Question on Steel Wheels

M

mark sawyer

New member
Aug 20, 2015
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So I picked up a set of all terrain tires for the front of my GMC to use when I know I will be driving on grass or dirt roads... Also, my coach is
stored in a building down a small hill in my backyard that is only accessible by driving on grass, so they would be useful when my yard is wet and I
need to get my coach out.

I've been looking for a pair of Alcoa Hot Shots for these tires to match what is currently on my coach for some time, with no luck...

So lately, I've been thinking of picking up a set of steelies to get me rolling.

So my question for the group is I believe the motorhome requires a special profile, early version of the GM dually wheel to clear the brake caliper...
But with the 1 Ton kit and spacer, would I still need to source this earlier wheel? Or could I go ahead and use the more modern, easier to find
version?

Also, I believe the Alcoas use a flat lugnut since the wheels are hub-centered, but I'm unsure of the steel wheels (Hub or lug centered) Would I need
to source a conical lug to work with the GM steel wheels or would my alcoa lugs still be fine?

Was looking at these in particular on fleabay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/332386940285?epid=1055290897&hash=item4d63ce357d:g:ohsAAOSwWTRWzjrd
--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
Mark,
Your going to need to have both front wheels to pull through the grass.
You will need a LSD ( limited slip differential).

> So I picked up a set of all terrain tires for the front of my GMC to use
> when I know I will be driving on grass or dirt roads... Also, my coach is
> stored in a building down a small hill in my backyard that is only
> accessible by driving on grass, so they would be useful when my yard is wet
> and I
> need to get my coach out.
>
> I've been looking for a pair of Alcoa Hot Shots for these tires to match
> what is currently on my coach for some time, with no luck...
>
> So lately, I've been thinking of picking up a set of steelies to get me
> rolling.
>
> So my question for the group is I believe the motorhome requires a special
> profile, early version of the GM dually wheel to clear the brake caliper...
> But with the 1 Ton kit and spacer, would I still need to source this
> earlier wheel? Or could I go ahead and use the more modern, easier to find
> version?
>
> Also, I believe the Alcoas use a flat lugnut since the wheels are
> hub-centered, but I'm unsure of the steel wheels (Hub or lug centered)
> Would I need
> to source a conical lug to work with the GM steel wheels or would my alcoa
> lugs still be fine?
>
> Was looking at these in particular on fleabay:
>
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/332386940285?epid=1055290897&hash=item4d63ce357d:g:ohsAAOSwWTRWzjrd
> --
> Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
> Manny 1 Ton Front End,
> Howell Injection,
> Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
> Fort Worth, TX
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
X45329 (southwestwheel.com)
https://www.southwestwheel.com/p-1835-x45329.aspx

Mark, you might find that backing up the hill will work better than driving
forward up the hill.

> Mark,
> Your going to need to have both front wheels to pull through the grass.
> You will need a LSD ( limited slip differential).
>
> On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 12:07 PM Mark Sawyer

>
> > So I picked up a set of all terrain tires for the front of my GMC to use
> > when I know I will be driving on grass or dirt roads... Also, my coach
> is
> > stored in a building down a small hill in my backyard that is only
> > accessible by driving on grass, so they would be useful when my yard is
> wet
> > and I
> > need to get my coach out.
> >
> > I've been looking for a pair of Alcoa Hot Shots for these tires to match
> > what is currently on my coach for some time, with no luck...
> >
> > So lately, I've been thinking of picking up a set of steelies to get me
> > rolling.
> >
> > So my question for the group is I believe the motorhome requires a
> special
> > profile, early version of the GM dually wheel to clear the brake
> caliper...
> > But with the 1 Ton kit and spacer, would I still need to source this
> > earlier wheel? Or could I go ahead and use the more modern, easier to
> find
> > version?
> >
> > Also, I believe the Alcoas use a flat lugnut since the wheels are
> > hub-centered, but I'm unsure of the steel wheels (Hub or lug centered)
> > Would I need
> > to source a conical lug to work with the GM steel wheels or would my
> alcoa
> > lugs still be fine?
> >
> > Was looking at these in particular on fleabay:
> >
> >
> >
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/332386940285?epid=1055290897&hash=item4d63ce357d:g:ohsAAOSwWTRWzjrd
> > --
> > Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
> > Manny 1 Ton Front End,
> > Howell Injection,
> > Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
> > Fort Worth, TX
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
LaGrange, Wyoming
GMC=Genetically Modified Chevy
 
The ones in the picture are wrong shaped spider for a stock GMC. I don’t know about with the 1 ton. Someone will have to chime in. All factory
wheels and the Alcoas ending in 231 were hub centered and used flat faced nuts. The difference is the Alcoa has an integral washer that pivots on the
nut to not gall the aluminum, hence they only torque to 140
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
I have no idea on clearances with a 1 Ton and steel 16" rims. The 16" steel wheels have very little clearance on a stock setup, and you can't run
16" steel rims with 80MM calipers unless you do some extra clearancing/grinding of the caliper.

according to this guy it works with the 1 ton.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/16-inch-steel-wheel/p53581-16-inch-steel-wheel.html

you can see the bell provile.

