WIDE 5 WHEELS to 15 INCH HOOPS

Has anyone converted a early Ford wide 5 rim to use a 15" hoop? I want to keep the wide five brakes, but use more available 15"tires. What donor rim do I need to remove the center from?

 

there are **** tons of 16" tires out there...

unless u are running radials, in which case...

"hmmmm"

 

There isn't a rim that it just slips into. You'll have to cut it down on a lathe, in which case, you can use any rim!
Jimmy

 

Stock car wheels come in wide-5 and 15" Dia.....if you can stand the looks of those things.

http://www.bart-wheel.com/supermsw.htm

 

Thanks guys, NO RADIALS! I am wanting to run a Frankland QC with 37 Ford wide 5 wheels. I want to put the centers in 15 X 8 hoops so I could use Firestone slicks. I have a 37 truck, 6" channel, 5" chop, laid back gl***, pancaked roof, 392 hemi with 8 Strombergs, Ford 4 speed with Wilcap adapter, 37 Hudson grill, no fenders, 18" front wires with Buick drums...not pretty, but mine!

 

also try Marsh racing ,they will make any rim you want,,,

See Marsh Racing Wheels out of Arkansas,,,

http://www.mrt-wheels.com/

or 1 -800 - 643 - 3625

 

Thanks for the help!

 

I just started investigating this very thing. To start I've rounded up a pair of VW wheels and thought I'd give those a try. I haven't measured yet but if Wheelkid says it's a no go without turning down the center I'll still be looking .
I'm wanting to make a wide five with a narrow 15" rim to put on a 1 man modified.

Frank

 

Tons of 15" wide fives available. just look at any oval track car parts suppliers. Speedway sells them, anywhere from black steel, crome and even aluminuim. You can even get them with beadlocks. If you want some that are narrow then ask the racers where they get their loading rims for trailering.

 

A lot of the 4x4 Ford and Dodge trucks use a wide 5 bolt pattern 15" wheel.

Believe the early '50s Mercs did too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to hit the salvage yards and measure the inside diameter of various styles and makes of 15" wheel rims. I have already taken the centers out of some rusty wide 5's, and I am pretty sure I can find some brand x rally wheel out there that will have an inside diameter that will work out (without lathe time). I know the easy way is to just go buy some new dirt track rims, but I can't get past the looks. I have never seen a wheel as described by 64 DODGE 440, but if anyone has a pair for sale LET ME KNOW!

 

You will not find one. Your gunna have to cut them down.

Jimmy

 

Call Speedway motors, i think you can still buy plain steel race wheels!

 

You've never seen them because they don't exist. I don't think 64 Dodge 440 knows what a "wide 5" is.

I have a friend who does this all the time - cutting down a wide 5 to fit a 15" rim. By the time he cuts them down, you can barely see the "bottle cap" holes.... then he momunts up a set of Michelins. Yuck!

Anything less than 16" on an early Ford should be outlawed anyway.

JH

 

Harrison, is your friend willing to make a pair for me? I already have the centers. As far as staying with a 16" rim (momma didn't raise me to be no "outlaw"), I'd love to if there is a 16" slick out there!

 

OK FINALLY! Looks as if our friends WHEELKID and HARRISON have the scoop! The wide 5 center is about 14.25" in diameter. MRW Wheels has a hoop that is about 13.25" in diameter. They turn some of the scallop off (dang), then weld them in. THANKS TO ALL.

 

Scotty,

Check your PMs.

JH

 

1990s AUDI 16 inch steel hoop wil work. Once you go to 15 inch ( if it,s even possible ) you have lost the effect of the scallops.

 

The VW hoops are about an 1/8" too big to fit the common 13 1/8" centers. The wide 5 centers I have are 14 1/8" in diameter, and most of the aftermarket shells (like the ones Speedway sells) are 12 5/8", so you are going to have to turn them down quite a bit to get them to fit.

 

Here is what is on the rear of my 29
with 15 x 7 outers and L78's.

 

Contact Diamond Racing Wheels, they make wide five wheels in both 15" and 16" diameters, in widths from 14" down to about 6" or 8".

I just had them do a set of 16"x8"'s for my '29 and the finish is excellent. They can powder coat silver or black, or they will leave them bare for you to paint/coat/etc. They look pretty much like HotRodFreak's rears, but they have oblong windows punched between the lug tabs to reduce the rotating m***.

I'll see if I can get some pictures taken so I can post them for you.

Good price too, they were less than $130 a pop shipped to my door.

 

Pics as promised:







Nice wheels, pretty light for steel, and best of all, they're new and unabused.

 

I do 16 's all the time,I know you want 15's but these are easy,just use 2000 or so Full size Chebby pickup rims. I get the spares cause they are not chrome and most folks don't want them.