This is One Good Way to Bead Lock 16.5 Rims and Tires

[@Bigdaddyslasher]

That's what we call a rollout jig in the pipe fabrication world. That's a slick setup you fabbed up.

[@charlesalden9167]

Merlin your knowledge on everything automotive is so mind blowing, Dr Frankenstein your tow truck with new tires is tall.welding beads on wheels very clever & now you've created a human like postal person. So cool your donating the 3 wheel mail vehicle to the museum. Love your videos not just entertainment but educational.

[@Wizzard033]

My 94' G20 panel truck and 95' G20 conversion vans both have hydro boost brakes and power assist and they stop very well for being close to 30 years old. And they both are always loaded full at that. love the tow truck!

[@diesel46809]

Oh ya, nothing like a great video from Merlin. Look forward to seeing this.

[@nhmtrhd]

It seems no challenge is impossible to you. Thinking out of the box is where it’s at. 99% would say “you can’t use those 16.5’s for crawling”.You can look at for a bit and think of a way around it,and make it work. I love the challenge of innovation too. And love to see others apply it as well.😃 I really like your channel for those reasons.

[@skipjames8437]

Why 16.5s? Why not something made for it?

[@Dodsonmonty]

Untested. Bet the fails will not get posted.

[@swamprat69er]

Always read the instructions AFTER you do the job to make sure you done it right.

[@olspanner]

Thank you for showing the finished welds, rather than the arc, where we cannot see a thing!!!

[@dieselwrencher]

Nice tip on the power steering pressure mod. A lot of 2nd gen dodges needed adjusted from day 1.

[@kingbernad7345]

Merlin I love your no nonsense ingenious way of doing things. Best way to get things done is simple and direct to the point. Great idea of bead locking the rims and ingenious way of having the lazy susan to do it. Kuddos!

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

thank you for that and thank you for watching

[@mrmongo6722]

Yet another Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg award for the home made wheel rotation machine and homemade method to keep the bead locked on the rim. 🍺

[@lestaylor3641]

As a teenager in the 70s seeing those big tires reminded me when the harbor blvd chevy dealership had blazers all lifted up with gumbo monster mudders on them and gmc jimmys were the same deal. The tow trucks going to look great and we can see that great 250r you did a couple videos back. Great work Merlin looking forward to many more sir. Be safe 👍✌.

[@GaryLX870D]

I think the super swamper is the best looking tire ever.. had me a couple sets..👍

[@caesar1295]

Brilliant idea for bead locks hope it works 100% for you.

[@TheDashrendar22]

Love it! You’re definitely knowledgeable, and explain things very simply so us novices can understand

[@aaronmcconnell7358]

That was a sweet turntable you set up, can't wait to see the old rig back in action.

[@chuckg9805]

Thanks for the pump info. Took apart my first saginaw - went all over the bench - your info got it back together!

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Cool tip on the power steering.

[@harrytaylor6854]

well the wheels and tires look great your honey of a postal worker well at least she doesn't talk back lol well done sir Merlin

[@levergun]

Great, interesting video, Merlin. LOVE Ryn.

[@TimTowell]

Great watching Desiree with the Mail Lady's wig and then watching both of you assembling and dressing the Mail Lady ! I had a couple of sets of 16.5 weld wheels, and moved to 18's and 20's both because getting the wheels to a point where the tires would stay one at low pressure (problem you solved) and the availability of tires was becoming harder and harder to find except for the Military Humvee Takeoffs which were also getting harder and harder to find in a recent tire manufacturing date...

[@elroyelblander6277]

Mornin feller.... thanks for another video and the tip ..catch ya on the next one 👍👊

[@justinsane7128]

Merlin reinvents the wheel again, new and improved.

[@richis65]

Merlin, enjoy not only your fab work, but how you take things apart and show how they work. Really enjoy your channel.....now the mannequin........

[@rightwingmanscott]

Getting addicted to your shows now too! Always enjoy learning new stuff!

