Technical Supreme wheels on 1963 Riviera

I am looking to order some wheels for my 1963 Riviera and have some questions that I can't seem to find an definitive answer for. I have looked at a number of threads on the AACA board and here but I am still not sure about a few things

I am looking at buying a supreme style wheel. The plan is for 15"x7". My questions are about backspacing and mounting.

First a thread on the AACA seemed to indicate that 3 1/2" backspacing would work with a 1/4" spacer for the rear wheels. When I put those numbers into the Summit Racing site to confirm fit it says they are not correct for that application so I am a little confused on that. If the 3 1/2" backspacing is wrong what would the recommendation be?

Second because the '63 has left hand thread lug nuts on the drivers side I wasn't sure what one uses for lug nuts on the unilug wheels that all supremes seem to be as I was under the impression that unilug wheels usually use this style lug nut and washer.https://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-27723-4. Are these style lug nuts available left handed?

So just curious how this is usually done. Appreciate any advice anyone can offer.

 

Cant help with backspacing...

But the left hand studs, I would change out to RH thread to simplify the installation and finding shank nuts.

 

You may want to check the hub size on your brakes/axles and compare it to the new wheels. I've never looked into it carefully because my '63 still has steel wheels, but they reduced the size of the hub register on factory wheels sometime after '63.
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/277693-wheel-interchange-with-full-size-models-for-63/

 

There is a company down east that can get you the lug nuts in LH thread, being a mopar guy I’m well versed in your struggles. Let me find the name, I’ll be right back! I believe it’s Canadian lug nuts and accessories. Looks like they have a location in Calgary.

 

It’s actually Canadian lug nuts and wheels!

 

Thanks! Now I just need to figure out what wheels fit lol.

 

Just an fyi I had a couple cust cars with those and the register on the wheel is smaller than the axle and won't sit flush on the drum.needs about a 1/4" or so spacer on rear

 

I mentioned that in my original post that I thought that was the case but thank you for confirming. One more thing checked off the list. I wonder if this might be the reason Summit says the wheels don't fit my application?

Looks like backspacing is the only thing I need to confirm now.

 

Usually you need to get into a thicker spacer than 1/4" to get a wheel register on the spacer. After you get the wheels you really like, I would turn down the drum register to fit and not use a specer.

 

I must say I would run supremes on my ragtop

 

Supreme wheels don't register on the hub so it's not an issue.

 

All I can offer is inspiration. I bought this old AMT 63 Riv built up with intentions to redo it as a Kustom. All I’ve had time to do is the supremes and lower it. Supremes look fantastic on this car! Looking forward to seeing yours.

 

I would say find others with the same year Riviera. Ask them for what worked.
try Instagram or FB and reach out and ask what they end up using.
Otherwise all the rest is armchair hotrodding/lowriding.
There is an account call Kustomwheel on IG that post a lot Astros.

 

Those were the standard wheels run back in HS. All the boat tail owners ran them

 

Check the US Wheel site for more info. https://www.uswheel.com/wheel/7688/us-wheel-supreme-series-48/?finishID=1

 

My brother @just Matt has those on his 64. Might send him a message about size and backspacing.

 

Thanks I looked there but they suggest a 4 1/4" back spacing which going by numerous threads I have read on wheels on the AACA site will be too much and the wheels won't fit over the drums so that leads to more confusion

Thanks. I sent him a message.

 

There was someone a few years ago that was making actual bolt pattern supremes and not uni lug. may have been Rocket pre-Holley or Unique. I think Unique is still making them but not in 5x5

 

Unique does show 5x5 on their website but finding a place that sells them that won't charge as much to ship to Canada as the wheels themselves seems to be another story. Summit carries the wheels but not that bolt pattern.

 

Well I will throw this up one more time to see if anyone else has any input. @guthriesmith brother got back to me right away but is running 14's so wasn't 100% sure about 15's either and trying to contact anyone on Instagram has gone nowhere. I find most people don't reply to random questions from strangers on there.

 

not my photo
Hello,

In 1962-63, a girl that I was friends with during high school had an older brother. He was a lot older than me and was well established in the community with his business. But, the many times I was at her house out in front or in the garage, I kept seeing this pristine balsa wood surfboard sitting covered up with “garage junk.”

She knew I was one of the top surfers in high school and asked if we could go surfing. She said her brother would allow her to surf on that wooden surfboard. So, a trip to the local beach was done. She looked great in bathing suit. But, could not stand up well on that wooden surfboard. I tried to surf on it and caught a few waves. It rode, ok, but it was hard to turn and have fun.

It was more of a turn at the top of the wave, angle the board and head away from the curl. It was not like my modern (at the time) board that allows me to paddle into the wave, go to the peak and do a 90 degree turn to the bottom for another 90 degree turn away and continue using the face of the wave to turn and drop again and again. It was a one turn and when I tried a hard cutback, it dug into the wave and I fell many times.

