wide 5 wheel

37 Cab

37 Cab

Well-known member
Anyone recognize these wheels? They appear to be some kind of aftermarket 15x6. Not home made. Are they a custom built wheel or an aftermarket company? I am looking for a spare. 277569138_10228499828784393_239654117485035258_n.jpg
 
yeah,Tommy those dont look like my wide fives 16" oe wheels on my '37 fordor. i'd love to put steel belted radials on my '37 no tubes? was wondering if the modern radials would walk off the wide five OE rims. Tom.
 
Those look homemade to me. Years ago, when I was vintage dirt racing, Speedway Motors offered wheel shells and wide five centers, and I was able to make my own wheels with custom widths and offsets. Those centers look a lot like the centers sold by Speedway. Also, a close look will show that the welds are a little more crude than commercially produced wheels.

EDIT : Here's the listing for the center : https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Wide-5-Wheel-Center-for-15-Inch-Steel-Wheels,7403.html.

I see they are "No longer available".
 
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tubman said:
Those look homemade to me. Years ago, when I was vintage dirt racing, Speedway Motors offered wheel shells and wide five centers, and I was able to make my own wheels with custom widths and offsets. Those centers look a lot like the centers sold by Speedway. Also, a close look will show that the welds are a little more crude than commercially produced wheels.

EDIT : Here's the listing for the center : https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Wide-5-Wheel-Center-for-15-Inch-Steel-Wheels,7403.html.

I see they are "No longer available".
Click to expand...

Those are not welds... Hubcaps were siliconed to the wheel. What a mess.
 
Probably right. They must have had them built with the speedway centers. They are a modern 15" tubeless rim with the centers welded in for a custom offset. I am doing new tires and wanted to keep my hubcaps.. Not sure what direction to go now. I sure don`t want to silicone them back on. May have to go to 40-48 drums and wheels with self energizing brakes. It has 39 Lockeed brakes now. Any suggestions? Sure could use some help here.
 
fyi factory wide fives are riveted not welded so you can derivet and reuse centre on a safety style rim just need to make sure the centre drop is correct
 
I found this stamping on the back side. Anyone ever hear of Armstrong wheels? I did a search and noting but agricultural wheels. I found this stamping on the back side. Anyone ever hear of Armstrong wheels? I did a search and noting but agricultural wheels. thumbnail_image0.jpg
 
What hubcaps were glued on, stock or custom? Why not just run the original wheels, and maybe make some custom wider ones for the rear if you like. The plain ol' ford brakes have always been fine with me, although I do not drive the LA freeways, and drive accordingly for a vintage car with vintage brakes
 
The stock hubcabs were glued to these wheels. My car is lowered so I don`t think the stock wheels would work without rubbing. thumbnail_image3[1].jpg
 
I had one heck of a time finding 15" wheels for my '39 Conv that would accept the original 10" dog dish type of hub cap. I had a couple of problems, I needed a 4.25" back-set with a 7" rim for P215/65R15 Cooper tires. The hub caps were the problem, they required inside spring clips.
I contacted all of the common custom wheel vendors, the standard answer was NADA.
I finally contacted a small custom wheel maker that was in the Buelton CA area.
I was told that the rim was no problem, the hub was the problem, it had to be 12-5/8" inches wide to make a press fit into the rim., next to impossible to make a true wheel if the center hub is not a press fit, to maintain alignment while welding.

Digging through my stash of wheels I finally found some '49-52 GM 15" wheels that were 12-5/8" across the hub with spring clips for a 10" dog dish hubcap.
I supplied the hub centers, the wheel shop made me up a set of four wheels for $25.00 per wheel. What a deal.
 
Speedway has racing wheels similar. Circle track in the Racing catalog. Made for 5/8ths " lug stud, but useable- especially with the oversize OD 1/2" lug nuts. Newc
 
If those are good runners. Just get a regular wide 5 spare. Beats a donut that they give you today to get to a shop. Rear shouldn't matter if stock, front, don't make any sharp turns.


Neat car
 
37cab, I was looking through an old street rodder magazine last night (1992) and there is an advertisement for a wheel very similar to yours made by a company called wheel vintiques . they are still in business, and there is a picture on their website of the wheel that looks similar to yours. Hope this is of some help JIm, Palmer, Alaska
 
ssffnomad said:
Blu, we need pictures of that accomplishment.
Stretch
Click to expand...


Attached is a pix of my 39 conv (plym) with stock looking wheels, dog dish hub caps.
I was able to use '49-52 Chevy wheel centers because the car has an early Camaro 8-3/4" 10 bolt rear end with a hub to hub axle width of 54-1/4", which is the same tread width as the original 39 Plym.


Sometimes one must think outside of the box to achieve a completed project that gets the job done.
 

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