That ebay is the wrong one. You would want 4 9/16" center bore, and it is a bell shape(rounded/curved dome), not a cone-. usually older from
what I found, like 80's 1 ton chevy. You can use Alcoa lugnuts on the steel rim for short runs, not sure I would do that down the highway, but
you do not want to use a steel stock lugnut on an alcoa!

but for getting around, it seems to be lots of work to swap to an AT tire, and back.... when I have been stuck, lowering the air pressure to like
10 psi and careful driving(try reverse) gets me out, but it does take a good air compressor, and time to re-inflate. or find someone to tow it up
the hill.


--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Thanks everyone....

Yes, I agree it would be somewhat of a PITA to swap them out, but I'm going to start using my coach to tow a car to do some road racing, and some of
the paddocks on the tracks I plan on running are unpaved, but level. Hoping the AT tire will be enough for those situations... And I don't mind
swapping back to the highway tires for when I'm going to make a several thousand mile trip with the family or whatever.

In my yard on wet grass, I generally just hook the coach up to my wrangler, and pull it up the hill in 4-lo, and guessing no matter what I do, (Save
for paving a path down to the outbuilding) this will probably be necessary. Fortunately in Texas it does not rain much. I think I've also read about
people pushing the coach with their toad on the towbar. We do tow the wrangler this way, so I may try that next time.

Jim: Yes, if the tires are not enough, I may be giving you a call on an LSD.... However, my coach already has 3.42s that I am happy with, and it's
harder to justify the LSD (at least for me) if you're not also doing a final drive swap.

Bruce: Thanks for pointing out that rim at Southwest Wheel... They are only 40 minutes from my house, too boot! But it looks like it is a 4.56
center bore... lqqkatjon: are you sure on the 4 and 9/16ths figure?
--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
Mark,

I am not an engineer- when i take my tape measure to a steel rim for the GMC, I get 4 9/16" reading it. I am not too familiar with any "new"
steel rims. when looking for old 16" steel rims, everyone I found was either 4 9/16" in a bell looking profile, or not even close.

I ran 16" steel rims on my coach for about 6 years. If you actually plan to swap them more then once, the cost of an ion rim would be worth it.
Those steel rims are so damn heavy to move, haul, carry, ect...

I have been running AT tires on the front of my coach for years and don't think I would run anything else. There is enough other wind and noise that
I never noticed any difference in sound. I kind of remember that just accelerating it took more effort to spin a tire on even pavement with the AT,
but can't really be certain because the prior HT tire I had years and years ago probably were crappy and bald too.

I do notice the AT tire does wear fast on the front. Again, maybe just mine.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Road racing? Road Atlanta?

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
4-9/16=4.5625. I doubt you're reading any tape within 0.0025"

Ken H.

> Mark,
>
> I am not an engineer- when i take my tape measure to a steel rim for the
> GMC, I get 4 9/16" reading it. I am not too familiar with any "new"
> steel rims. when looking for old 16" steel rims, everyone I found was
> either 4 9/16" in a bell looking profile, or not even close.
>
> I ran 16" steel rims on my coach for about 6 years. If you actually plan
> to swap them more then once, the cost of an ion rim would be worth it.
> Those steel rims are so damn heavy to move, haul, carry, ect...
>
>
> I have been running AT tires on the front of my coach for years and don't
> think I would run anything else. There is enough other wind and noise that
> I never noticed any difference in sound. I kind of remember that just
> accelerating it took more effort to spin a tire on even pavement with the
> AT,
> but can't really be certain because the prior HT tire I had years and
> years ago probably were crappy and bald too.
>
> I do notice the AT tire does wear fast on the front. Again, maybe just
> mine.
>
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
> Road racing? Road Atlanta?
>
> --johnny

Road Atlanta is definitely on my list.... Actually an east coast trip to hit there, VIR, Watkins Glen and Mid Ohio would be even better... And maybe
Lime Rock too, while I'm dreaming...

But the group I'm going to be running with stays primarily in Texas where I'm from, with one race in Oklahoma (Haslett) and sometimes Motorsports Park
in Louisiana...

Probably the track I'm most looking forward to is Circuit of the Americas... We also run the road course at Texas Motor Speedway... (That's where I'm
planning to do my Comp school and get my provisional license) The rest of the tracks are less well known, but should be plenty fun as well:
Motorsport Ranch (MSR) in both Cresson and Houston as well as Eagles Canyon Raceway....

And after that I should be a broke, but happy guy ;)

--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
Holler when you get close. I used to crew for a bud with a Spridget in the early 70s. As to Hallett, since the statute of limitations has run out, I
put the (Unlicensed and overpower) FM system for the PA there in 1979.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
> Holler when you get close. I used to crew for a bud with a Spridget in the early 70s. As to Hallett, since the statute of limitations has run
> out, I put the (Unlicensed and overpower) FM system for the PA there in 1979.
>
> --johnny

Ha! Thanks Johnny... Will do for sure... And I'll be sure to check out Hallett's PA to see if it looks like it could be the same system ;)
--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
That thing was a Harris Intertype FM exciter from the late 50s, no way it's still working. You'd have to get tubes from an antiquer if at all. I was
given to believe it was replaced with a solid state box some years ago. Great to get the PA on the carradio.

--johnny

--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
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