Rims

coolcoupe

coolcoupe

Well-known member
What size width rims were used on 46-48 cars ? I was thinking of putting some www radials on my 47 pros/cons.
 
Just had this discussion on a Facebook page. 16" X 4" according to the "green bible" and the 1942,1946, 1947-48 sales data and reference books for Ford passenger car.
 
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US Mercury is different I think but Ford used 4"X16" 1940-48 to my knowledge.
 
The 15" Mercs are popular and radials work. BUT note there are 'innie' and 'outie' lug nut holes, and the short lug studs of many '40s will not work with post-war 'outie' lug nut holes! The lug nuts may only use 1/2 of their threads!!! Newc
 
1942deluxe said:
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US Mercury is different I think but Ford used 4"X16" 1940-48 to my knowledge.
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I believe if you'll go measure BETWEEN the two beads on the '40 & '41 wheels with the STRAIGHT sides on the drop center (as BELOW) that you'll find them to be 4" wide.


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I believe if you'll measure BETWEEN the two beads on '42-'48 wheels with one slanted vertical drop on the rear side of wheel that you'll find them to measure 4-1/2" between beads, as seen BELOW.

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Coop


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Coop, The Early Ford V8 club 41-48 book states the 01A- 1015 rim was used in production thru 1946 which is the rim in your first picture I believe. Three of my 42's rims were date stamped 10-16-41 and were that style. They mention a "sloper" rim was then used. I think that would be the 11A-1015 rim listed as a service replacement in the November 1950 "green bible" which I believe would be the design like your second picture.100% in agreement you measure from the inside edges to determine the width. Did Ford make a change and not update the parts catalog and data books given to the dealers? Possible but I can't find any documentation to support it. The Green bible does list an 8C 1015 rim at 4.5 inches with for the 45-47 trucks. Without looking I'd think that also fits the 48-50 trucks(1948 P/N). Having 1942,1946 and 1948 Ford cars I'd like a definitive answer but that's would I've found so far. I sent a note to the Early Ford V8 club 1942 Ford advisor and he stated my 42 should use the 4" rims....
 
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After reading more carefully 1941,1942 and most of 1946 are 4". 47 could be 4 or "wider, 4.5?" and all of 1948 are wider (again 4.5?). I'm leaning toward all of the "sloper" rims are 4.5 inches.
 
I think sloper rims are not exclusively 4-1/2". I have a mix of straight and sloper rims on Old Rusty and they are 4".
 
Mart said:
I think sloper rims are not exclusively 4-1/2". I have a mix of straight and sloper rims on Old Rusty and they are 4".
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Mart, good to know. I'm not yet convinced that the parts book and the sales data/reference books are wrong.
 
Wow, I learned something new. I was always told the straight drop 4” wheels were 40 only, the slant drop 4” wheels were made in 41, and post war they were all 4.5” wheels. I can agree that there was probably a little overlap to use up old stock, but I never would have guessed that they didn’t really use the 4.5” in earnest til 47.
 
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