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Ford 16x5 steel wheels...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 3wLarry, Feb 25, 2010.

  1. I just went through my pile of wheels this weekend. I came up with a pair of the 16" x 5", (3) of the 16" x 4" and a dozen or so of the 16" x 4 1/2" wheels.

    Did Ford really make a 3 1/2" version, or is that just guys who don't know how to use a tape measure?
     
  2. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    The 3 1/2" wide wheel was on the '37-'40 Fords that had a V8-60 motor.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  3. DD COOPMAN
    Joined: Jul 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,122

    DD COOPMAN
    Member

    I can confirm what 3wLarry said as I've personally seen 3 1/2" wheels that came off an un-molested '39 Standard with a V8-60. DD
     
  4. Hackerbilt
    Joined: Aug 13, 2001
    Posts: 6,254

    Hackerbilt
    Member

    Wouldn't a 39 have wide 5 wheels...even with the V8-60?
    I have no idea...just wondering.
     
  5. HELLMET
    Joined: Apr 21, 2001
    Posts: 1,606

    HELLMET
    Member

    i have a pair with fresh black powder coat never mounted. i think one was nos not a stiche of rust or pits. can still read KH on the inside rim. will let them go for some flathead stuff like 49-53 vavle train. billy
     
  6. That is what I am confused on. 37-39 cars with the V8-60, wouldn't they have the wide 5 pattern. So that would mean that the only car that did have the true 3 1/2" wheel would be 40 V8-60 cars. Is that right?

     
  7. DD COOPMAN
    Joined: Jul 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,122

    DD COOPMAN
    Member

    Yes, the '39s were wide 5. Just trying to confirm that SOME of the rumors we've heard all these years about 60 HORSE stuff are, in fact, true. Until someone steps-up with actual 1940 V8 60 wheels, we can only KINDA ASSUME that maybe the '40s were also 3 1/2"ers. DD
     
  8. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    I remember our own Kevin Lee here telling he had a pair of the 1940 V8-60 wheels...Kevin?
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  9. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,582

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    I have a short stack of 3.5" wheels. I hesitate to call any of this stuff "V8-60" because I'm not so sure these parts were used exclusively on cars with that engine.

    Ford (via Kelsey Hayes) did make a 3.5" wheel in a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern so for all intents and purposes, it is a 3.5" '40 Ford wheel. But I'm not going to guess on which models it was OEM.
     
  10. Minewithnoshine
    Joined: May 17, 2007
    Posts: 938

    Minewithnoshine
    Member

    These damn 16x5's are a real pain in the ass to find. I FINALLY came across a pair, one was perfect, the other was hit so hard it wouldn't roll in a straight line, bent the actual center of the wheel. Sooooo now the quest to find just one 16x5... oh well, the hunt is part of the fun of the game.
     
  11. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,582

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Maybe the rim is good and you can just use the center from another wheel.

    I can tell you that swapping a wide-five 3.5" rim to a '40 center will not work – big difference in size.
     
  12. Minewithnoshine
    Joined: May 17, 2007
    Posts: 938

    Minewithnoshine
    Member

    Oh the rim looks like a taco haha, it's bad
     
  13. Tank
    Joined: Nov 8, 2002
    Posts: 749

    Tank
    Member

    Hey bro, I bought a '40 steelie a few weeks back at a guys house. was there for some other parts. When I got home I measured it 3 1/2 wide. On further inspection, its stamped on the inside under the valve stem 3 1/2 KH. They did make them, just very few and far between as It was a 1 year only wheel.
     
  14. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    I just measured some of the 5 X 5 1/2 Ford pattern 16 inch steelies that I have, thinking there were some for 5 inch wide tires, and found one measuring 16x6, with the inner nubs. What the heck would that have been from? I'll have to check in another place to see if I have its mate. I could run some real big rear tires with a pair of those!
     
  15. Tank
    Joined: Nov 8, 2002
    Posts: 749

    Tank
    Member

    Is it a Ford Rim? The center could be early an Early Ford piece with a wider rim put onto it. If the rivets are still in it I have no Idea.
     
  16. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,698

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    I have a pair of 16x5s I left at a buddy's house before him and his old lady split up. Better call and find out where they are...
     
  17. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    It still has the rivets so its original, but it may not be Ford. I looked again and it has the 5 X 5 1/2 Ford pattern, but has clips for the hubcab instead of nubs. So maybe it is Lincoln or Mercury. But with the hubcap on, it would definately look to be early Ford. I think i have a couple of these in 6 inch width, if I can just find the other one.
     
