Technical Looking for replacement steel wheels to run radials on lowered shoebox

Back to your original question, it seems to me most Ford's w/ 4.5" BP ran 14" wheels. Wrecking yards around here don't have a lot of older cars in them any longer; but older Ford Ranger's ran 15" wheels that would probably be just right for you, IF you can find them in steel vs the popular aluminum OEM wheels which would look like crap on your 51. Explorers also had 15" wheels, but even harder to find in steel. Some 90-'s Crown Vic's wore 15" wheels, as did 70's LTD's, but those are rare to find around here. I think older Rangers are your best bet.

 

Camber kit installed!

 

I call it the safety lip. I have run radials on old wheels, no tubes and no problems as long as the bead seating area is antiseptically clean.

 

From what I remember tube type wheels don’t have beads and a low tire could come off the rim in a turn, also the rivets may leak air, that’s what I heard. We ran late 60s to mid 70s [not sure of the years] full size Ford wheels on a 50 and with hub caps they look original. Also we picked them up for 15$ each at the junkyard, get 5 wheels and use the 4 best on the car , the other for a spare.

 

Never had an issue with old wheels as long as they are in good shape and not rusted to death

 

I've also used some rtv over the rivet heads just in case.

 

Dave29's '49-'51 Ford has 5-on-4.5" bolt circle, NOT 5-on-5.5".

 

Coat the center of the rims with POR15 over the rivets, They will never leak again. Most Aerostars had 14" rims, the same ones Rangers used.

 

I am using 15X6 off a Ford Bronco II same as Ranger