I join this group for a while now, and just want to say hello, i'm from germany and work in my spare time on my '53 Ford club coupe for 2 years in between, still much work until i'll have it on the street. Will go to the GNRS next week for more inspiration and motivation. Greetings from cold germany!
Welcome Michu, you've got 2 nice cars. It must be tough finding them in Germany. I'll be at the GNRS also. Hope to see you there.
Thanks to all! raceron1120, some pictures of my '53 are in my profile. the-stig, i have both Fords from the U.S.A. (the '41 from Kansas and the '53 from M***achusetts), your cars are nice too! maybe we'll see us at the GNRS!
Welcome from frigid Wisconsin! It supposed to be -3 with -30 windchills by Friday. UGH!!! Enjoy toasty California.
Thanks to all again! JeffB2, seems you was to germany in the past, yes, the beer is good but not the weather...
I was in Germany 1965-66 in Mannheim and Karlsruhe,had a lot of fun there.I bet you had a good Octoberfest! At least they sell Spaten Munchen in the states,bratwurst,sauerkraut and potatoes is still my favorite meal.
The octoberfest is about 10 minutes by car far from my home, i visit it every year (not by car of course You were in germany 10 years before i even was born, i bet you drove cool cars from the army here in germany.
Welcome aboard from a very long ways away . There is a ton a information here so if you have any problems just ask away . Do you have any pictures of your car ? Jim
Hey Welcome! I was born in Berlin, Germany. Some time I would definately want to go back. I checked out your pics very cool!
Thanks, here's a picture of my '53 when i got it over 2 years ago (it's from M***achusetts), many work done in between, but now i have to rebuild the engine too, when it's on the road i can say i had nearly all parts from the car in my hands, hope to drive it in spring.
By the way, can anybody tell me the secret how i can install '53/'55 Olds flipper caps on my stock '53 Ford rims? Do i need other rims or do i have to modify the hubcaps?I'd be glad if someone can help! Thanks!
Me one more time, i have this set of NOS skirts (overlay) for sale, fits all 2dr models of '52/'54 Ford/Merc, ...but shipping will be from germany, would check out how much it would be.
You'll need to change the wheels to get the OEM Olds 'caps to fit. Back in the day, when these caps were cheap (or free, depending on the source) the guys would turn them over and beat the centers outward with a rubber hammer until they cleared. This was problematic in two ways: the caps always looks a little "funny" and they were totally ruined for any other application. Look at the early version of Larry Watson's "G****vine" for a good example of this modification. His were '56 Starfire caps, but the same principal applies. Different wheels with a little more outward offset, 1/2" or so, will solve the problem...and will also help the overall look of the car. Nice car, by the way. These coupes were very popular back in the day and look great slammed hard, in a dark single color with stock side trim left intact (with a second set of door trim reversed and used on the fenders) or simple molding swapped on from another car...'55 Pontiac is my favorite.
Thanks a lot! I've looked in the Watson's Custom Car Confessions book and found the text about the hubcaps, they say on the g****vine '56 Fiestas (modified the way you said) with '55 extra bars were used, '56 Fiestas will fit without problems to the '53 rims but the '53/'55 hubcaps are deeper (where the rings are), so i think i would need other rims, but wich? Oldsmobile rims will not fit on the Ford i think? Do you have an idea about wich rims i could use? About lowering, i wait for my jamco lowering kit (3" front and 4" back, can't wait to have the Ford lowered, at the time i just have blocks in the rear so it looks a bit g***er like...) Thanks again!
Yes, I tried '55 Olds non-spinner 'caps on my '51 Shoebox at one time and ran into the same problem as you. Late model (60s and 70s - I need to be careful when using the term "late model", especially around all you young pups who can't remember life before television...or in extreme cases, life before the computer and cell phone!) Ford sedan disc brake wheels (15 x 6 and 15 x 7) will probably do the job, but be sure to check all clearances before you buy. Moving the rim outward may cause tires to hit fenders and fender skirts when the car is lowered if you use large-diameter bias-ply tires. You may also have steering arm interference on the inside. The best way to solve this problem...and the cheapest if you've got access to a machine shop...is to reverse the stock wheels. This is done by knocking out the rivits, turning the rims around and welding them back together. This increases the offset but keeps the stock rim width and appearance. If I were in your situation this is what I'd do.
Thanks, reversing the rims is the best idea i think, i will see if i can find somebody who can do this. I'm 34, i know life without computer, i have mine for 1 year and i never had a cell phone, just don't like them. Thanks for your help!
If you need help with how reversing is done, let me know. I have access to several how-to articles in the "little books" from the '50s which show the process. It's not complicated, but the rims must be trued on the centers before they are welded back into place and the welding must be done so the heat does not "pull" the wheels out of round.
Thanks, how-to articles sounds good! If you could tell me wich magazine, year and month, i would look for it on ebay. Thanks again, Michu
The only thing with the reversed wheels is 52-54 Fords have such shallow wheel wells in the rear you will play hell getting the tire in and out if you can at all,if you lowered the car it is even worse.If you have a flat with anything other than a stock offset wheel you will have to jack the car up by the frame and disconnect the shocks to let the rear down.
Hi Michu!!!! (sorry i haven't emailed back this week, i haven't forgotten about you... school has been really hectic... back on track monday... okay.) til then... Jeff is right in the post directly above. even mine.. i got chrome OEM wheels on mine that are an inch wider than stock and with the lowering blocks i have to jack my leaf springs down with a bottle jack and take all the air out of the tires and then use plenty of elbow grease and really shove them in there... (i always worry about scuffing my white walls) and the lips on the inside of my fenders are even turned under to flatten out that edge... so be really careful when you drop it and change the wheels it can be hell if you get a rear flat on the side of the road... have fun at GNRS, i will talk to you before that for sure!!! oh. and the offer still stands on the '54 ford hubcaps if you're interested. just let me know.. i'd send them as a favor, i'm sure i will need one in return when i visit Germany next year!!!
Thank you all! I'll have to find a copy of the Car Craft magazine, thanks a lot for scanning it! I know the problem with the rear wheels, at the time i have 3" blocks and yes, it was hell to get the tires in. Thanks for the tips, i will use them when it's dropped 4". Also thanks Denise, we'll mail before GNRS!
Ya' don't have to reverse all four, especially if you're going low and will use fender skirts. Use the stock wheels on the rear with hubcaps that do fit your stock wheels. In the old days it was very common to see this mismatch...if you looked real close, that is. The skirts hide most of the rear hubcaps, only the edge shows below.
Here's a photo of the 15" late model disc brake-style wheels which will allow you to use the Olds hubcaps on your Ford. These are the ones that came on my new Mercury project which has disc brakes, but will work on your car as well...without giving you increased rear wheel tire changing problems. Hope this helps.
The Jalopy Journal
