I haven't finished the first wheel I attempted yet and right now that wheel is holding up the nose of my '41 truck to prevent crushing the lower grille , which is tender from rust.
Since I can't afford $1K+ each for aluminum wheels to fit the M/T 29x18x18 tires I have, I'm making my own 18x15 wheels. I am starting out with these steel 18x7.5 wheels with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern from an '06 or newer Ford Explorer. part #STL03654U45 in case anyone is interested.
I managed to knock the center out of the wheel. It took a bit more effort than I had anticipated. First I cut the four 4" long welds with a cut off wheel. Then i heated the joint and started smacking near the joint with a piece of 1/2" round bar and a BFH. It took a while but the weld seams finally split and the center popped out. I wanted to make sure not to over grind and cut into the rim.
The rims will end up right about 15" wide , which is what M/T specs for the tires. The aluminum wheels M/T offers have 5" of backspace, so I am going get as close to that as I can. Ironically, the center will end up almost exactly where it was in stock configuration. It needed to come out because where I am adding to the width starts right under the edge of the front surface of the center
This is just mock up. Nothing is welded together yet.
I cut up the 2nd rim, but took a different approach. I left the center in place when I cut it. This will make things a bit easier when adding the ring to widen it, less to line up and less chance of runout. Once I finish this one, I'll put the center in the 1st one and match the offset. I just wish I thought of this to begin with, but I wasn't sure how much offset I wanted.
I finished welding both rims and drilled new valve stem holes.
My idea of leaving the center in the second one cut the fab time WAY down. Much much easier and quicker. Just for giggles, I weighed a widened rim and one of the untouched ones for the front. Before: 31 lbs After: 45 lbs.
I need to clean the wheels and then rattle can them before I mount the tires. I might put some urethane sealer on the welds on the inside of wheels just as a precaution.