[@jakeford7688]

Think Merlin and Rory will have the hand up they have seat time in their rigs Matt and Paul gonna have a pretty steep learning curve providing they don't break

[@Nic26482648]

Depending on the exact challenge, Rory and Merlin have the long time experience on off road tow truck recovery.

[@jakeford7688]

@@Nic26482648 I know that was my point they know there trucks matt's new truck isnt proven yet it's gonna be badass like Paul's but they haven't left the shop yet so who knows what tiny little thing is gonna go sideways

[@peterbracchi3871]

It’ll be interesting to see how your bead locks perform make sure to mark your rim and the tire to see if the rim is spinning in the tire you might’ve solved the pop off part at a specific air pressures. Gotta try new stuff and check it out!

[@Heeman5]

Thanks for bringing Bryn on the vid!

[@mudduck754]

I am impressed, I have been running 33x12.50x16.5 tire's on my Dad's old 75 Chevy C-20 forever, since that's what Dad had on it when he got the chrome wheels, the truck originally came with 16.5s. and they are getting hard to find. I'm trying to keep this old truck as close to it was when the old man was still alive.

[@hosshoffer7579]

That was hilarious. Almost makes me want to go visit the Havasu museum.

[@johngilent]

Your daughter is a natural in front of the camera! Pretty hilarious.

[@kenmurray4232]

Interesting about the power steering pump. I didn't know that the pressure is different between rack & pinion, & normal boxes. You may have saved my Mustang 2 conversion on my truck. Not that far yet but now I know to check the pressures. Good video, thanks for sharing.

[@jamesmooney5348]

Wow, impressive work on your tow truck. Fab rats tow truck I guess is being built more for rock crawling and is looks very impressive. But Matts tow truck is very impressive in person!

[@johnperun232]

Your rim turntable is cool, I made 1for polishing wheels, great stuff Thanx for the power booster info That magical was to COOL To make the Mail Truck complete Nice Touch Have a Great Day 👍 God Bless You and your Family God Bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Good to have fun in shop once in awhile

[@johnperun232]

Thanx Merlin and your Family 👪

[@liftedburblife]

I didn't modify my shims but did drill out my pump to valve to 5/32 for my hydro assistance .I'm considering on doing exactly what your doing completely with no shims .

[@Coalblack79k10]

Ironically I’m watching home improvement when I get the notification this was uploaded this wheel turn table jig deal is right up tim the tool man Taylor’s alley I say we call it the binford wheel turn around bead laying 10,000 👍🇺🇸

[@willyporter7373]

Ingenuity at its best on that roller. Neat the companies you give us insight too. The Mannequin segment was funny

[@jamespalmer1462]

Just found your channel and now a fan of yours, your knowledge is incredible! Can’t wait to see more videos, I have been around the garage growing up and this makes me want to get out there more, keep it up …record more.

[@Gazziers-Goodies]

Wow I can't get over how smart you are is amazing

[@WestCoastRoller]

Very cool way to improve upon what you already have. 👍

[@flyingmachinecustomparts8227]

Mann really enjoying this build !!! All of your builds are fun and well Done .

[@jimmungai1938]

Hey Maryland, I’m gonna recommend that you put a Detroit true track in your front differential everybody. I talk to says they work really good I don’t. I don’t know if you have anything else going on with with that front end but you’re quite the mechanic without a doubt, six in a row.Jim again

[@Terry_Baker]

Great video as usual Merlin!!

[@BubbaJo]

You are a beast bro no other words can describe you simply amazing

[@lchebuhar9212]

Never a dull moment at your place! 💪👍🏼

[@vernlemasters6504]

Only found you a few days ago and have already learned so much. Thank you

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Awesome tires Merlin also beautiful mail lady! LOL!

[@1944chevytruck]

AWESOME TOOL U MADE!....LOOKING GOOD EVERYONE!...MAIL GIRL

[@chicnwing4519]

Love that tire and wheel combo, looks awesome

[@jamesa9lpiopatton419]

Love the little dog makes. Mee miss mine

[@00nutt]

Interco tire my local place. Great people there!!

