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Technical 3.5” OEM wheels

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by 3w Hank, Aug 9, 2022.

  1. 3w Hank
    Joined: Jan 29, 2022
    Posts: 825

    3w Hank
    Member

    On my projekt ( late 40’s style hot-rod ) I has the 4” Ford 1940 16” wheels in front and then I notice some dudes used the Merc or Lincoln 5” at rear.
    I found out Lincoln used clips and Merc used bulps for the hubcaps.
    To me as I might use hubcaps ( or maybe not ) it was cool to had the Lincolns.
    But the wheels I found was Ford and I guess its truck as it’s a bulp on the nut area.
    ( maybe add strenge ? )
    I found one wheel in USA and another equal one in the Nerherlands.
    I also noted som reversed them back but that add near 1” more out from body, and will look very odd on a 37-40 axle that is 59.5” CC ( less fenders on.
    Ok I could narrow the axle maybe but did like to has it the boyz back then had it.
    So no ’reverse’.

    Ok, some more.. news.
    I found out it was a wheel that is 3.5” wide.
    But hard to find maybe.
    Did people use them on roadsters and coupes ?
    I like the tiny Firestones 4.50 in front ( as on this cool 34 ) but owner said it was the 4” wheel and not the 3.5.
    Maybe the 3.5” will just be to ’skinny’ ?

    I can’t find any pictures on cars with that tiny fronts.

    -What are your thoughts on this ?
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 9, 2022
  2. Someone can confirm. but i think the 3.5 wheels are V8-60. So pretty rare.
     
    clem, ct1932ford, 51 mercules and 4 others like this.
  3. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 3,518

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    I built plenty of these years ago . I used space saver hoops and Ford centers . The spacer hoop was of thinner gauge materials than the Ford center also .
     
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  4. 3w Hank
    Joined: Jan 29, 2022
    Posts: 825

    3w Hank
    Member

    Was this wheels used by hot rodders ?
    If any info/pictures, please post it.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2022

  5. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, they were, and still are, but not very often, and for a few reasons.

    Many don't like that wheel bolt pattern at-all, and, these wheels were on only the V8-60 model, which was simply not made in the numbers that the vehicles with wider wheels were made.

    At one time I had as many as 30 pair of Wide-5 wheels in my shop. I had a single, but never a pair of 3.5" ones, and never had any 5" ones.

    Running them won't make much difference with a 4.50-16" tire, and would be hard to distinguish in a picture.

    I would not hold my breath, or go through heroic efforts to find a 3.5" set, but that's me.
     
    clem likes this.
  6. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Remember, you can only see one side of the wheel and tire at-a-time.

    You would only see the missing 1/4". If you can see 1/4" at a distance, you are a better man than me.
     
    clem and dana barlow like this.
  7. There was also a 16x3.5 solid V8-60 wheel with a lug pattern of 5x5.5
     
  8. wheelkid
    Joined: May 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,238

    wheelkid
    Alliance Vendor
    from Fresno, CA

    They do exist, in both wide 5 and 5 on 5.5" bolt patterns, but the 5 on 5.5" was only on 1940 V8-60 cars, so they're very rare. I wouldn't hold up the rest of your build looking for them, it may take years to find some.
     
  9. 32percenter
    Joined: Jul 17, 2022
    Posts: 30

    32percenter
    Member

    They do exist , I have a pair. No plans to ever use them , other than to start conversations

    as said , from 3-1/2 to 4 you really won’t know the difference
     
  10. 3w Hank
    Joined: Jan 29, 2022
    Posts: 825

    3w Hank
    Member

    Correct hard to se a 1.4” but I saw one on 3.5” wide with a 4.50 tire yesterday and I did compare to the black 34 coupe that had 4” wide wheels.
    -I did like that ’better’.

    But I got confused.
    I has a Ford ( as I think 1940 ) 4” wide wheel for front and idea is to use it on my Ford juce brakes ( bolt patter of 5.5” = right )
    Then I bought 5” wide also Ford but I has not get this wheels yet.
    I guess its also 5.5” bolt pattern.
    As nut is on a bulp I guess my rear 5” wide wheels is truck wheels.

    but over to the 3.5” eide.
    Not confuse numbers ; 5 and 5.5 from the 3.5 wide and thd bolt pattern.
    -So the 3.5” wide comes at both 5” and 5.5” bolt patterns ?

    I will not try get a set 3.5” as hard ( guess expensive ) but intresting in historic way to learn/know.
     
