34 wheel/tire combo for roller

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drfromnc

Senior Member
What cheap wheel and tire combo can I use on my 34 pickup so I can easily roll it in and out of my garage as I begin my project? I have 2 sets of wire wheels but the ones that have tires won’t hold air. Looking for cheap alternatives that will bolt up and be roughly same size as stock wire wheels and tires.
 
I've seen round disks of 3/4" plywood drilled with the 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern used for rollers but usually just for frames. But with the price of plywood these days it might be cheaper to find another tire/wheel combo.
 
ford car up to 48, or ford pickup way into the 80's will bolt on for a roller, but not seat proper to drive them. jeep wheels, scout wheels, anything 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern.
 
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As cas3 noted the 1940 and up rims will not seat properly on the '32 mechanical brake drums. Tightening them will damage the rims. You might post in the wanted section to find wire wheels with bent spokes that you could get cheap. Is it correct to assume you have the original brakes? If not ignore this.

Charlie Stephens
 
Thanks cas3. Good point Charlie, that is one thing I still need to check. My dad said he upgraded to hydraulic brakes but I need to verify. Probably post pics later or tomorrow here to double check what I find.
 
Take a picture of the backing plates at 6 o'clock and people should be able to tell what year they are and if they are Ford.

Charlie Stephens
 
Here is a pic of the back side and front of drum. right front wheel.
 

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Those are 46-48 drums, and 39-41 backing plates. To run 17" wire wheels on those drums you need a support ring, available from many vendors. all the late smoothie ford wheels will bolt on and mount proper
 
Interesting. You probably noticed it has 17” wire wheels from the pic. Didn’t see a ring on there when I removed the wheel. Is this ring between the backing plate and spindle?
 
I only mentioned 17" because you said its a 34, and that would be the correct wire wheel size for 33-34. The original drum for those wheels have a raised up bump near the lug stud that is part of the support for the rim. Without it, you tighten down the lug nuts and it could bend and or crack the wheel as its not sitting on a flat surface. ring goes between the wheel and the hub. hold on, i'll find it for you
 
here ya go... https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-1928-35-Ford-Wire-Wheel-Center-Support,5846.html?sku=91065470&utm_matchtype={match_type}&msclkid=08a786a275671f709319e6163fc94670&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SMI%20-%20Shopping%20(CSE)%20(Bing)&utm_term=4577404348890833&utm_content=All%20Products%20(Feb28_2020)
 
drfromnc said:
Interesting. You probably noticed it has 17” wire wheels from the pic. Didn’t see a ring on there when I removed the wheel. Is this ring between the backing plate and spindle?
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The ring goes around the studs between the wheel and the hub. It is best shown here: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1286293&posted=1#post1286293
If you are lucky your studs will be long enough otherwise you will need to have them replaced which is a job for a SHOP THAT HAS DONE IT BEFORE. If the wheels have been run check them for cracks around the lug nut holes. There is probably another ring on the front brakes that aligns the backing plates on the spindle.

Charlie Stephens
 
Well shoot, I dont know why the copy n paist is as long as the dictionary, and dont work ! search the first few lines: wire wheel support, 28 to 35 etc, it'll come up
 
Yes good information. Now I am going to pull wheel off again to check for ring or if drum has a flat face on it where it meets the wheel.
 
cas3 said:
Those are 46-48 drums, and 39-41 backing plates. To run 17" wire wheels on those drums you need a support ring, available from many vendors. all the late smoothie ford wheels will bolt on and mount proper
Click to expand...

so took the wheel back off and it seems that the drum has a ring already on there or does this drum already have a flat face as part of the casting? I haven't tried to remove the drum since I am not worried about brakes at this point. here are some pics of drum and back of wheel.
 

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