[@psg6314]

You know Halloween is right around the corner, great video keep up the good work God bless from GA

[@darrylbarger3795]

Excellent work and very creative on the bead retention. About the Mail Lady it's a good thing your daughter was there to assist, otherwise ?

[@jacobkauffman7742]

Is that what a "mail order bride for your mail delivery ride" looks like. Like always good stuff. You are a wizard.

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

🤣🤣🤣😊🏁🙌

[@royphelps8084]

My snap-on machine was stolen , but my aluminum setup and argon, it made some beautiful weilds fixed lots of hodges trucking tanks with it , if it wasn't a rush job , they'd send all the aluminum tank for me to patch and repair. On the older trucks id rebuild the battery boxes into nice steps

[@averagejoe9234]

very cool idea...those guys have some skills for sure!

[@michaelsimmons6138]

Those tires are mean looking . Well I guess if you don't have it make it you got to name it the Merlin Beed welding roller thing lol great job sir .🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍😎

[@hustlinghard8081]

Man, I wish I knew just 1/32" of what he knows. Merlin is a genius

[@bigds6692]

I was laughing so hard at you guys putting the postal lady together 😂😂😂

[@terryboomershine6812]

I think there will be a little role playing before the museum get the uniform...lolol

[@jimmungai1938]

I would’ve taken the opportunity while you had that cleaned off real good and I would’ve put a couple coats of good enamel paint. Where are you off buffed it off so the guy could weld it keep corrosion down all right this is six and a row jim from Kennerdell Pennsylvania that’s pretty slick the way you are set that up so the guy can weld that I like that anyhow, I like your truck to makes me proud to say I have a first GEN dodge

[@shaneharrison4775]

Yall are haveing too much fun with Postal Patty

[@williamcollins4082]

We always used self drills ... Self tapping screws an plenty of good sylicone

[@johnguilfoyle3073]

When I saw the initial problem, my thought was to use a ring roller to bend a steel rod to the right size and then weld it to the rims. Then I saw it was aluminum.

[@jdfmfb03]

Hey guys get a roll of velcro and use it to keep the hair and clothes on the Mail Clerk👍😃 Those tires look fantastic Couldn’t get that look in 1978 on my F350 Cepek MM and Armstrong True Tracks Did not make a tire molded like those. 👍😃❤️🇺🇸

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

armstrong true tracks were the best tire ever for shure!!!

[@williamcollins4082]

Now that's a first !!! A mail person in the mail . Some assembly required ... Mail person in a box in the mail for the mail truck ... To whoever said she has a screw loose ... They all got screws loose !!!

[@TheOldaz1]

A crazy day. Wheels are interesting, hope that works out.

[@indianoladave]

Garden hose. Fill the tire full of old garden hose. No welding required. Plastic pellets for injection molding works too. But go everywhere when you get a hole in your tire. Great show Mr. Merlin my money is on you for the wrecker games. Just a little slower

[@horneygeorgeforge7079]

FYI uniform trivia. the first postal patches, the horse was facing backwards, shortly after they remade them so the horse was facing to the front. I know this because my uncle was a mail carrier at the time.

[@coolhandluke85]

Awesome mod for the 16.5s!

[@marvincarter870]

Merlin you're amazing doing the things you do in the shop and now you can add mannequin assembly to your portfolio! Pretty Ryn and family.

[@pnwoffroader331]

Going to be doing the same thing with my 16.5s but with a 1/8th inch rod just bent around the wheel

[@davidcolesr.8628]

Good to see you

[@AmeliaBlueBaby]

Now that two years have passed how did the weld beadlocks work? Would you do it again like that?

[@toddmccarter45]

Oh man i love your bead setter! How much pressure is that thing good for?

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

150 psi my uncle jesse made it out of a freon bottle 🏁😊

[@randytravis3998]

@@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage it could double as a potato cannon or a golf ball launcher ,, lol that could be fun here on my 30 acres you have lots of neighbors might need windows when done playing my neighbor is a mile down the road only windows I have to worry about is mine ..

