Technical Bell steering wheels

I has describe my race style 5W coupe before here and idea is early 50's.
Its a project on Henry parts and speed parts as Ardun head, QC.
As more dragracing or street racing than pre war and desert racing or oval track I has been into a Ford 40 ( or a Bell steering wheel.
I do not plan a Schroder steering box, and I has a 32 with 32 steering arm.
I has come over NOS vintage Bell 17" 4 spoke and a 15" 3 spoke.
I read on the ’lip’ but the 3 spoke has it, not the 4 spoke.
Ideas ?
I like the 15" vs a narrow 5W coupe but maybe the cool factor is the bigger 4 rim wheel.
I has 'bought' it but can't decide ’what’ steering wheel.
Maybe its not that era correct to use it less a Schroder steering box.
( I know, it's a hot rod and one do what one will ) but I like the history and can go some extra miles.
All info on Bell and this history is welcome.

 

Here is a picture on the 15” 3 spoke rubber ’lip’.
This lip is not on the 4 spoke.

 

Has anyone info on the Bell Auto racing wheels from the 40’s or has catalogs from way back, it should be great !

 

Four spoke 15" Bell wheels also had the ribs.

 

I'm using a 15" on my 27 T tub.

 

Great, thats good info, so when was the 15” 3 spoke ( with lips ) into the game ?

Was it in Bell Auto catalog in the 40’s ?
Ones that do ’care’ this is serious information.
If one not care, its not important of course.

 

United Pacific makes a 15 inch 4 spoke reproduction without the (lips) Don Orosco also made a 17 inch reproduction with (lips). I have used several of the 17 inch wheels from Schroeder Steering and used a UP wheel on my latest deuce 5 window., not authentic but they looked good.

 

So if a a 15” with a lip its a old one - maybe - but how old ?
I like the 15” 3 spoke but its more on what was out there time era/correct.

 

Don Orasco made 15" exact replicas of the real original Bell Auto Parts wheel like the one in my roadster. Didn't know he made them in the 17 inch too.

 

Eventually you will find a wheel snob who will be able to answer your date questions.

I’m no help there. But I can say that I’ve never seen a link in hot rods that having a bell/ shroeder wheel indicates it would have a shroeder box as well. I think your are more than justified and accurate in running it atop your 32 box

on the 17” repop note Josh Shaw makes a killer 17” wheel

 

I ask since I like the the history and if one find and pay for a original Bell ( NOS ) one do need to has some knowledge.
Even if I pay for a NOS ( or a nice wheel ) and get a repro my life will not change and its not bragg as its about the history.
I has nothing against a older or new repro but need knowledge what one get or has.
On my 5W coupe I could get a new body, a new frame or a new made QC or a new front axle or new S/W gauges or new Ardun heads etc.
So much better and more easy and less expensive.
That make sense and no one will see a difference but its a road to get a old frame and body and move in that direction.
Its not wrong mix parts aswell but but on this road I like go Henry and std and old speed parts.
But for me ( limited knowledge ) I can tell if I bought a new or a std frame, but this parts as the wheel its harder to know and its allot of money so if pay one like to know.
Its not snob to has knowledge or experiance.
I always take my hat off for experiance or help.

 

One of Gene Scott's 13" midget wheels.

 

The finger grip was introduced in 1949.

 

@3w Hank language barrier.we are all on the same page. I get it.

I wasn’t meaning an insult. Just that you will need to find someone who’s very particular , or interested in wheels to answer you question.

 

Tim,
I know what you mean, I just wanted to be clear why I search info.
I'm not into a repro in this car.
Wheels like that is now over 1K and not that fun get a older repro, and sometimes seller or the one get a parts ( ex like this ) has not all knowledge. Therefore its always good to ask and search.
But here at Hamb I know its plenty of that information.
I still search info on the Bell Auto 3 spoke.
So at 49 they put in the lip ( intresting )
I'm not shore in this coupe ( less a Schroeder box ) and more dragracing that desert or dirt track has a Bell Auto.
The 36 wheels is to 'elegante' so it's a 40 wheel my guess if not a Bell
Or any other good ideas ( I'm not into 50's style steering wheels )

 

it's funny you mentioned both a 40 ford wheel and a bell. I too, like them both.
I originally had a 17" reproduction 40 ford wheel but recently went to a reproduction 4 spoke bell on a quick release to aid getting in and out

 

These are the steering wheels that Bell and Ansen offered in their 1949 catalogs:

 

Thanks.
So if this was 49 the Midget was at 15.5”, and as hudsonjoe49 said/mean the lip came out 49.
-The 3 spoke wheel I look at is 95% a Bell but the 4 spoke I seen has no lip, so as no logo can it be from pre 49 or it might be later or a older repro or another brand.
That 17” is a cool wheel since no one drilled, but 17” is big in a 32 5W.

 

The original 1932 Ford steering wheel was 17" so there's plenty of room for it....

 

silent rick,
Yes the 40 wheel is nice and classic.
Feel not that elegant as a ex a 36 wheel.
On the Bell.
Shore its cool hot rod speed parts but to me it feel more desert or dirt track.
Had the ”guys in LA” back then really this wheels in a street racer budget build ( but say the afford a blower etc ?
As a racer myself ( NHRA stock ) I see it as get engine parts and a RPM gauge and a low gear ratio then get a steering wheel.
But they was 18 USD and rubber gets better traction than a slippery std wheel.
In my car a Schoerder box is a no.

 

As Dirty dog showed his 32 with a new 15” ( very nice ) 17” fit but to me, its big, but classic Indy and for that maybe a factor.

 

I’d say you need to track down some of Montgomery books and really study what was done that seems like the best resource for what your asking/thinking now?

 

Tim,
Yes this books is on my list.
But there are several of them and kind of pricy.
Maybe they are to get as e-books ?
I has try trace some of them here I can borrow, but one might think spend +100K on a car and can't afford some books.

 

Yeah they are spendy and out of print. I’ve had good luck finding some of them threw inter library loan systems at the public library but I think because of the costs of the books the get stolen often.


Best bet may be to find someone local with one you can borrow or come over and study it

 

You keep mentioning an Ardun build . . . now THAT will be pricey!

Even if YOU know how to build an Ardun, you'll have over $30,000 USD in it (here in the States) - or more. And if you're having somebody acquire the right quality/strength parts and build it for you - probably closer to $40,000.

Not trying to offend, but you're talking about some real serious money - before you even ship the stuff to Sweden.

 

Yes go Ardun is pricy, so we are what you was into +30K.

 

So you have $60K into an Ardun? If I may ask, what are the specifications on it, what components and who built it? I'm very familiar with Arduns.

 

No its converted + 30K.

 

Here’s an old 17 incher. Not sure how old though.

 

What I like to know, if the lip came 49 as it was on the 3 spoke 15” but the 17” 4 spoke has no lip ( no logo on either wheel ) so is the 17” pre 49 or a later repro ?

I know several think what is the idea here ( get a new repro or take what you find - end of story ) but it’s allot of money if one now like a NOS. So I’m humble on each way in information here.
People that might now or don’t like post, PM me private.