Split wheel replacements

[Faltura]

My 72 F-350 has the original coined split wheels.

Does anyone know where I can get coined tubeless wheels as replacements?

[Ranchero50]

Dodge duallies up through 93 had them.

[Jacksdad]

I've switched a couple of mine out for later Ford dually wheels. They did eventually change from lug centric to hub centric, but I'm not sure of the year.

[Faltura]

Does anyone manufacture these wheels or easy to use replacements these days?

Are later model wheels (non-coined) ok to use with the flat washer lug bolts?

[Ranchero50]

Yes and no. Where you run into trouble is the front rotor hub on our truck doesn't have the hub centric ring for the wheel the align to so you must use the acorn style nuts to at least align the wheel. I keep two on a string in the glove box. Once the two on opposite sides have the wheel aligned I install the regular washer style and torque them to spec (140 lbft I think). Then replace the acorns with washer style. On my rear since I went with a Sterling 10.25" I had to open up the Dodge hub. I'm not sure if they'll fit the Dana 70 but you could probably Google an answer.

I don't know of anyone still producing those wheels. Searches used to show a bunch of vendors but the wheels were discontinued.

[Jacksdad]

I've found the later lug centric Ford wheels on eBay before, but I can't bring myself to pay $120 for a steel wheel that's probably used with a fresh coat of rattle can gray. I'm making the final push to switch them all out in the next few months, so I'm going to be checking the boneyards for a set that'll probably cost as much as one eBay wheel. I already have two of the newer ones on the front, and it was so nice to finally be able to ditch the nylon belted antiques and put real tires on it. Big difference in ride
I had toyed with the idea of dually van wheels because they look identical and seem pretty common, but I read that they use bigger studs (9/16 I believe) so they don't tighten properly. Not sure if there's a fix other than redrilling and installing larger studs.

[Faltura]

Thanks guys.

I have heard that some Dodges had the coined wheels in the early 80's but I have not had any luck finding coined one piece wheels. Its tough finding anyone who will change a tire on a split rim so I need to find something else.

[Jacksdad]

A couple of pry bars and a hammer is all I ever used to change them myself, but I read that the ring ends up with something like 2 tons of pressure behind it, so inflating the tire for the first time is always exciting. With little or no warning, it will go a long way in a very short amount of time if it's not seated properly. The ensuing death and destruction apparently make tire shops leery of them these days. Bunch of wussies...

[two-bit]

I have done quite a bit of work with two piece rims. Wheels on a 644 Deere are not drop center rims.
In my opinion, clean grooves, and square rings are the most important thing for consideration on a two piece rim.
I did the tires on our road grader cause NO ONE would touch them. Spent a whole day cleaning out the seating grooves in the rim center, and then another half a day cleaning up the rings. Found one that was fubar. Got a replacement. Got em all mounted up. No issues.

Most shops won't touch them because of wear, corrosion, and the danger factor. Can they be very dangerous and decapitate someone...yes they can. They can also be easy to work with and rather safe. Keep your head in the game.

All that said, i run drop centers on my F-350. At work we switch as much of our old equipment to 22.5 drop center rims as we can. ie: trailers and such. The big equipment....just not possible. Never seen a drop center rim for a 650 K CAT loader. It might be out there, but i have never seen it.

Two-bit

[66f250cs]

I just got rid of my split rims and bias ply tires. They were replaced with 16 inch Ford/Firestone steel wheels date stamped '85 and new radial tires. The truck now goes straight down the road. No more vague steering. My local shop charges a few bucks extra for dealing with split rims but they will do them. Roughly twenty years ago, a shop a few towns over, the owner of the shop was changing a tire on a split rim. The found him on a Monday morning with the top half of his head gone. IMHO, one piece wheels are the way to go.

[basketcase0302]

Ranchero50 » Tue May 17, 2016 7:56 am
I don't know of anyone still producing those wheels. Searches used to show a bunch of vendors but the wheels were discontinued.

Jamie there is a vendor still making the lug centric one piece rims for our duallies. I had gotten two of the new rims, (new aftermarket) back in 2009 before I found the Alcoa's for my one ton. Had a puter crash with the bookmark of the vendor since then but do remember it was an eboy seller.

Edit: Also always keep your eyes out for the dentside duallies as they will already have the one piece coined rim on them as well.