had a 8 lug 1 ton rearend from 60's that had same bolt pattern but would not fit over the center. My rear end had the 5.12 with a stumppuller 4 speed. would climb a tree but had a top speed of 50 on a good day. I saw lots of stock 8 and 6 lug wheels a couple of weeks ago at a local swap meet but shipping would give you a heart attack.

Chevys used a smaller center bore on the wheel than did Ford or Dodge. This was because Ford and Dodge used the dana rear which had larger diameter full floating hubs, GM used the corporate axles which have a smaller diameter full float hub. What this means is Ford and Dodge wheels will fit on a Chevy, but not vice versa.

[Dan Bowles]

Any idea what year on the Super Duty info, BlueJeep?

Speaking of Super Duty...what does a potty trainer leave in the pot? A doody. What does Ford make, SUPER Doodies!!! You'll never look at them the same again...

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

Any idea what year on the Super Duty info, BlueJeep?

When Ford adopted the "Super Duty" label for the 3/4 ton and up, as opposed to the different body style F150. 1998 and newer.

[Dan Bowles]

Thanks, BlueJeep, I pride myself on not knowing Ford stuff!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

Thanks, BlueJeep, I pride myself on not knowing Ford stuff!

I apologize for the info then!

Did this truck come with any cool items? Mine had a bracket on the driver's side with kerosene lamps for when you're broke down at night, a Craftsman ratchet and socket stuck to one of the bleeder screws on the rear axle, and a whole family of dead mice under the seat and the long lost mouse cousin above the headliner.

[55dude]

QUICK EVERYBODY OUT OF THE POOL! IT'S A DOODY!! hahahah!

[Dan Bowles]

Coolest item so far is that it RUNS, drives and STOPS. I have had them that'd run and wouldn't drive and more that wouldn't move or wouldn't stop!

[Dan Bowles]

It took me 4 1/2 months but I got to drive her home today. Not a bad ride, actually. Front tire is out of balance and needs replaced on the passenger side. At least I could watch it through the floor windows to make sure it wasn't coming apart! Topped out at 45 mph.

I saved the rear end out of a 3/4 ton frame I sent to Scott Danforth a while back so I'll look at changing the gears to get it "faster". Comes out of the hole something fierce but 3rd gear dies out. The trans needs some synchro work (or replaced!) and I need to patch up some spots on the floor. Handles pretty well and stops nice. I think it has the Hydrovac (I didn't look today, I'm going off a fuzzy memory).

I think I'm going to stay pretty original. 9 1/2' box is sweet. Cranks right up, once warm, no choke needed. Back window is spider webbed but fronts are pretty good (other than dirty from being in a Christmas tree farm between pines all summer!). Door glass is broken on driver's side but I have this to swap. Some dings and dents but solid fenders and doors. Will need new seals.

Everybody should have one!

[Dan Bowles]

She needs a name...Large Marge is taken, Space Barge is, too.

[T Hilde]

Long Haul

there you go, you can owe me.

[Dan Bowles]

Call her "Holler" for short?

Check's in the mail, Todd...

[mr48chev]

I'm coming in late on this one but it doesn't look like that truck has the drop center wheels like my brothers (grandfather bought it new) 48 AD one ton dualie. I think your choices for 16 inch wheels are pretty wide open as far as oem style steelies go.

I'd think about going to a later full syncro 4 speed out of a 70's truck if I were to change transmissions. I'm not sure what year they began with but it would make the truck a lot smoother driving and not look any different inside the cab.

[Dan Bowles]

Mr48, it still has the split type rims on the front but not the drop centers like the duallies. I had a 1 ton dump (see the 1953 gallery on Stovebolt...) that I had 16.5"s on the front but I think it hit the steering components if I used 16"s. I'd like to stick with something with the stock look but get rid of the splits. I have some 16" Ford rims around here as well as some old 15"s I had on a 3/4 ton.

I completely agree with the synchro trans. I just went out and about with her in the 'hood (aka hay field) and my wrist still vibrates from that monster. The clutch is a little noisy so I'm thinking a swap would do us both good. I'm watching for a 3/4 ton gear set and now a full synchro trans. I just replaced the floor cover so that will quiet the interior down a little bit.

Raced my kid in his '54 with a 327. I had him the first 10 feet!

I'm thinking of calling her Luna. The front is off white like the moon, the back is still blue like a blue moon. And I must be a lunatic for buying another truck.

[T Hilde]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

I must be a lunatic for buying another truck.

just like the rest of us
Lunatic Fringe! I know you're out there.....

[Dan Bowles]

I've TRIED to cut back. Really.

[Dan Bowles]

I've found a bunch of papers in the glove box now that it's opened. The owner from the 60s to 80s at least was named Ivan so that will be the new name. Ivan the Terrible Truck.

I had a '53 2 ton "Big Bob" because it was a guy named Bob Simon's truck. He had "Mac" carved into the steering wheel on one side and "Simon" on the other. I should have kept it. (The wheel AND the truck...)

[Dan Bowles]

Anybody know the difference between the 1/2 ton and the 1 ton bumper brackets? Was there any difference in the rear bumper thickness as well like the front bumpers? I have a guy witha a 1 ton front bumper I can get pretty reasonable but Ivan doesn't have a rear bumper, yet. I have 1/2 ton brackets from another project.

[BlueJeep]

Bumpers are the same as 1/2 tons, but the brackets are significantly different. The front has cast pieces on the frame horns that bolt to a strap of 3/8 that runs parallel to the front bumper. Rear is different because the 1/2 ton frame tapers all the way to the back where the tinker is straight back. Same reason the rear bed cross sill is different.
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[T Hilde]

This is what it looks like without the cast brackets (got this from the builds page, looks like the one I have)