Help sellecting wheels for a 54

JohnSunliner

JohnSunliner

Member
I want to get new chrome wheels for my 54. Looking for 15x6 5x4.5 inch bolt pattern, zero offset. On ebay's compatibility checker they say these are not compatible with a 54 ford (Sunliner). Ok, well I thought since the original is a 5 inch wheel I will try that search and it says the same, 5 inch wide wheels are also not compatible. Am I doing something wrong or is their compatibilty checker wrong. I am looking at Chrrome Smoothys or torq thrust.
 
I have that size Torque Thrust on my 55. They are very tight on the rears, I have to remove the shock nuts and use a small bottle jack to jack the axle down to remove the right side tire. Its a 2.25-70 size. Wider than a six inch could be big trouble.
 
Topic of backspacing and rim width for these cars was discussed awhile back. Here's a link to some of it on the HAMB 52-56 group forum: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=11228

And a good place to figure out backspacing: http://www.streetdreams.org/tech.php

After we discussed, I replaced the 205-70R15s on 5.5" rims with 225-70R15s on stock 6" rims off a '65 Galaxy. It took some 'creativity' to get 'em on the rears but they do fit. Any wider and it'd be a tough squeeze without taking something apart. My '56 is at stock/standard height.
 
Thanks Ron and Don, I am blury eyed reading that HAMB posts but I learned a lot. One interesting thing I think I learned, is going with a thin tire and even bigger rim like a 16 may be easier to get on and off the rear than a thicker tire on a 15 inch rim. Now that I learned about backspace measurement too I will have to go measure and jack up the rear and think it through. Thanks!
 
Contact www.summitracing.com by phone, one of their vendors can supply you with the offset you will require.The 16" wheels will only make it worse and lessen the tires you have to choose from,stick with 15's.
 
To close the loop on this old thread, I was able to install 245x55s on my rear with ease. These are 9.5 inches wide! Yes I did have to remove the lower shock nut but that is easy to do at home anyway. The trick was to go with 17x8 inch rim and make sure you have the correct back spacing. These are not stock but look retro and modern at the same time.
 
Jeff, on the front I put new disc brakes so my solution may not work with drums. But I used 17x7 in front with 4 inch back spacing. I think the stock rims were 3 7/8 back space and as far as I can tell the new discs locate the wheel in the same place as stock. The tire clears the A arm with about 1/2 to 5/8 inch with out spacers.
John
 
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