1946 Ford Rims

M

MY46FORD

Junior Member
Can anyone help me, what car or truck new replacement rims would fit this car. The car has 15" rims 5x5.5 bolt pattern 5" Wide & 3 1/2" offset. The holes on the current rims have increased in size over the years.

Any help provided would certainly be appreciated.

e-mail denton.lucas@sympatico.ca or 1-705-735-9766

Thank you,

Denton Lucas
 
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Are you sure your lug bolts aren't 5 1/2 inch diameter circle? If so, I have a very nice 16 inch wheel with a very good blackwall tire and tube that I will sell you if it is feasable to ship it to you.I am in Tyler,TX:)
 
Most Fords from the 1940 up through the 1948 had 16 inch wheels with a 5 on 5.5 inch bolt patern. Mercury cars from 49 through 51 and many ford trucks up into the 60s used 15 inch 5 X 5.5 patern. 5 holes on a 5 inch patern was used by Buick & Cadillac back in the 50s and maybe a few others. There are reproduction wire wheels available for the old Buick & Cadillac classic models but they are pricey. The wheel kid on the HAMB has a lot of information on wheels and what fits what. You might check there. Also check Wheel Vintiques www.wheelvintiques.com for reproduction wheels.

Kerby
 
To get a quick measurement of your bolt circle diameter, measure from the CENTER of one hole to the FAR SIDE of a hole two holes away. It's not a mathematically correct way of doing it, but it's quite close for the parts we're dealing with.
 
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If the holes in your original wheels have "wallowed out", cone shaped washers are available, for about a dollar each, which will take up the slop when used with the stock lug nuts having a taper on the in-board side of the nut. Not very expensive and easy to install. If you have "stock" 1946 wheels, they are 5 X 5.5, as others have said.
 
Thanks Henry for your reply. Yes they are 15" rims 5x5.5 . Where can one obtain cone shaped washers from.

Thank you for your help

Denton Lucas
 
The 15" 5 on 5.5 wheels with inside hubcap knobs came on the '48 Merc's, this type of wheel was also used on the Ford F-100 pk ups through 1966.

The Merc wheels will generally be 5" wide where-as the pickup wheels can be up to 6" wide. The back-set on all of these wheels will be just right for use on early V8's.

The '49-50 Merc's have the same 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern as do Ford pickups from 1967-80+, the difference being that the hub caps lugs are on the outside of hub.

The 5 on 5.5" '57-66 Ford pickup wheels are very desirable for use on the early Ford V8's because they are heavy duty wheels and are made for tubeless tires. The Ford wheels will generally be stamped with the Ford Oval and/or KH.

If the lug holes in your wheels are overly worn out from years of improper use, I would discard them in favor of newer wheels that are not worn out. The '57-66 Ford pickup wheels are very easy to come by for about $25. or less each. To my way of thinking.. washers under the lug nuts is a failure waiting to happen..

The Ford pickup wheels wheels have the same bolt pattern as some Mopars and vise-versa, however, I would not suggest using the Mopar wheels on an early Ford V8.
 
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Mr. Lucas - The washers are available from MAC's Antique Auto Parts. Check page 9 of their current '32-'48 catalog. P/N = A1012WS. Price = $0.45 each, 20 required. I've used these with good results. Good luck.
 
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