Picked up a 1970 GMC C3500 dump truck that needs some TLC

[pclausen]

I removed the aluminum spacers and the wheels cleared the drums fine. I was basically able to shed the following unsprung weight, and I'm sure the truck will handle much better once I get it on the road again.

Shot directly at the rim. I did reuse the plate. The new wheels have an ever so slightly larger hub hole diameter compared to the old split rims (4.60" instead of 4.50" or something like that). I don't know if that is going to be an issue or not... I can see fabricating a sleeve to slide over the hub to take out this slop if needed.

Inside shot showing the air space everywhere between the wheel and drum. Not sure why aluminum spacers were used before...

On the left rear, I pulled the axle shaft out:

I see that there is a key (yellow arrow), that needs to be removed next. It is stuck in there real good. I think I need to loose that large retaining nut just a hair in order to remove the key, and then remove that nut all the way.

It looks like I'll need some sort of special nut remover to get that nut off?

Btw, that was some nasty looking oil that came out, so I'll be changing the rear diff oil for sure!

 

[pclausen]

It this the one I need?

K D Tools 2770 4 Wheel Drive 1 2" Square Drive Spindle Nut Wrench Socket JD19 | eBay

From the Manufacturer
This 6-lug wrench removes spindle nuts on 4-wheel drive vehicles. It's used for the following applications: 1973-1981 GM 3/4 and 1 Ton 4WD trucks; 1978-1984 Ford F250-350 Trucks; 1984-1992 Ranger, Bronco with manual hubs; 1990-1993 Dodge Trucks with Dana 44.

My truck is 2WD and 1970, but the axle is not the original one. Hmm...

 

[Stimw]

Actually a split rim is not what is being talked about here. What is being talked about is multi-piece rims. Which actually is a split Ring.
Here is a link to truck rims- http://www.tireindustry.org/pdf/osha_Demount-Mount.pdf
If you look at the 3rd pic to the right on page 2 you can see a true Split Rim. The rim is split across the width like a "C" and the ring is one piece.
To break down you let the air out of it then you pry at the split and the edges go over/under letting the ring come off. To air up you have to get the two edges lined up and the air pressure pushing in holds the rim together. These rims are illegal now.

A co-worker at a shop that I worked at in 1987 was killed when a two piece 10.00 X 20 Dayton rim (considered one of the safer rims) came apart when he was putting it on the hub of a semi trailer. The rim was like new condition, the company sent it to a lab for examination and the lab found no problems with the rim!
The man, Tom Jefferson was 62 years old and had been busting tires his whole life. He knew what he was doing and it still got him.
They said it broke his legs and back and sliced his face open to the bones.
We were friends.

 

[Stimw]

I have made wrenches to fit nuts like that by taking a piece of pipe about the axle size and welding two round pins to the pipe that lined up with two opposite holes.
That oil looks nasty!! And it looks like rust. You better get ready for wheel bearings too.

 

[FairfaxStu]

Wow, I am sorry for the loss of your co-worker. Are split rims now illegal no matter the size or just for trucks that may see action on public roads?

 

[pclausen]

Stim, sorry to hear about your friend. That sucks.

Here's another YouTube video of how *NOT* to work on a split rim. Sandals, no cage, and his head right in front of the tire as he airs it up.

Split Rims: How to install a tire on a split rim - YouTube

 

[Harold_J]

Did the aluminum adapter have longer studs than the truck hubs? Maybe they needed that to fasten the trim do-dads you are removing. I think it's good you got rid of the adapter.

What lug nuts did you end up using? I know you mentioned "concentric lug nuts" earlier but I'm not sure what those are. Maybe you could explain in case I run into this problem replacing rims on my '73. I'm only familiar with the acorn type and the ones with the flat face that swivel. If you reused the original plates (good idea I guess) I would think you'd want to stay with the original nuts.

I'd be a little concerned about the larger hub pilot hole; now all the weight is supported and centered only by the studs. Also, I think you mentioned that the replacement rims have larger bolt holes than original, so that could possibly compound the problem and make the siituation worse. I wonder if it would be a big job to install larger studs? Anyway, I hope it all works out for you in the end, although with these old trucks sometimes it seems like there is no end!

 

[hawkeye08]

I think the larger center hole will cause you some trouble down the road if it doesn't to start with. It does not take much off center to cause the wheel and tire to be out of balance. Low speeds and local, you might be okay, but suspect the wheel would not stay centered with a full load and a few bumps..

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It was the 10.00 x 20 Dayton rims that came on the F700 of our that we replaced with the one piece radial tire Dayton rims pulled from wrecked school buses. Locally they charge more for mounting the bias tires on the split rim Dayton wheels. Many still run them on older equipment. China imports the tires to fit this old Dayton rim. Dayton rims can be changed by hand if needed because with the nuts near the tire vs near the axle not as much torque is required to attach/remove them. To mount new tires on the Dayton radial tire rims you will want tire mounting equipment. They have a valley in the rim for the bead to drop into when mounting the tires to the rims. The split ring bias tire rims are not v shape.

 

[Stimw]

Stim, sorry to hear about your friend. That sucks.

Here's another YouTube video of how *NOT* to work on a split rim. Sandals, no cage, and his head right in front of the tire as he airs it up.

Split Rims: How to install a tire on a split rim - YouTube

Since the u-tube poster doesn't know the difference between a split rim and a multi-piece rim wearing flip-flops and improper inflating is no surprise.
The last that I heard, split rims are illegal, multi-piece are still legal.
I used to own a 21' Boom Truck back in the mid 70's. It had 10.00 X 20 Dayton rims. I did all my own tire work and did it where ever I had problems. I used the truck air supply and carried jack, tire hammer, spoons and spare tubes and other tools. I would slide the tire under the rear of the truck and air up with screw on valve connector for safety.