Looking for replacement wheels '81 3500

[13Goat]

'81 3500 1st Gen with 16.5 wheels (stupid metric). Truck has only 59k miles on it--utility body & I'm using it for a welding truck on the farm. No can find 16.5 tires anymore--would like to find 16" wheels for the truck before the tires that are on it go bad. Any suggestions as to what wheels will fit would be appreciated.

 

[u2slow]

All the Dodge dually wheels from 72-93 fit. None are metric. They are 'coined'/lug-centric. My '75 D300 has stock steel 16's. I reckon the 16.5" was long gone for the cummins years (89-93).

There's other ways to mount other wheels, but there's several variables. 2wd vs 4wd, and are your rear hubs machined cylindrical, or a bell-shaped/flared casting?

 

[13Goat]

My '81 3500 is 2wd with the cylindrical hubs--think it's what is called the full floating axles. The end of the axle has a series of bolts around the perimeter--take them out and you can pull the axle without removing the wheels/drum. I think that the '81 was one of the years when the whole industry was bound and determined to to metric with everything, thus the 16.5" wheels.

 

[GTyankee]

I found this , it may be correct

Dodge Ram Pickup 250/350 8-bolt (D/W):

• Year: 81-93
• bolt pattern: 8x165.1 (8x6.5")
• Offset: 10 mm
• Center bore: 120, 9 mm
• Stud size: Lug nuts 9/16" (18 UNF)

The 8x165.1 and 8x6.5 bolt patterns are the same

8x165.1 - Bolt pattern | Wheel-Size.com

Bolt patterns (holes, pcd), 8x165.1

www.wheel-size.com

several makes & models of vehicles
More research would have to be done to discover the

Center Bore & Lug Stud size
( possibly a Machinist could modify that part for you )

 

[GTyankee]

This site is all about wheels/Rims interchange

https://roadkillcustoms.com/wheel-bolt-pattern-cross-reference/Default.asp

 

[u2slow]

My '81 3500 is 2wd with the cylindrical hubs--think it's what is called the full floating axles. The end of the axle has a series of bolts around the perimeter--take them out and you can pull the axle without removing the wheels/drum. I think that the '81 was one of the years when the whole industry was bound and determined to to metric with everything, thus the 16.5" wheels.

It's a full-floater either way. What i mean is the shape/profile of the protruding hub. It is shaped like a vase, you can't convert to use a hub-pilot wheel. If it's shaped like a tin can (a true cylinder) then maybe you could use 94+ dodge dually wheels.

Edit: 0.5" wheel sizes were the first mainstream attempt at tubeless tires. 19.5, 22.5, and 24.5 are still common. 14.5 and 17.5 have held on for trailer use.

Edit2: vase/bell shaped hub that can't hub-pilot the outer dually wheel: