The GMC CCKW

I have my Chevy Fire Truck wheels sand blasted and ready for POR and OD paint.

I received the wheels with new tires on them. Rather than break them down I want to know what you all do about painting wheels with tires on them and how you keep the OD off the rubber.

The wheel diameter is 22.5" from the outer part to outer part of the steel rim. (Note these are 20" cckw rims). I am considering getting a plastic trash can larger in diameter than 22.5" and cutting off the tapered bottom until I get to 22.5" Then I can set the can on the tire between the steel and the bead and spray inside the can.

I will need to use this 24 times so it must be something that is reuseable.

While I could probably mask with tape and paper...I am lazy and that is a last resort.

All suggestions welcome.

Bill

The Trash can thing is the easiest, but if they were mine, I would take the tires back off and at least blast and prime the inside, it will preserve them even better. The sand has a way of entering at the slot around the valve stem. I collect/ restore the Doepke toys (Unit Crane, Adams Grader etc of the 40s/50s) and trim a Dixie Cup to mask the tires in the manner you mention.
Joel

A friend of mine do use an iron mask made in a thin sheet of metal.

You cut a circle larger than the total diameter of tire. Then you cut a hole in center, diameter is the same than rim. Then you make a cut in order to draw the mask aside and put it around the rim.

I hope you'll be able to understand me, it's a bit difficult to explain in a foreign language.

Joel,

Your way is the totally right way to do it. However I do not have tire changing equipment, I am tired of this job not being done, and the budget is way above target at the moment.

The other part of that problem is that the tire changing folks scratch the crap out of the freshly painted rim when they put it back together. Not someting that I am looking forward to.

I did it your way on my WC-54 Combat rims as bubba was not needed to put them together....just me...

Triple A....

I have considered your way too...if the garbage can doesn't pan out I will head down that path.

I appreciate all who have responded....keep those suggestions coming.

Bill

That is what a friend of mine did. Bought himself a sheet of 20 gague galvenised sheet metal. He cut the hole in the center to fit behind the rim and over the tire and then split it in two. He poprivited two drawpull clamps on each side and has usued it for years.

I bought some galvanized flashing at Home Depot. Using the wheel as the model I made a circle around the rim, leaving enouth on each end to fold it down. I drilled three holes in both sides of the piece and put three 1/4bolts through makeing the circle. Then I Placed the circle around the rim and tightened up the bolts with butterfly nuts utill it was tight and both ends were touching. I then painted inside the circle around the rim.
For any accidental OD spots I touched them up with flat black paint. Once you have made this device it can be used over and over again on any 20 inch wheels. I first did this on a 43 GPW and it is easy to work with and controls the overspray very nicely.

I would like to add that changing your own tires on the CCKW wheel is not for everyone, it is dangerous, you can get injured by the tools necessary to do the job, or you may be injured seriously while inflating the assembled wheel and tire. There are special tire Irons and a procedure for removing the lock ring, it requires some strength, a lot of caution to ensure that the tire iron does not slip and take out teeth or otherwise, and a lot of confidence and experience in the little techniques you may use to overcome what happens to a 60 year old wheel. I choose to do my own, as tire shops sometimes use brute strength, rather than use proper procedure for that type wheel. Bottom line is you gotta know what you are doing.
Joel

New to the site, so slow in a suggestion. If wanting to paint your wheels without taking the tires down, there is a trick that has been used to paint custom hot rod mag wheels. Coat the tires wth a thin coat of vaseline. If any overspray, it just wipes off with the light grease. I have seen this done with great results.

the vasline is a good idea, you can use any cream. the best is a water base type as it will just wash of with a pressure washer. i have used tire mounting grease as it is aa vegtable base.

Make sure if you use any type of grease to get complete coverage or you will get some OD places. Have some solvent ready to wipe those off after removal of the grease or whatever you use.

um, if you sandblast the rims (remove all rust) why are you PORing them?

I though POR was just an epoxy to encase exising rust.

Wouldn't a good epoxy primer be a better/cheaper choice?