Tire questions / issues

[dforeman]

I have 8.25R20 split rim Budd's 10 lug on my 1986 Ward.
Tires are difficult to find and Tubed.

Does anyone know if i can swap out the tire and rim for something a little easier to find?

Someone on Craigslist is giving away some 10 lug Fire truck tires and rims. and i don't know if this is a viable option.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

The 10-lug wheels come in two varieties. There's "Stud Piloted" (which is likely what you have), and "hub piloted" (common on newer trucks/buses).

The older stud piloted wheels use tapered nuts to position the wheel on the hub. Look for wheels that have tapered holes.

The newer hub piloted wheels will have nuts with washers made onto them; the hub and wheels are precision machined to exact dimensions and is supposed to be centered when the nuts are tightened. The holes will not be tapered.

Google images for both to see the differences. As far as I am aware, the 10-lug bolt patterns are the same otherwise. You'll find two different wheel widths, be aware of this when buying.

[Tango]

You need to know several thing to determine what will and won't fit.

Lug pattern (number of lugs at what diameter? - Must match or adapters have to be used...not generally recommended)

Hub hole size (the big hole in the middle - can be adapted if smaller or larger)

Offset (where the center of the tire is relative to the rim face - needs to measured to make sure tires don't rub wheelwell, fender or each other)

Clearance in your wheelwells (Rim might be OK, but larger tires can hit/rub the wheelwell)

There may be other considerations I am not aware of, so if anyone else has some thoughts, please chime in

Real WorldExample:


My '46 Chevy came with 20", hub centric rims that have 10 lugs on a 7-1/4" circle. No modern tires will fit except crappy tube type bias ply. Not what you want for long range highway traveling.

To get modern tubeless radials, I went to 19.5" modern Chevy truck rims. They have exactly the same 10 lug pattern as the 70 year old trucks and are also hub centric...but...the center hole is 1/4" larger than the 1946 rims. I had a simple spacer ring made to adapt the center hole and can now fit modern tires on the modern rims.

Note...I only had to make spacers for the front rims since I had already replaced the old rear axle with a modern Chevy dually axle that already had the same pattern.

[Robin97396]

Tango, one for you.

1947 GMC School Bus - $5995 (sherwood)
https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/...449527770.html

[Tango]

Very cool. Thanks Robin. I especially like the "it ran when parked". They just failed to mention that was in 1959.

[Robin97396]

Yeah, pretty hideous looking. They didn't even bother washing it for the pictures.

I was looking at the amount of interior space in this one.

[Rusty]

It's gorgeous.

I am posting pics / text because the CL ad will disappear and so will this little gem. Very competent photographer, as well.

CL ad: $6K

1947 GMC school bus for sale. Originally from Battleground school district in Washington. Used from 1960 to mid 70's to haul kids to pick berry's in Tigard Oregon. Ran when parked. 308 ci straight 6.
Bus is in excellent condition for its age. No rust in floors, no leaks. Title in hand.
Would make an excellent foundation for a tiny house or rat rod. Last few photos are what a "Rolling Home" could look like on this platform and a couple of photos of "permanent RV's" if you can't legally build on a property or just a way around property taxes on a dwelling.

[Robin97396]

This bus is pretty cool, but I'm not starting a Tango type of build for love nor money. I love your build Tango, I'm just not going there.

[dforeman]

It truly is beautiful. I just hope my build keeps going well. My next step is scary for me.

The bus fires up. But I need to drain the tank and clean the carb to get it sustained running.

[Tango]

Being (obviously) a sucker for all that old iron, I have to say she is a beauty. And actually, looks pretty solid. Anyone into doing a retro would be hard pressed to find something nicer to start with.

Just be sure to start that project while you are still young.

PS...looks like it could be a Wayne body.