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Contributor
| I have been communicating a lot with Chinese MFG's and come up with one that is willing to custom make 22.5's with the FMC bolt pattern (5 lug on 8" BCD with 6" center holes.
The only issue is that their minimum quantity is 60 pieces... YIKES!
Is there enough interest to put together a group buy with 9 people (7 rims per person)?
Interest?
^Bernie |
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Contributor
| The diagram for this is here:
http://www.fmcowners.com/mbbs22/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=161&p...
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Elite Veteran
 
Location: Oceanside, CA | I'd only be interested in Aluminum. The extra weight and maintenance for maintaining the finish on a steel wheel would be a deal breaker. |
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Contributor
| LCAC_Man - 2017-05-19 7:00 PM
I'd only be interested in Aluminum. The extra weight and maintenance for maintaining the finish on a steel wheel would be a deal breaker.
Sounds expensive.
These are $62 each FOB... With all the expenses (freight, etc.) should be well under $100 each.
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Veteran
Location: Canton, (Sixes) GA | Mighty 890 has 22.5" steel budd wheels. When I got it the top speed with the Detroit 8.2L Diesel/Allison was 72 mph at 3000 rpm. Leslie had converted his 8.2L coach with 22.5 aluminum wheels, 938, from the 4.56 differential to 3.78. I said "Give me one!" Many months later and many many many dollars later (big sucking sound on my wallet) I could cruise at 70 mph all day at 2500 rpm, getting a respectable 12-14 mpg and a top speed somewhere north of 85. Had one wheel crack, don't know why, that's the only problem I had with them in 9 1/2 years. Jim Black told me the 22.5's were prone to cracking, Leslie disagreed. It was always fun to provoke that rivalry. A little gray wheel paint each year and stainless wheel covers and all was well. There is no limit on the number of ways you can spend money on this wonderful machine. Still miss the old girl but Grant is taking good care of her. |
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Contributor
| OK, here's the latest from China:
Dear Bernard,
Thanks for your detial email.
1. For the alloy wheel 7.5 x 22.5 price, FOB USD $230.00 for your reference.
2. MOQ is 100pcs for the alloy wheel.
Have a nice day!
So, the good news is that yes, they can produce them. The not-so-good news?
at 100 pieces minimum order, that would require 15 of us to order sets of SEVEN!
after shipping, the price per wheel is probably going to come to $260 - $280, Which would put a set of 7 wheels at about $1800 - $2000
Now THAT is a big commitment!
Wondering about who else used this hub. Did FMC get it off a Ford? Was another pattern available on the MFG's original vehicle?
Edited by journeyman 2017-05-22 12:15 AM
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Early Ford Medium Duty (F600's) and Travco/Dodge Motorhomes all used that pattern. The early ford guys are a big group/forum. You could register with them and float the idea...they seem to have a willingness to spend some $$ on their rigs.. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Honestly...if I were you I'd focus on the brake and hub swap to get to 10 lug...the brake upgrade is something that a lot more would be interested in...the wheel availability would be gravy on that.. |
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Contributor
| LCAC_Man - 2017-05-22 3:24 PM
Honestly...if I were you I'd focus on the brake and hub swap to get to 10 lug...the brake upgrade is something that a lot more would be interested in...the wheel availability would be gravy on that..
I like the hub/brake swap the best because
1) I already have nice Accuride 8.25x22.5 alloys
2) The brakes should be far superior (and no more brake squeal)
3) The wheels would not be 'special'. Most ANY off-the-shelf 22.5 alloy would bolt up
I just need to find out what hub FMC used (off what vehicle) and then find out if that vehicle ever had a 10 on 11.25" bolt pattern option.
This might be easier said than done.
Still, laying out close to $25k on a stack of rims seems like a ridiculous move unless there are lines of people begging for this rim.
I started a thread asking for hub help, but as of yet, nothing.
I plan to contact Leslie and ask. Anyone who could contribute any knowledge or research would be GREATLY appreciated.
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Extreme Veteran
Location: Ignacio Colorado | You will need a medium to talk with Leslie. He has departed this world. You might get some info from his son Chris if you can get ahold of him.
Bill |
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Contributor
| Hmmm.
Rather not go the medium route :-) Thanks for the heads up.
I will call and see who i can talk to.
I need someone who knows more than just service and repair... |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Getting to a setup like this would be great...heavy duty parts that are cheap/available. The F700 axle weight ratings exceed the FMC so it would be a good upgrade.
https://truckpartsinventory.com/parts/details/20544974 |
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Contributor
| Len, that would be perfect if it would fit on the FMC spindle. Not sure of the odds of that happening.
But this is the type of thing that really could make sense for those of us who do not want to be held hostage by the 5 on 8" BCD bolt pattern.
Now of course a completely different discussion has to happen for the rear hubs. With a little luck on our part, FMC would have chosen a standard axle end from a common axle housing like an Eaton 15040 or something like that... |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Yes...agree with all that.
There are some alternative ways to do it...You could separate the FMC drum from the hub, then make an adapter plate from the hub 5x8 to the 10x11.25 pattern(probably out orf 1/2" steel plate) that would allow it to mate with a standard 10 lug brake rotor...but then you've got caliper mounting to deal with that will (no matter the solution) require some weld/metal fabrication, so you'd use the mounting bolt points for the brake drum backing plates as a place to start for those.. It won't be a straight forward fix regardless of how close you can get..
Starting with a full up assy like in the link would probably (at a minimum) require custom bushings be machined to match bearing diameters or even machine the hub itself to get the depth correct.. |
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Contributor
| I also wonder about replacing the entire Spindle. Welding in a new spindle to the FMC casting seems a bit draconian, but if successful, all the brgs/hubs/brakes/wheels would be back to a easy standard.
Again, the rears are unexplored territory, but this may not be as daunting as it might seem at first once the stub ends are identified |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Yes, removing the steering knuckle isn't that hard, you could take it to a local machine shop and bore out the old one and have a nice bevel/step for the new one...welding them in isn't anything special. This is a doable project but I'm just now starting my 2004 Suburban Duramax Conversion, making it a "Duraburb" http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/63-gm-diesel-engines/374-frankenst... ...so I don't have any time to put on it.. |
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Contributor
| I already have the Spindles/hubs/hyd. disk rotors and calipers from a 2006 C6500. I watched this vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONgT5MgapRg
And it does not seem that extraordinary.
The rears? Hmmm Need to figure that one out.
Again, my hope is that a hub/brake combo from a Eaton or similar axle will work.
Love the idea of a Duraburb, but are you in CALIF? How will you smog it? Have to go through the referee?
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Contributor
| One of the (main?) things I love about the FMC is that it is completely pre-smog. No meddling state rep. sticking his hands up my motorhome's skirt.
I have the LY6 engine in it (about 360 HP stock). I want to be able to tweak and tune for efficiency (higher efficiency = less heat generated to water jacket).
I do NOT want someone else telling me I am not allowed to improve it (they won't even allow modifying for lower emissions/cleaner burning without a ref).
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I set up an LLC corp out of Montana and register both the FMC and Suburban there.
LY6 is a great engine...huge improvement over the original...there is a huge aftermarket/tuning support system for the GenIII/GenVI motors...I run a Gen III LS2 in my Jeep Commando and did the tuning myself with HPTuners (same program as I used on the LBZ duramaz in the FMC).
Edited by LCAC_Man 2017-05-23 10:43 AM
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22.5 wheels... For an affordable price!
