Source for '48 F-1 rims

[1948F-1Pickup]

I've got chrome rims with baby moons on it from the previous owner.
It's at least a dual pattern where the wheel bolts up. Hate that and the
copious amounts of chrome....
Apparently the original rim was a 15x5 with a 5.5 bolt pattern.
Looking for a single bolt pattern (5.5 only) that will take the original
style FORD "poverty" caps and maybe grooved beauty rings.

[CA Victoria]

Here is a vendor in Chino.
http://www.thewheelsmith.net
If you are not stuck on original wheels, later model ford pu wheels are plentiful but you would use the later style hubcap or a matching combo. Several have used the 15x6 rims with 22575r15 tires (28.4" tall).

[Zephyr Q]

I had a hard time finding a set 8-10 years ago when I was trying to bring my F-1 that had been semi-hot-rodded by the previous owner back to something resembling stock. But when I did eventually locate a pair they had nearly new coker rubber on them. That person was hot rodding the stock F-1 they'd just bought. The circle of parts is never ending.

[39topless]

Take one of your hub caps out to your local junk yards and look around in their "old stuff". You may just get lucky.

[rotorwrench]

16X4.5 were the common wheel rim for the F-1. There were special order items though. 49 to 51 Merc rims are 15X5.5 with the large bolt circle but they have nubs for caps to fit outside the lug well. Later F-100 pickups used the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern so many years that there is still a lot of stuff out there but most have outy caps. The problem is if you want the correct hub cap type rims. There were pre 49 Merc rims that were 15" too . The ones for F-1 pickups are getting harder to find in 15"

[chap52]

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Post a description of the wheels you are looking for on the "Swap Meat" portion of this forum. I got several replies a few months ago when seeking wheels. The killer is the shipping, hope you find some near your home.

[Ken Crans]

You can use up to 62 F100 for the poverty hub cap inside nibs which will be 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern in a 15 inch.i cant remember the back spacing,not too hard to find.

[skidmarks]

The stock 16" rims are plentiful but you have to be careful because most of the rust damage is hidden if it's got a tire on it. Looking at the lug holes the 16" pickup rims are raised or look like they are beefed up around them. 16" were used up to 1955. If you want 15" but use the little stock hubcap look for 56 to 66 ford pu. I got a bunch of them but don't like to ship stuff anymore

[1948F-1Pickup]

Cool. Thanks for the suggestions. Also looking at Wheelsmith
in Corona CA. I may go visit them.

[GreenMonster48]

Wheel vintiques Gennie Series 14. Will take the old cap, 5x 5.5 bolt pattern. Can get 15x6's at about $70 a pop from Summit Racing.

[TStiles]

The folks at AKH Vintage Wheels can provide 'most anything you need. They're also pretty straight shooters. http://www.akhwheels.com

[Fred A]

Sounds like the OP leans toward retail. Since Mercury went to 15" in '42 they have been somewhat popular but never difficult to find if the right kind of event is checked. As with swap meets, there obviously, to most, that there is no guarantee that the desired wheel would be available there, but.. The Long Beach HP is where I would start. Currently I am using '16s, but the 15" seems more common. For many reasons, the Ford wheels are huge survivors. Good Luck: Fred A

[1948F-1Pickup]

Originally Posted by Fred A

Sounds like the OP leans toward retail. Since Mercury went to 15" in '42 they have been somewhat popular but never difficult to find if the right kind of event is checked. As with swap meets, there obviously, to most, that there is no guarantee that the desired wheel would be available there, but.. The Long Beach HP is where I would start. Currently I am using '16s, but the 15" seems more common. For many reasons, the Ford wheels are huge survivors. Good Luck: Fred A

Not sure what direction I'm going but I only want to do it once.
I greatly appreciate the responses.

[Thor]

These are the type of rims you are looking for. Shipping from Wisconsin might be to much expense.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...wheel.1020526/

[Ross F-1]

What kind of tires are you going to run? If you want to run tubeless radials, I'd go with new wheels. The originals were riveted and don't have some safety features that new wheels have, that are pretty important for running tubeless.

16's were the most common stock wheel as Rotorwrench noted, and narrow. About the widest modern tire you can run is a 195 or possibly a 205.