[@toddmccarter45]

@@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage sweet, I bet it works great

[@Doogie_Causey]

Interco tire company is about 2 hours west of me in Rayne Louisiana

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

I love there products

[@richardharvey8939]

Love your work and content

[@dentfixer5968]

Morning Merlin.. 👍

[@anthonykittel7392]

So have you been invited to the tow truck Olympics ? I love your vehicles

[@skipjames8437]

Same

[@johnkranz4004]

That was great video

[@stephenabril7084]

Merlin’s got him a nekid doll. Lol

[@michaeloliveras1016]

Good idea on the bead around The rim, I'm curious to see if that works those tires are huge, in the mannequin is kind of creepy.

[@DanFromOR]

Enter this thing into Paul, matt and rorys tow truck Olympics!

[@Syriondeathvow]

You have just saved my bacon. Id like some info pls. Is that a Saginaw power steering pump? What oil cooler should I get? Whats the powersteering box off of?

[@darrinstone49]

That's a cool idea!

[@jajaid6]

So if you put beads on your 16.5 rim can you now run regular 16s on them?

[@randytravis3998]

I don't know where to start ... the turn table was Great will it play records ?? lol .. then the Fuel tank ,, that will hit the old pocket book at fill up time ..then the pump system thank you for the school work .. then the Mail lady ,, I don't know where to start on that .. good thing the shop door was closed and no kids were watching you ... mom that man down the street was messing around with the mail lady in his shop ..lol .. hope the rim upgrade works for you ,, seen people drill holes threw the rim and install screws into the bead on demo cars ,,so if the tire go's flat they can still drive the tire ,

[@kd7qlg]

Cool 😎 fun times

[@micahsapwell7494]

I need to move up to Havasu small town to small bigger town you have everything between there and kingman

[@jeremywimer8842]

Was it difficult to locate the 16.5 tires? My dad had a set of 16.5 slotted mags on his pickup when I was a kid. (30 years ago) he eventually changed them out due to few tire options. He was only running 33 x 12.50s.

[@oregonfordguy9812]

plenty of options still if you gor 35 or bigger. the smaller are now a specialty size.

[@skipjames8437]

Why 16.5s?

[@leosimon9463]

@@skipjames8437 just to make people like you to ask why😂

[@TimothyHigdonHiggs]

Love it!

[@bertnerny]

I don’t know much about automotive stuff but I’m curious why you chose 16.5’s. I’ve always heard they weren’t that good which is why they got phased out. Im sure there are advantages I don’t know about. I wish I could work in your shop and learn how to build my own custom truck. 12 valve of course.

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

because i had them

[@bertnerny]

@@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage that’s awesome that you’re improving what you have rather than tossing and replacing it. Embodied energy should always be considered financially and environmentally.

[@professorfalken4600]

It’s always good to have a naked postal worker in the garage 😂

[@kevinpeters1596]

Too late now but had you considered an inner tube style bead lock?

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

yes I inquired about those and they told me I could not get below 10 psi so I opted for this if I have problems with them coming off I will do both my goal was 5 to 6 psi

[@loraleecarey3228]

Tuck the shirt into the pants, get her a belt, and put her hair into a ponytail. Name her 'Sue' for the museum reference. Love it!!

[@Jammer.1]

OMG your donation is going be great !

[@mortneff4674]

So did ya air down the tires and see how far they go?

[@MerlinsOldSchoolGarage]

10 psi so far and no trouble going to 5 psi and mark the rim and tire to see if they slip on the rim

[@skipjames8437]

Love the shirt.

[@KRAVER_]

Merlin's old school mannikin's

[@jerryb1234]

Ya know who's going to be playing mailman tonight, 😆

[@Peter-pv8xx]

She's missing her cap or pith helmet. My father worked for the PO, I have the old shirt patches with the pony express on it, they were round, I don't have any caps however because he worked inside.