I understand where you and Kevin are coming from Kilroy....it's all good. The main reason for using 'em........I got 'em CHEAP. If I ever get the parts for the '29 roadster on '32 rails I want to build, the wheels are going on it. But just on the back!!!
I am thinking the same thing after looking at that auction. Everyone calls them "milk truck wheels" which has morphed into "Divco" wheels. Now everyone thinks the old milk truck in the junkyard has $2500 wheels on it! I think this guy did buy thinking he was getting something else. If I'm not mistaken, the ones everyone really wants are 18" with the 5 hole 5 1/2" early Ford bolt pattern and do not have a split rim. I believe they were called "high clearance wheels" by Ford. Ford bodied "milk trucks" were just one of the vehicles they were commonly used on.
Ok, since the cats out of the bag..... I'll give up a wheel secret. Those wheels are Chevy truck accessory, they were one year only, and I'm not sayin which year, cuz I'm still out scrounging for them. The wheels are 17" split rim and were made by Kelsey Hayes, the same maker as the Ford 18" ones. They are heavy as hell. The outer band is thick, and weighs a ton. You can take out the center and put them in an 18" outer, I have done it. That's what's on my trailer that I get so much **** about. Here they are in red before I repainted them silver It was a lot of work, but worth it in the end. But, I'm not the first one to do this. Micky Thompson did it bck in the 50's on his twin engine sedan thing. Here is a pic. Note the 6 lug pattern The only difference between the Fords and Chevy's besides the difference in Lug pattern is the lack of a valve step divot, and the chevy's have clips for the hubcap. Other than that they look the same. Better in my opinion because of the lack of the valve stem divot. As far as my opinion goes for non race cars sporting all 4 milktruck wheels, I don't mind since I'm such a big fan of these wheels, but from a historical view, very few race cars (other than lakesters and streamliners) ran them all the way around. In fact, I can only think of 2 that did and they were both t-roadsters. Here is a pic of one. And for everyone reading this..... Can we please just call them "Milktruck wheels" ??? Divco's had nothing to do with them. So there you have it. Go out and look for them, They are out there, but are almost as hard to find as the Fords.
A current-model Japanese SUV, something like Nissan or Mazda, I don't think Toyota, uses a spare tire mounted on a similarly-patterned skinny 18-inch wheel (4WD vehicles need a full-diameter tire, but this one is narrower for storage space). I've heard of people that want a taller milktruck-style steelie calling up the Nissan/Mazda/Somebody parts desk and ordering 4 of those wheels...I think they run like $220 each.
Personally- I think Sinisters truck looks great with those wheels. I really dig the whole look/theme he has goin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess I remembered a little crooked - not so much a Divco style as just an 18-inch steelie. Thanks for filling in the gap in my brain.
Hey guys! Did'nt know where to post this, saw an Artillary wheel post last week where I though I would ask questions. Searched and could'nt find it. Wanted Bobby Green to help anwser and figured this was the most decent post about these wheels. Did'nt feel we needed another thread... I bought these months back for my 32 roadster. They were brand new old stock, never had paint on them. I of cource had them outside as the garage is packed and they got rained on. So I sanded them to get the little surface rust off them and then some primer. Ordering my tires today to utilize my Alliance membership...man, I though it was a lifetime thing...hahahaha, dumb***. So I've wanted to know if anyone can figure these out... They are 16", 5 x 5 1/2. But Ford caps dont seem to fit. There are markings stamped in the back. Can't seem to make it out, tried to rub black paint in them and take a pic...but it did'nt work. They seem to have a circle or an O with a small v in the center of the O, I think there might be something else in the O as well but can not read. There is also a large E with the #4 in the center of the E. I thought it maybe spelled something as there almost could be something before the O...but not sure. They all have it, but one rim is a little better then the others, but still not good enough to read. Thanks Bobby if you can help. When I saw the Rodders Journal, I knew I needed to ask you, since your obssesed...hahahahaa.
One certainly authentic period use you see in the earliest magazines is temporary use on street roadsters running at lakes or Bonneville...the 18" high clearance wheels extra diameter gave a cheap and easy way to raise the effective gearing.
I personally like a tall rim, looks wise and with the obivous less rotaion per second. But the car has to be low for me when using a tall rim. I got these 16's because they became available. Gonna run a tall tires, 6.25 and 7.50 to get my desired look. Car is channeled hope to pull it off so she looks right. Dont want it too low nor too high. Working on the frame right now, my buddy has the day off...so I get to work on my stuff. I may start a new thread as to questions and preferences for the 32 guys. Can't make up my mind, want nostalgia, but also want to drive this car everywhere. Hope to catch up with you soon Bruce...you sure know your stuff. Wish you lived closer as I would never leave you alone. Lucky for you... Ok, back outside...
Satanherself has a pair of Divie's on the FOR SALE listing page for $600 with ***les. I wonder what wheels are on those trucks?
No worries. I just wanted to point it out in case someone wanted to find out, or was interested in'em. She's always got some neat and obscure stuff, and one of these days I'm sure I'll wind up buying something from her and making a trip up to her stomping grounds to find other useful stuff.
My dad's 40 Chev 3/4 ton project. Got a full set of five high clearance wheels, They are only 17" but that is easily fixed Dad wants to get his truck as low as possible so he wont be running these so, I will! I'll use a pair on the back of my '25 Chev Roadster.
Frank, Your kinda right,.. they do look like plow discs. haha D. Devil, Wheel kid might be right about the Chrysler...... Possibly Studebaker as well. I think both had 5x5.5 bolt pattern. Do some searching for 34-39 Chrysler and Stude. You might find a pic of what your looking for. There were sooo many diferent artillery style wheels made, I could never i.d. them all.
Bobby that feature in the Rodders Journal is very interesting,congrats on the article.Now i just have to go look in the junkyards up here,i know of one upcountry where they junked a whole fleet of dairy trucks.
Check out the latest TRJ, those are actually called Ford Accessory wheels. I'm talking about the first ones on this post.
Bobby Green is the KING of cool milk truck wheels and the only authority I know of on here to make any accurate comments. Check the latest TRJ
The Jalopy Journal
