Hi Guys looking for 15" steel hoops/shells/rims. Width doesn't matter as that can easily be fixed, BUT I need a 12" drop center. The doughnut - large flat area that the center fixes to must be exactly 12". Any ideas? Thanks in advance Dave
That’s probably going to be tough, especially if you are looking for a new hoop. Defacto standard for an aftermarket automotive 15” wheel is 12.625. Diameter can be swaged down a bit sometimes but over a half inch is very unlikely. “Drop center” hoops exist but are much less common than they used to be, not many places rolling new hoops any more. Good bet is to take a tape measure to the swap meet or junkyard and start measuring, might find some OEM wheels that have a smaller inner diameter. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yep, I want a hoop but hoping to find a production factory or aftermarket steel wheel that has the dimensions I want and then I'll discard the centers and fit my own. Yep, OEM would work just hoping someone has already discovered what I need. I've used a coker mopar wheel to hopefully explain what I want. View attachment 3948377
Not wanting to let the cat out of the bag about what kind of center you are wanting to use? Maybe someone already makes a complete wheel like you are wanting???
If you don't mind, please share info if you find anything. There are a few aluminum center/steel rim custom wheels from the 60s that had 12" center dimensions, it would be nice to replace hoops.
Believe me when I say I've tried everywhere I can think of. Specialist wheel manufacturers, agricultural/industrial wheels and OEM wheel manufacturers - all over a few years. Very few wheel manufacturers (like Maxion) keep details of drop centers and so can't help. Hey wheels have 12.48" id. The deep hoops from the 60s just don't seem to exist. Old school Cragars have 12" centers but imho an ugly band between centre and hoop. I have a set of Morbecs (Fort Worth Wobblers as they were known). 14" rims at present which I want to change to 15". So help is needed - either a lead to NOS after market 60s hoops or a suggestion for an OEM 15" wheel that someone knows has a 12" center. View attachment 3949175
thanks Darin but tried and they aren't really set up for one off inside diameters. Ideally I'd like steel hoops.
5 spoke Morbec Master Mags which are dead on 12" diameter. I realise most after market hoops are 12 ⅝" i.d. but am hoping someone can tell me if there are any older 15"steel wheels I could use the rim/shell/hoop from.
They're 14" rims. The few 15" wheels that were made used the same centers. Have just emailed Marsh so we'll see. Thanks for your help and input.
Interesting thread. Now I'm going outside to measure... We used to reverse steel wheels in high school, 1957-1959. Merc centers/Buick outers... and a host of others. Been too long, but I'll look for some w/12" centers.
Fantastic Mike. That's just what I need, to find out which 50s or 60s rims have a 12" i.d. I am hopeful that some pre disk brake wheels will have the correct size - width not so important as that can be changed relatively easily. Thanks so much for your help and input.
If you dont find what you want, have some rings made out of 5 /16 plate, slip in the 15 " rim that are 12 5/8, that will bring the center down to 12" weld right where wheel curves , install your centers, mount wheel on rear end of car, start car, put in low gear, get grinder with flex type disc, work weld till smooth , prime touch up , paint.
The normal size for 14" centers is 12.260". You should be able to find a 15" rim with a 12.260" ID pretty easily. 12" ID was only used on a few aftermarket 14" wheels from the 1930s and then rarely and some 14" mopar wheels in the 60s. Are you sure your centers aren't 12 1/4"?
Hi Squareweave, unfortunately no news. The rims do exist, they would have been a "15" custom" manufactured to convert 14" rims to 15" - i guess from around the 1960s. Somewhere there's probably a warehouse of the things gathering dust. Ain't found 'em yet. If you have any luck, please post as that could help me and possibly others.
yes they do but unfortunately with a 12 ⅝" inside diameter. We (Squareweave and I) are looking for 15" rims/hoops/shells with a 12" inside diameter.
Just found these conversion wheel barrels out of Australia. Not quite 12" as 312mm converts to just over 12 1/4". http://www.bciwheels.com.au/drop-bands-1/15-x-7-raw-drop-centre-band Still hunting....