The board was a historic one even during that time. 1963-64. Shaped in the late 50s in Los Angeles’ South Bay area at Jacobs Surfboards. Dale Velzy and Hap Jacobs were partners and their boards were pretty nice. This was one of the early balsa wood boards and not one ding in the rails or overall board. My brother had a Jacobs modern design foam board and it rode well in all kinds of waves and sizes. But, since I was into surfing as well as hot rods, I wanted to buy that old, historic, balsa wood surfboard.

My friend’s brother wanted Buick Skylark Wires for his new, black 63 Riviera, but was told by his older friend, that balancing and keeping them aligned was a huge problem. (despite the Buick Skylark wheels that were on my 58 Impala at the time.) So, he opted for the American Torque Thrust 5 spoke wheels. The trade: the 4 wheels for the 9’6” Dale Velzy Balsa Wood Board.

Since I still had the old hot rod shop discount level in the industry, I called around to see who could give me the best price. I was able to get a great discount (A race car speed equipment dealer/builder discount from our old speed shop: Precision Racing Engines) on some American Racing 5 spoke mag wheels for him.

I drove up to Moon Equipment to pick them up. He wanted to trade me an old Dale Velzy balsa surfboard for these 4 mag wheels. The car looked outstanding and had "that look" for daily driving. It was one of the first street cars with American Mags and this was on his new 1963 Buick Riviera. Was the trade an excellent deal? It sure was...the board is/was a very rare one that rode OK. But, it was the historic value that was important. It should be in a surf museum, but, my brother took it to his garage in Santa Barbara. I have not seen it since then.

What was the outcome of the trade? The Velzy balsawood board is with my brother’s family. A similar balsa wood, Velzy Surfboard sold for thousands of dollars at a recent surfboard auction. American Racing 5 spoke wheels can be bought for about $100-200 each. You be the judge…

Aside: I did not make any money, but I bought 4 American Racing Torq Thrust 5 spoke mags for a friend’s new 1963 Buick Riviera. Her brother wanted the new American Racing Mags and would pay me good money. He allowed me to surf on the balsa wood board to test it out. Then we agreed on a trade of the surfboard for the cost of the 4 mags, plus gas money and a nice lunch at a desirable local hamburger restaurant that we all liked, just around the corner.

I could have made a good profit, but I took in a 1959 Dale Velzy Balsa wood surfboard in trade. The board was in pristine shape, it looked good, but rode like a log. It was nowhere near the quality of the modern foam shaped longboards of the time period. Somehow, I decided to make a deal that made both of us happy. The cost to me was negligible as it was almost a straight away exchange.

He paid for the discounted American Mags and I walked away with a Dale Velzy Balsa Wood surfboard. His sister and I still hung out together, during the sale and afterwards. But, the best part was the improved look of the 5 spoke American Mags on the cool, 1963 Buick Riviera. It was one of a kind in the cruising scene.

I kept the board just because Dale Velzy was a name from the LA’s South Bay early surfing era and put out great looking boards. At the time no one wanted a balsa wooden board for their daily rider. I could see why after riding or trying to ride it on our local OC waves. Over the years, the board sat in our garage. Then when my brother got married and moved to Santa Barbara he took the board to display on the wall of his house. The cost of the board for collectors today, far surpasses what the cost for 4 American Racing Equipment 5 Spoke Mags.
Since it was a real American Racing Equipment wheel set, the Buick bolt pattern fit perfectly when mounted, balanced and aligned. No adapters, no modifications and no altering of the wheel wells.

I remember that my friend’s brother was so enamored with those real American Racing Equipment wheels that he was happy to give away a 9 foot 6 inch Dale Velzy balsa wood surfboard. As far as those original American Racing Equipment Torq-Thrust 5 spokes were concerned, this was the only photo I could find online. So, it is not one that I took.

It did not matter that the 9’6” balsawood surfboard did not ride very well, I knew I had a treasure in my hands. So, that shiny, ding free, balsawood board sat in our “study den” for quite some time until our mom told us to put it in the rear garage that was empty of teenage hot rod stuff. It only had my little surfboard business stuff. So, it sat there being admired until my brother wanted it for his own house in Santa Barbara. Well, at least it was not just sitting in our backyard ex-Willys garage having a party with other surfboards and some fiberglass +resin.

Jnaki

In one day, they were mounted, balanced and made the 63 Riviera a one of a kind cruiser. A sleek factory design with the latest 5 spoke wheels on it, cruising up and down in Bixby Knolls was the best thing. The girl and I drove the Riviera all over as a reward for doing a great purchase and exchange. It was very cool. Plus, we all got a fabulous, free meal at the local popular restaurant for everyone. YES!

 

@K13 - Any progress? No pics (yet), but a new client I just met is a Riv guy and restores the hubcaps for these cars. His has 100 spoke wires, 15x7. I looked under it, and was amazed to see that huge BOP rear!

 

I ended up finding a set of wires locally that the guy was running on a Wildcat. Came with the required spacers.

 

Spokes & white walls, very classy.

 

Love it