Technical How do I change from spindle mount wheels to 5 lug wheels?

Hi everybody- working on my deuce coupe and would like to change from spindle mount wheels to lug mount so I can put Steelies on them. How do I go about this?
What do I need to buy?

Here are some pictures, can I use my existing brake calipers on a lug mounted setup?

 

You will have to know the brakes manufacturer and ask them if they have a hub and disk that work with that caliper.

 

If you are going to sell those wheels, I’d bet you could get alot more for them with the brakes included. That’s if you can’t salvage some of the brake kit for your bolt on wheels.

 

Sell the wheels with the brakes. Then with the money buy a disc brake kit to fit the ford spindles with the hubs with the bolt pattern you need.

 

Yup, that.

Repro hubs, and a disc kit.

 

Thanks guys. Can someone give me a link to ones you recommend getting that I can order online? Or should I look for something original and used? Thanks

 

Speedway has a kit. I’m sure others as well.

 

Original equip would be '40 style hub and drums... I roll with Gimpy

 

Which bolt circle would you like on the hubs?

There are more choices for 5-on-4-1/2", or 5-on-4/3/4", than there are 5-on-5-1/2".

If the smaller of those bolt circles is ok, then So-Cal has a kit that has one-piece hub/rotors, and uses a finned aluminum Corvette caliper that fits the current design language of the car:

https://www.est1946.com/so-calspeedshopfinnedfrontbrakekit.aspx



I mention this one, because the other kits, irrespective of source, use a generic GM Iron caliper, which, well, looks generic.

The car already has so much brightwork, it seems like plain Iron won't do it justice.

 

Original? and used?
Considering you seem somewhat new to this I'd suggest going with a vendor with the best customer service record, you should be fine with most of the recognized players.
I agree with the suggestion of keeping the wheels and brakes together for resale.

 

Thanks, I’d like to slowly start getting the car looking more traditional or period correct over time. Would these brakes be correct for that?

 

Can't argue with the performance of disk brakes, fenders back on at some point?

 

I think Gimpy hit the nail on the head with his link. Although not the usual HAMB fare, they would match your car’s style nicely.
Your old wheels look like Eric Vaughn wheels and if they are like mine, they had small JFZ calipers and solid 3/8” rotors, a nice setup but the brakes are specific to the wheels. They are definitely rare wheels and you should keep the wheels and brake parts together.

 

If the rear are disk brakes already, your pretty commited to having disk up front.

 

Rear are drum brakes

 

Fenderless for now unless I find somehow get lucky and find original fenders.

 

Pete and Jake's on the front brake parts.
https://www.peteandjakes.com/shop/

 

Big fan of the highboy look myself and two of my favorite kits when ‘exposing’ the front end components are Pete and Jakes SuperStoppers w/finned backing plates and the fake Buicks from SoCal and Roadster Supply.

 

I concur with Gimpy. SoCal as well as Roadster Supply has this setup. I’ve dealt with Roadster Supply a couple times always very helpful. They also many stages of this kit from budget to brackets and calipers fully polished. They have both small ford and Gm bolt patterns.

 

I'v been watching this thread and I'd like to address the elephant in the room. You keep mentioning traditional and period correct. Just how far are you going to go in this quest? Are you going to replace the door hinges? Get rid of the air, fan, newer motor, four bar set up, grill, interior, steering wheel and column? You going to replace the coilovers in the rear and change the spreader bar and add traditional tailights? As a highboy, in it's current state, it looks pretty good. It kinda seems like you're wanting to make a pigs ear out of a silk purse. A wheel and tire change with none or only some changes will result in a car that really doesn't know what era it's supposed to be in. Why not just leave it as a highboy and have fun with it the way it is for now? At 27 years old you'll have a lot of time to turn it into a long term money/time draining project.

 

Fair comment rjp, but I thought (and hoped for time/$ reasons) the young fella was actually referring to the “style/styling”, and not ‘traditional’ and ‘period correct’ in the hardcore sense of the words (i.e. HAMB definition). If I’m wrong, my bad.
I’ve been doing so many hot rod rescues lately (restyling streetrods into hot rod tributes) that I may have become a little numb to the purist view too.

If he really means pure traditional and period correct, he has quite the mountain in front of him. Power to him and good thing he’s only 27. Wish I was 27.

 

what tires do you plan to run?

 

What is the rear bolt pattern? I'm assuming 5x5.5 and if you want to run matching steel wheels, you need the same bolt pattern for the front.

 

You are correct, just the style and styling

 

Obrien Truckers does a similar kit with Wilwood Calipers and with an Alliance dicount significantly cheaper. Wheel stud pattern might be an issue. #supportalliancevendors

https://www.obrientruckers.com/disc-brake-covers.html

 

I remember 27..

 

I getcha now. You just want to 'pose' as traditional and period correct. That'll be easy peasy. 1-800-traditional has you covered. Louvered hood sides will hide what's going on under the hood. Steel wheels and bias ply tires. Keep the doors closed to hide the interior. Rear spreader bar, front grill and headlight change. Oh, and look surprised and a bit pissed if somebody asks about the missing door hinges and handles. Just say the guy you got it from must have kept 'em.
The cheap and easy way would be to keep those high zoot wheels and tires, slap on some louverd hood sides, change out the headlights and remember to keep the doors closed.

 

Don't get hung up on the door hinge comments. I have been to several "traditional" invite events with my avatar rod. The lack of door hinges has never been an issue.

 

Don’t worry about the hidden hinges being period correct.
THEY ARE PERIOD CORRECT.
This one had them in 1947

 

I stand corrected on hinges and handles. That makes the makeover even faster and cheaper. That's the way I like project cars, cheap and easy. That's also what I look for in my women....