chevy rims on ford

[1971ford]

So what's the dealio with putting older chevy 8 lug rims on my f250 bump (highboy). so the pattern is the same but the center hole is smaller apparently. I got a measurement from a guy on craigslist with some original chevy 8 lug steel rims that i want to put on my highboy for the original look, and the center hole on the chevy rims is 4 3/4". I measured my D60 rear hub and the hub itself is 4 3/4". So they would need to be ground out a tad. can i grind the holes out a little, or will this look crappy, reduce strength or put the balance off?

[fordman]

if they are4 3/4 they should fit. the smaller chevy wheels wontfit eventhoguhtthey are 8 lug. the centers are just too small.

[67mann]

if they are4 3/4 they should fit. the smaller chevy wheels wontfit eventhoguhtthey are 8 lug. the centers are just too small.

I believe that's what he is asking about----grinding out the "centers" or maybe its me that is misunderstanding
And Ryan--- How can you go for the original look with Chebby rims

[1971ford]

i know, chevy parts. oh dear. I know I'll be offroading and the rim will expode!
They look just like original Ford rims, and they are a set of 5, with tires, for $40. They will do until i find a genuine wheel that was made right (ford)

[SteveC]

hey Ryan remember when my 67 was a f250 and was 2 wheel drive?? thost rims that i had later on after i rebuilt the engine was off a chevy 8 on 6.5 and they fit over my f250s d60 worse case if they are a bit tight you can have the centers turned with a lathe.

[averagef250]

hey Ryan remember when my 67 was a f250 and was 2 wheel drive?? thost rims that i had later on after i rebuilt the engine was off a chevy 8 on 6.5 and they fit over my f250s d60 worse case if they are a bit tight you can have the centers turned with a lathe.

Yeah, Cause all of us guys out there with lathes large enough to chuck a 16" wheel want to spend our day turning the centers out of $8 a piece steel wheels. To fixture a wheel in your average shop's medium size production engine lathe is no walk in the park. It's far more involved than just plunking the wheel on the chuck and making chips. The way a wheel is means you can't get all that close to the wheel center with the carraige. You need one good size boring bore to hang off 4-5" and take an interrupted cut through alloy steel.

OE GM 8 lug wheels all have small centers that do not fit Ford or Dodge. Why? Who knows, but it is not worth it to make them fit unless you don't value your time enough.

If you absolutely must make it work the fastest way to make the wheels work is to mill the centers out either with a boring head or by mounting the wheel on a rotary table and milling to size. Don't torch the centers out. Wheels are not mild steel.

[fordman]

i'm not tring to start a fight here but chevy uses dana axles too. and they do have stock 8 lug rims the same size as fords. i have seen a set of them. i almost bought them for the rims and tires on them.

[1971ford]

well im going over there tomorrow. I was going to take my mom's car and save about a million dollars in gas but I'll take my truck on back roads so i can try and swap a chevy wheel on first.
Then that will settle this dispute...



So if the centers are maybe an 1/8" too small (He measured the centers and they are 4 3/4" , which is what my hub is, so it if it doesn't fit it will be damn near close) i can't grind them out with any air/power tools? It has to be done perfect?

[averagef250]

i'm not tring to start a fight here but chevy uses dana axles too. and they do have stock 8 lug rims the same size as fords. i have seen a set of them. i almost bought them for the rims and tires on them.

Fordman, the GM 8 lug center hub pilot hole is SMALLER than Ford or dodge. Seamed like about 5 years ago or so people went apeshit over those GM H2 aluminum hummer wheels that were turning up on craigslist for peanuts and looked cool on big 4x4's. The only problem was they only fit GM's weeny hub unless you milled the centers out.

The hub doesn't have to center. Most aftermarket wheels are studcentric. You machine the centers out and your fine. If you want to grind the center out it's your call, but it's a good bit of grinding in a not so easy place to remove material efficiently with a grinder.

It's easier to get Ford or dodge wheels.

[ForingaMex]

...the center hole on the chevy rims is 4 3/4". I measured my D60 rear hub and the hub itself is 4 3/4". So they would need to be ground out a tad. can i grind the holes out a little, or will this look crappy, reduce strength or put the balance off?

Am I missing something? Why would the hole need to be 'ground out' if the hole is 4 3/4 and the hub that the wheels are goning on are 4 3/4? Seems like a perfect fit to me but again I might be missing something.

[SteveC]

hey Ryan remember when my 67 was a f250 and was 2 wheel drive?? thost rims that i had later on after i rebuilt the engine was off a chevy 8 on 6.5 and they fit over my f250s d60 worse case if they are a bit tight you can have the centers turned with a lathe.

Yeah, Cause all of us guys out there with lathes large enough to chuck a 16" wheel want to spend our day turning the centers out of $8 a piece steel wheels. To fixture a wheel in your average shop's medium size production engine lathe is no walk in the park. It's far more involved than just plunking the wheel on the chuck and making chips. The way a wheel is means you can't get all that close to the wheel center with the carraige. You need one good size boring bore to hang off 4-5" and take an interrupted cut through alloy steel.

OE GM 8 lug wheels all have small centers that do not fit Ford or Dodge. Why? Who knows, but it is not worth it to make them fit unless you don't value your time enough.

If you absolutely must make it work the fastest way to make the wheels work is to mill the centers out either with a boring head or by mounting the wheel on a rotary table and milling to size. Don't torch the centers out. Wheels are not mild steel.

Sorry mixture of little sleep and having head up behind I got mill and lathe mixed up and ur right its really not worth it to go about all that work for simple steel rims. Just stated what I thought to be fact and I am wrong but best thing to do is see if they fit and if not keep looking

[wildcard]

Seems to me even if the center hole was hit with a grinder or whatever, wouldn't the lug holes center the wheel regardless ? As long as the center hole wasn't enlarged no more than you're talking about. If it were me and it was that close and temporary anyway, I'd get the grinder out.

[zakt]

Im thinking the newer OEM chevy/GMC wheels are hub centric (maybe back in the day they were not??) I know my 1999 2500 suburban dont fit ford (I tried swapping mine) from a 14 bolt rear

I cant say to much will have chevy suburban seats in the front of mine ( I like that 6 way power driver seat )

[Doug Comer]

I woked in a tire shop for a while. Chevy wheels DO NOT fit Ford. The way to make them fit is grind,hack, torch, or machine the centers to fit the larger Dana axles. Fordman I respectfully disagree with you on the dana 60 in the back of the 3/4 Chevy. From my knowledge (I'm no expert ) they use the 14 bolt in both semi and full floating designs.
Ryan I'm not trying to promote the sale of my rims. If you call any reputable tire shop they should verify this for you.

Doug

[fordman]

well i'm going to take soem pics of those other wheels just to show what i saw. i am not saying anything positive or negative about fitment. of the wheels until i get those pictures.