  18. Sixcarb
    Joined: Mar 5, 2004
    Posts: 1,503

    Sixcarb
    Member
    from North NJ

    Maybe another option would to be used Ford 16" centers on a early Buick 16" outer. You will still have you nubs for a hubcap but it will not take a trim ring and the Buick outer is 6" wide.

    The only pic I have right now with Ford/Buick 16" rears and 3 1/2 fronts

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    Thanks for the pic of the 16x6 steelie wheel. Love that 32 tudor by the way. Is that yours?
     
  20. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,602

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Why do all of the switcheroos? This outer with that inner... Just find a nice set of F1 rims like you said originally.... As far as I know they were '48-'53 rear only. They aren't too hard to come by in the midwest here... Just put your wanted ad up and someone will come up with a set. I'll ask around.
     
  21. Knoxville
    Joined: Mar 5, 2009
    Posts: 128

    Knoxville
    Member

    I've got a set of 16x5's off my '60 f-100.
    I ran 2 on the back for a while to get me by, didn't seem bent.
    If you're interested, I can dismount the rims and spin em on my machine at work to make sure they're good. They do need to be stripped and painted though.
     
  22. yes, they were an option on '53-'60 (i believe) trucks, no cars. they're hard to find and i have one, trying to find a clean match. the outside bump were later 60's trucks and i have 7 (5 on my panel).
     
  23. Rem
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,257

    Rem
    Member

    They're damn hard to find over here. I got one really nice one by accident in a set of four supposedly '40 Ford wheels, and eventually found another one but that had some pitting and a bit of a wobble.

    I also have a set of '65-stamped 16" x 5" KH wheels that have the external hubcap nubs, but the rims are rivetted on and by my measuring would be a straight swap onto earlier centres.

    One thing about the early 16" x 5" wheels that may or may not be a problem is that the extra width is all on the inside - the outside face (frontspace?) dimensions are the same as the 16" x 4" and 16" x 4 1/2" wheels, while all the 'extra' width is added to the backspace.
     
  24. Sixcarb
    Joined: Mar 5, 2004
    Posts: 1,503

    Sixcarb
    Member
    from North NJ

    Yes I threw it together for the jalopy drags last october but it's now apart again getting a Flathead.
     
  25. Knoxville
    Joined: Mar 5, 2009
    Posts: 128

    Knoxville
    Member

    My mistake........
    I dismounted one of the wheels i have and measured it, they're 4.5", not 5". But they do accept the older style caps that snap into the inner part of the center hub.
     
  26. Tank
    Joined: Nov 8, 2002
    Posts: 749

    Tank
    Member

    One of my friends has a complete set of the early style 16 x 5's that take the '40 style cap. I believe they are Lincoln if I remember correctly. They are on his roadster. I forgot he had these. They are the only set I have ever seen in person.
     
  27. Larry,

    A friend of mine gave me these wheels the other day. They fit a Ford cap nicely but were just to DAMM big and narrow. I put them out to junk the other day:eek::eek:.

    [​IMG]


    Just kidding.
     
  28. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,404

    alchemy
    Member

    Not true, at least in my stack behind the garage. I can look at the face of the wheel, and if there is a 1/4 inch of the inner hoop sitting proud of the center, it's gonna be a 5 incher. The 4 and 4.5 inchers are flush where the center meets the hoop.

    Maybe it's a Kelsey Hayes versus Ford thing.
     
  29. deuceman32
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 459

    deuceman32
    Member

    [QUOTENot true, at least in my stack behind the garage. I can look at the face of the wheel, and if there is a 1/4 inch of the inner hoop sitting proud of the center, it's gonna be a 5 incher. The 4 and 4.5 inchers are flush where the center meets the hoop][/QUOTE]

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting, Alchemy! The definitive method I have been waiting for to spot one of these 5" wheels with a tire on it. Any chance you could post up a photo?
     
  30. 31 Coupe
    Joined: Feb 25, 2008
    Posts: 383

    31 Coupe
    Member

    Thanks for all of this 16" wheel info guys, I too am looking for 16" wheels for my coupe and I found that a '75 F100's here downunder has 7.50 x 16 tires as standard but I'm not sure how wide the rims are and also whether the '40's style hub caps will fit them. I'm probably directing this to other Aussie hambers if they have any knowledge please.
     

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