Technical Changing Centers - Wide Five wheels

So I decided to remove the rivets of the two wide five 16x3.5 wheels to change out the centers for 5x5.5

Is there a certain center that I use to fit the wide 5 hoop? Seems this 16" I had is like half an inch smaller all around

 

Your wide 5 are 16" correct? Any chance the "new" centers are from 15" wheels?

 

I just went and measured, the new center is from a 16” wheel

 

Maybe I am missing something but wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy some '40-'48 rims?

Charlie Stephens

 

I'm guessing because he wants 3.5 wide wheels?

Sent from dumb operator on a smart phone

 

I want 3.5" x 16 wheels without running wide 5

 

Yessir!

 

Might be able to roll a flat wide ring that takes up the space. Measure carefully and tack it in place . Then have it turned true in a large lathe till the center section you have can be tapped in place. Tack again and make sure it runs true. Then weld slowly to prevent warping and check to see that it stayed true. Thats the only thing I could come up with that would look kind of original.

 

No wheel manufactures in ur area ? We have Southwest Wheel here in Dallas - they make what we desire using the centers of course.

 

I don't know the answer but you might post the question on fordbarn to see if there any 3.5 X 16 wheels with a 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. Maybe the 1940 V8 60 or later 6 cylinder cars or the 4 cylinder pickups? I wonder if it would be easier to start with a '40-'48 rim and narrow it? Good luck.

Charlie Stephens

 

Why don't you just find 1940 16"x4" wheel. I can just about bet you or anyone else will not notice a half inch wider rim.
I went the other direction and built wider wide five wheels. I know it's wider but not one person has noticed the wider hoop. Just my two cents.

 

Now that your 5 on 5 1/2" centers are out of their hoops split the hoops, trim excess off to get 3 1/2" and weld 2 halves of hoop back together. Now you can set back space where you want it as well.

 

if the drop center is that much less on the wide 5 rim, it must be hard to mount a tire on them

 

Found I could run 39 lincoln centers

 

Im not sure, Im in Santa Barbara CA

 

I'd rather make some 16x3.5, as i'd like the challenge. Those widened wide five wheels look pretty damn good!

 

I don't have an answer...but do have a question. Your hoops look pretty badly pitted, are they ok to run in that condition? If I saw those at a swap meet, I would have kept walking.

 

Meh I've ran worse pitted wheels. Im making these wheels more as decoration than anything else. If I even did run them, it'd be on a banger so less than 50mph

 

Can't u put 16 ga shims,tack,check for true round then fully weld?

 

I've got a '40 center in a wide five 16x3.5 and its too small

 

I read 1/16" my bad

 

39 Lincoln Centers will fit those rims but they're pretty hard to find. The other option is finding a 16.3.5" that has a deeper drop center which is also hard to find.

 

Any recommendation where I should look for either? I made a post on partswapper

 

FWIW:
OK--so I quick measured some wheels. OD--gross outside diameter of the wheel and ID is the measure of the smallest inside diameter of the wheel (Where the center mounts). Steel wheels are either '40 style Ford for the 16" or for the 15" they are the F100 pickup style ran from mid '50s to mid '60s. I also measured a 16" wire.
Ford Wheel
type O.D. I.D.
16" wide 5 17.5" 14.25"
16" Steel 5 x 5.5 17.5" 13.75"
15" steel 5x 5.5 16.5 12.75"
16" wire 5 x 5.5 17.5" 14.125"
Hope this helps!

 

how about Stockton Wheel, in Stockton, Ca ? I know that is not very close, but they may turn you onto some-one closer.

 

Just sent them a message, thanks nick!

 

I had a pair of 15x4 steelies with 5 on 5.5 made by Wheel Vintiques several years ago for the front of my Deuce. They were $150 each. Expensive, but I got 'em. Might try Stockton Wheel in CA.

 

There was a post on here a while back where a guy used Dodge Caravan wheels center, I believe they were stamped Dodge 537. His looked really cool and fit right in.