Wheels and Tires

[bubblerboy64]

I am hot to dress up my 73 FC with Alcoa wheels. I have been working
under the false assumption that this bus had the original wheels on
it. Turns out the previous owner had replaced the axles with newer
ones from a 1978 FC wheels as well. The point here is the bus does
not have the "odd" sized tires which would have been original to the
bus. I was thinking that to get new Alcoa wheels I would have to
replace the tires as well. Turns out I may not and that is my
question. The front tires read 295/75R 22.5 which is a industry
standard? The back tires read Dunlap SP 9.00R 20. Can I buy Alcoa's
and keep my tires? Oh the wheels are ten bolt wheels. Anyone have a
source for them? I don't want to spend all the money for wheels and
tires but if I can keep my tires and maybe find used Alcoa's I should
be able to swing it.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC

[bubblerboy64]

I guess my problem is the 20 inch rear tires. Looked on the Alcoa
web page and I don't see 20 inch wheels. 19.5 yes. Information
needed. Don't know a thing about bolt patterns hubs etc. John




>
> I am hot to dress up my 73 FC with Alcoa wheels. I have been
working
> under the false assumption that this bus had the original wheels on
> it. Turns out the previous owner had replaced the axles with newer
> ones from a 1978 FC wheels as well. The point here is the bus does
> not have the "odd" sized tires which would have been original to
the
> bus. I was thinking that to get new Alcoa wheels I would have to
> replace the tires as well. Turns out I may not and that is my
> question. The front tires read 295/75R 22.5 which is a industry
> standard? The back tires read Dunlap SP 9.00R 20. Can I buy
Alcoa's
> and keep my tires? Oh the wheels are ten bolt wheels. Anyone have
a
> source for them? I don't want to spend all the money for wheels and
> tires but if I can keep my tires and maybe find used Alcoa's I
should
> be able to swing it.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>

[bubblerboy64]

Talked to tire dealer and he raised a question. What is the normal
typical back wheel size for the FC bus. He said the 20 inch wheels
were common to dump trucks etc. And the previous owner got the 3208
cat and trans out of some type of 1984 truck maybe the rear wheels
came off that truck as well. I am thinking now that maybe the rear
wheels should also be 22.5 inchers? Nothing much is original on this
ole girl. May need to get new tires plus the wheels on the back
after all. It would be an advantage to have all the same sized
wheels and tires. I do know the speedo is off as well so maybe the
rear wheels are wrong for this bus. The speedo runs about 10%
optimistic so that might also be corrected by going to 22.5 inchers.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC




>
> I guess my problem is the 20 inch rear tires. Looked on the Alcoa
> web page and I don't see 20 inch wheels. 19.5 yes. Information
> needed. Don't know a thing about bolt patterns hubs etc. John
>
>
>
>
> >
> > I am hot to dress up my 73 FC with Alcoa wheels. I have been
> working
> > under the false assumption that this bus had the original wheels
on
> > it. Turns out the previous owner had replaced the axles with
newer
> > ones from a 1978 FC wheels as well. The point here is the bus
does
> > not have the "odd" sized tires which would have been original to
> the
> > bus. I was thinking that to get new Alcoa wheels I would have to
> > replace the tires as well. Turns out I may not and that is my
> > question. The front tires read 295/75R 22.5 which is a industry
> > standard? The back tires read Dunlap SP 9.00R 20. Can I buy
> Alcoa's
> > and keep my tires? Oh the wheels are ten bolt wheels. Anyone
have
> a
> > source for them? I don't want to spend all the money for wheels
and
> > tires but if I can keep my tires and maybe find used Alcoa's I
> should
> > be able to swing it.
> >
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
>

[antique405@...]

John. I had a 77 that had steel wheels and they were 20". They were the 2
piece wheels. There was a ring that went on one side of the wheel and held the
tire on. These things were real killers. I found some 20" aluminum wheels at a
truck salvage yard to replace them.

Paul Downey
Versailles Ky
83PT35
Our Rollin Home



************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[bubblerboy64]

This bus I am certain originally had the split rim wheels. The
prevous owner replaced them with solid wheels. I talked to him today
and he directed me to and outfit that makes wheel covers which go
over the steel wheel and make it look like a chrome plated or
polished Alcoa. $175 a pair for the front wheels. I order a pair.
They also make similar for the back 20 inchers but they are about
$300 a pair. I have to decide what I want to do long term and short
term about the rear wheels. When the tires are gone in the back I am
going to replace them with 22.5 wheels. Until that time I have to
decide if I want to spend $300 to cover them or just to keep the old
wheel covers. I think I will make the decision based on just how nice
the covers for the front look. But this is certainly a much less
expensive option then buying both new tires and new wheels at the
same time. I also have to consider that the Alcoa wheels are thicker
then the steel wheels and I may have to replace studs to make them
work. The price of beauty. My guess is I have a couple years use
in the rear tires so I might just spring for the covers. Its
interesting to me just what is out there if you know where to look
for it. When I get finished with thngs I'll post some pictures here
in the next couple of weeks. Its turned out to be a pretty nice
looking ole bus if I don't say so myself

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC





>
> John. I had a 77 that had steel wheels and they were 20". They were
the 2
> piece wheels. There was a ring that went on one side of the wheel
and held the
> tire on. These things were real killers. I found some 20" aluminum
wheels at a
> truck salvage yard to replace them.
>
> Paul Downey
> Versailles Ky
> 83PT35
> Our Rollin Home
>
>
>
> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-
new AOL at
> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>