  11. No the 3.5 wide wheels only came in 5x5.5 bolt pattern as used on most old Fords, or wide 5 bolt pattern used on 36-39 Ford vehicles.
     
  12. B1gDaddy
    Joined: Aug 30, 2007
    Posts: 292

    B1gDaddy
    Member
    from aladambama

    They are unmistakeable when you know what you are looking at. Yes they are v8 60’s. I’m not sure why they ever got the following , but the look is hard to replicate. Maybe they were easier to steer ? Track width ? I’ve just never questioned it

    but they can and should be had as repros for a period hot rod
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2022
  13. B1gDaddy
    Joined: Aug 30, 2007
    Posts: 292

    B1gDaddy
    Member
    from aladambama

  14. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I hate to post the link to some long dead thread because some clown always answeres it and other guys think it is a brand new thread rather than reading through it but there are some answers in this thread from 2008. 1940 V8-60 wheels? | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

    Note, those wheels were as rare as rocking horse poop then.
     
    Tow Truck Tom and gimpyshotrods like this.
  15. I ran them on the front of the Coleman Coupe. With the Buick drums they were really nice. Wish I kept them!
     
  16. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    This. Place the 3.5" wheel next to a 4". The difference is so slight.
     
  17. ronzmtrwrx
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,137

    ronzmtrwrx
    Member

    A6AF9F8A-6100-4F30-A98B-81FC4487F278.jpeg C35302C6-201D-4578-ADEE-99A916040FA9.jpeg
    Here ya go.
     
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  18. On the front of my coupe is 16 x 3 1/2 V8-60 wheels. Bolt pattern is 5 on 5 1/2. Last set I saw for sale was a few years ago at LA Roadster show and were 1200.00

    1932.PNG
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2022
    Hamtown Al and deathrowdave like this.
  19. The 3.5" wide five wheel was '37-'39 V8 60 cars only.
     
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  20. 3w Hank
    Joined: Jan 29, 2022
    Posts: 825

    3w Hank
    Member

    Ah, got it, the 3.5” ’wide 5’ is not the 3.5 x 16 with bolt pattern 5 x 5.5”. ( got confused when talk on 3.5” and 5... )
    I was not into the ’wide 5’ wheel.
    At US 1200 for 2 wheels save 1/4” at each side is not realistic but a cool deal and limited sets bring prices up.
     
  21. indyjps
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 5,377

    indyjps
    Member

    What hoops fit these centers ?

    If you have the center that works for everything you want, it may be easier to swap that center into the outer wheel shell - hoop you want. Finding old unique wheels in another country or having them shipped over is pretty expensive.

    I like space saver spares, keep a set of 4 around for rollers. Have been able to find dual bolt pattern versions in junkyards
     
  22. clem
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,188

    clem
    Member

    you make a valid point.
    I went to great lengths to find the one year (1940) - 4” wide rim as opposed to the more common 4&1/2”. With the tyre mounted, doesn’t look much different to the same tyre on a 5” wide rim on my other car - I think sometimes we can get too pedantic with these things…..
    Ironically, it appears that for certification I will need a 4&1/2” minimum wide rim.
     
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  23. ronzmtrwrx
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,137

    ronzmtrwrx
    Member

    I know that, I was just showing the comparison of the two widths, and how it’s hardly noticeable.
     
  24. As I have tried to use the 16" hoops from the 3.5 wide five wheels, only 1939 Lincoln Zephyr centers work. Whoever says 1940 Ford 16x4 centers work is lying.
     
    indyjps likes this.
  25. There is a huge difference in looks between the 3 1/2 and standard 4inch. the 3 1/2 are so rare that you never see them that much. I had 4inch on my coupe and I parked next to a coupe that had 3 1/2 and the difference was night and day. The hunt was on for 3 1/2 and after 3 years I found a set and within a week found another set so I have a set as backup.
     
  26. 3w Hank
    Joined: Jan 29, 2022
    Posts: 825

    3w Hank
    Member

    I admit it must be inpossible to see the 1/4" difference ( one side ) but I saw a 3.5" wheel this week and I saw direct the difference.
    Tiny, or good locking, well it's up to each one.
    Bragg from has a 4.5 or a 4 inch, well I don't see that in that perspective.

    2 set's... care to show one set on pictures or on the car or sell a set ?
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2022

  27. Look at my post above for my coupe and my backup set not for sale as most people will not pay what they are worth.
     

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