Hot Rods 18 Inch Early Ford Style Steelies.

Last year I had the 18 inch steelies for the back of my roadster but couldn't get the Excelsior tires, This year I'm gathering parts for another project and have the 18 inch Excelsior tires but can't get the 18 inch early Ford style steelies. Love this hobby, supply and demand?

 

DOH!

 

sorry, worked out too much today and fried my brain, Can you post a pic of what your need and what years they were OE?

 

I don't like the look of 18" wheels on the front. I know a few guys who have put Divco wheels all around, and it looks off to me. Same with 18" wires. Stock vehicle...OK. Hotrod...NOPE!
BIG n LITTLES man!!!!

 

Belly Tanker, Old Indy style car....sure.

 

I guess you're talking about the Wheel Vintiques 18 inchers? When I ordered mine I had to wait about 18 months, but I was cool with that as it fitted my schedule, but at no point was I told anything other than they're coming, which was frustrating an annoying. Distant memory now and the wheels are doing just fine!

Chris

 

Bad Bob: Don't panic, I'm only doing 18's on the rear with 16's on the front. I got my last 18's from Steadfast but last I knew they couldn't get anymore? I had a new pair of Wheel Vintique's 18 inch gennie's with 700-18 Excelsior's on the 32 sedan project I traded for my deuce pickup but they had to be part of the deal. Wheel Vintiques/Coker won't even give a projected date for availability. I'm going to try Wheel Kid/Rally America, I can't find it but I think he sent me a message he could help me?

 

Go traditional and weld some 16" centres into 18" hoops.

 

Try your local Ford dealer. With the dealer parts network they could probably see if someone has some high clearance wheels sitting in the back of their warehouse.

Oh, you meant aftermarket? How about you be the new go-to guy for those 18” wheels? I’m sure you have connections that could stamp some centers, then you send them to Wheelkid for assembly. You might get rich!

 

Alchemy; Thanks for the vote of confidence but I'm a little long in the tooth to start another venture.

 

Build some!

Blank Rims (heywheel.com)

 

Great Idea, hoops are cheap but need the right early Ford style centers for the 18 inch hoop which must be the problem?

 

@wheelkid is always my goto for that info!

 

Sent him a message a little while ago.

 

Gary last time I was messaging Steadfast on Instagram they mentioned they were preparing to make some more. Perhaps give them a call? I couldnt be bothered waiting and ended up with some Rocket 18s that were heavily discounted. Not the same look as a standard Ford style wheel though.

 

I'm in weekly communication with Laura at Steadfast for updates. Thanks

 

Steadfast says no more and dealing with Wheel Vintiques is a joke.

 

Is there a chance that the 16” and the 18” hoops have the same inside diameter? If not, what is the difference in measurement?

 

Need to check that?

 

I’ve seen standard 16” ford centers put in the 18” artillery style hoops before I think @curbspeed made his rear 18’s maybe the info is in his thread

 

I believe @hotrodpro (danny burroughs)has done some too with tractor wheels

 

@hot rod pro ?

 

Just sent him an e-mail.

 

You can buy 18 x 6.5 blank hoops though Miller Tire in the Midwest. You have to chop off a lot of the 16 inch donor rim to get into a lathe. Then bring that center down to the inside diameter of the 18” hoop.

 

I talked to Wheel Kid who used to get the centers from Wheel Vintiques to make his 18 inch steelies but since Coker bought them that source has dried up. Steadfast says no more period! Wheel Smith said they're working on some 18 inch smoothies but smoothies don't have the look of an early Ford wheel. Wheel Smith said they're worried about liability with a wheel center welded in 4 separate places and not all the way around? Also talked to Danny@hotrodpro, he doesn't have a current source either. Isn't looking good for 18 inch early Ford style steelie's?

 

I still think a creative guy from Nebraska could find a source to stamp his own wheel centers, and become the 18” King.

Partner with Hotrodpro or Wheelkid for the assembly and you won’t even need to get your hands dirty.

 

Have you tried Wheel Smith?

 

Read my last post.

 

I have done a little more research and developing the patterns and then the blanking & stamping dies for a run of early Ford centers is very expensive. Wheel Kid said he had to do some modifying to the centers he got from Wheel Vintique to make them work in the 18 inch hoops. Apparently he did a short run for Steadfast?

 

I bet you could sell a few hundred of them. Does that make it worthwhile?