Years ago I thought I read that the early 60s Galaxie hipo rims were made by Kelsey Hayes,I am wanting to put steel rims back on my 55 sunliner and picked up a rim with K-H stamped between two lug holes. Before I go and have the center hole enlarged to clear the hub on a Granada rotor that is on the 55 I would like to know if this rim is something special or just a regular 50s to early 60s rim,planning on finding another to go on the front and find another pair of later rims for the rear that do not need the center holes enlarged.
Greetings! Have the register turned down on your front disks, it isn't a cheap or quick fix but it's better than ruining your vintage wheels.
K-H made a lot of Ford wheels, the early 60s hi-po wheels would be 6.5" or 7" wide IIRC.... And I agree, turn the rotors, not the wheels.... although I'm not too sure that the drum brake wheels will clear discs in any case.
looks like a 14" if this is a normal narrow wheel, with the deep dish front, then it's probably a late 50s-erly 60s wheel. some of them say K-H on them, some don't. I learned that today...
I don't ever recall seeing a 14" Ford wheel that used the 'big' valve stem, but all the pre-60s 15"s did
I agree on turning down the rotor hub regardless of what wheel you have. Also, the wheel in the photo is not one of the special "hi-po" wheels Ford used on full-size hi-po cars in the early to mid-60s. The relief on those is smaller, has more of a radius and is cut with sharp edges rather than rolled a**** other differences. Nice '55 you have there.....
Greetings! As far as the wheel clearing the caliper on the front disk brakes, 14" usually won't, 15" will. If the wheel doesn't clear you can always change the wheel hoops, try 60's-70's Ford pickup, the early years are riveted.
I do not want to turn down the rotor in case it has to be changed on the road and if enlarging the hole will weaken the rim I am thinking to just bite the bullet and buy the new rims,buying used rims and having then blasted will probably be almost what the new rims cost new it will be. I will put them on the credit card and try to get them paid off by the end of summer unless I can find something to sell to cover the cost.
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