Hello, I am currently building a 23 t bucket something I have always wanted. I am also working on my retirement plan so I'm limited on funds. I want to build something similar to the Shi kabob Special however I'm finding that limiting myself to say only 1958 parts is getting difficult. So I have a crazy idea. What about using 2014 F150 steel wheels and the hubs? The four bolt hub connection seems simple maybe the spindle to center it and four bolts. I know I'm over simplifying this swap but it seems possible. As for the wheels if you didn't know you might mistake them for artillery wheels. Seems crazy but it just might work. Any thoughts?
Welcome. You might want to read https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/guidelines-the-traditional-hot-rod-forum.828348/ Hopefully @Moriarity can bump this over to the Off Topic section for you. It might help to include a picture of the thing you are asking about, especially if it's not traditional. The Shish Kebob Special, which IS traditional I assume you mean these, which are 17x7.5 which is pretty darn big for the front of a T and appear to have some serious offset.
Thank you, mods! Now, maybe those are the wrong wheels, but expect 17s in any case to clear modern rotors. Here's why you don't want big wheels up front. This is what I started with, 18x8 in front as it was sold to me. They came off quick! For T-Bucket ideas, look in this OT section for https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/post-1965-t-buckets.1316249/ and the main area for https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/how-about-some-love-for-the-t-bucket.1229552/ along with many others.
The BIG one https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-bucket-of-ugly-a-de-uglifying-thread.824491/
Well OP came in, posted this and left. Hasn't been back. @mkubacak sorry, but had the visual proof WHY. But I'm feeling much better now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWz-tBU6_L0
I definitely don't want the look of a modern wheel. I love the look of a t bucket with all four wheels and tires the same size.
Give the guy a break, it is only 14 hours since he posted this and he most likely slept about 8 hours and he is now probably working!
Glad to have you back! As said, the 17s are too big visually, I guess you could narrow them up a bunch, but that's going to be money unless you have a shop to handle the mod. As for the comment by @Dick Stevens, when I post a question, I usually stick around to see what kind of response there is. All 3 of my first replies were within a half hour of the post. I didn't post the other until the next morning, although it was early. I'm a bit quick on new questions with no followup, sorry if that offends. EDIT: I'll also mention that big diameter wheels and short tires tend to be heavier than the same height shorter wheels with taller tires. Unsprung weight is a killer on this, I speak from experience!
Sorry if you took offense to my pointing out it hadn't been a very long period for him to respond when he had just joined the HAMB and wasn't used to quick responses. It's not like some new posts where they leave to not being seen again, at least for a long period of time, so it seems like you were kind of impatient in this case!
No harm. I have been on forums where you post something and return the next day, but I tend to prefer ones where the answers are more telegraph than pony express. I hope @Recoving Workaholic stays and shares the build. You know I'm a sucker for a good T build. BTW, Is that redoing a curved feature, or a misspelling of recovering?
Ah. So they're about 25" tall and about 9" wide. Just curious as to the look. I'm wondering about something nearer 28" tall and 7" wide, admittedly on a very different kind of build. (28/7)/(25/9)=1.44: too far off to help me visualize.
You could have the centres knocked out of the wheels and rewelded deeper in. Painted gloss black or some colour, that'd better emulate an artillery wheel look. Or: paint silver and rig a cap that fits into the recess where the wheel nuts are, with a faux eared knock-off hub, for a '50s Dunlop alloy kind of look.
I was thinking about chrome trim rings and chrome center caps painted red. I can get 4 of those for 60.00 Seems really good price.
The Jalopy Journal
