16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

I saw a beautiful show truck, 41 1/2 ton, appeared to have the rings that go on the 16" wheels that were chrome, and the wheel was painted to match the truck. Looked great, wondering if anyone has done that, and if you can put the ring on without damaging the chrome? TIA!

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Shouldn't be an issue damaging the chrome.There are relief cut outs to slip the ring on the wheel after tire and tube are installed and then the tire is slowly inflated.While inflating make sure that the groove on the ring is locked in place on the rim.When I worked in a tire shop in the early 1960's we inflated these in a cage or upside down.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

if you chrome them they will need to be heat treated buy someone that knows what their doing. If you dont you risk them failing from chemical embrittlement [trust me i know]

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Can you share a picture? I'm not familiar with a 1940 1/2 ton commercial chassis with lock ring 16" wheels. I have seen lock rings on the 1 1/2 ton trucks, but not the smaller 1/2 ton trucks.


aussie merc is 100% correct about finding a shop that can both chrome and relief bake immediately after chroming. There is a time limit between the chemical bath and the oven that you don't want to get wrong.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

I think it could be the trim rings that most commonly were on passenger cars that he saw.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

I too have never seen 16" lock ring wheels with the 5 on 5 1/2 pattern. Pretty sure I have seen them in 15" on an old airstream trailer. The tonners have a 17" lock ring wheel with the ring painted silver, a long standing tradition in the heavy truck world. I think UPS still paints that stripe around todays one piece wheels. I know for a fact that they painted on a silver band on the rear wheels as the lock ring on the rear faces inwards.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Firestone made them (16" 5X 5.5) and they were adjustable spokes.They also used the 32-35 Ford hubcap.Also there was an artillery wheel ,Clark?,(16")that had the snap ring.5X 5.5 bolt pattern.Here is a pic.

They are not General Jumbo's although the hubcap is similar.

The 33 sedan pictures had 2 different pairs of 16" artillery wheels when I bought the car. 1 pair were Budd's .They did not have the snap ring.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Here are some split ring wheels my dad had on a 1949 F1. They are 15x5.5 the parts book shows then in 1953 TAAA-1007-B. They are stamped FOMOCO.

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

I found no Budd listing for the 16” locking side ring wheels having 5 x 5.5” pattern. A deeper search might show they were of another manufacturer.

Your TAAA 1007B (K37717) wheels are 1954 replacements for TAAA 1007A (K36877) that was only cataloged in 1953. There was a minor offset change 1953 to 1954. Prior to this the TAAA 1007A went through some number changes dating back to 1947 where it was the mystery wheel 7RC 1015. It seems no one has ever found any of these earliest wheels but clearly they exist(ed). And significant to me, they are cataloged in MH references using the same engineering drawings as Ford’s under MH number LD7 5370. Stu

Edit - it might be interesting for you to measure the backspace on your 15” locking side ring wheels. My TAAA 1007Bs measure 3.75” from a straight edge across the rear lips to the center. A TAAA 1007A had 3/8” more offset so your backspace could be that much greater. Stu

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

I have a set of the Adj early ones ,Firestone,the ring was chromed

Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

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Re: 16" split rims - Can you chrome them?
 

Stu, I measured from the arrow to where the wheel contacts the drum and it was 3 5/8".