Ok I'm building a 27 model T and want to run 32 ford spokes , but I just noticed my 48 ford rear axle has 12" brakes !! They won't fit in my wheels !! Do I change the brakes out to a smaller set up, or do I run spacers ? Any other ideas ?????
I think Ralley America has spacers/ adapters, they do not push your wheels out, but go in the back of the rim to support it and have studs that will come out thru the rim. I found the same thing with my 35 wires on my 40 something drums. See wheelkid here on the board
I'm pretty sure the spokes I have are model B wheels , 16" wheel with big center V8 caps . Maybe I'm wrong ? Looking around now to find smaller brake drums and backing plates . Or I'm going to put a Model A rear axle in it .... I really want to use these wheels ....
17d, looks like you don't have '32 wheels. All 16" or larger wheels used on Fords from '28 thru '48 will interchange. The exception is ,'36 to '39 5 wide wheels. Post up some pictures of your wheels , some one will let you know what you have. .............Jack
First off 16" wires are most likely 35 Ford wires. 32s were 18" and 33-34 are 17". These just bolted right up. My roadster came with these under the 35 wires and had been on there for over 25 years. I still needed them when I changed to my bent spoke Kelsey Hayes wires. I checked. 35 years ago I put 35 wires on Ford hydraulic drums with no spacers at all. I can't tell you what year hydraulic drums that I had in each instance. I too thought that they were all the same as far rim fitting went. I can tell you that there are differences in some years. Before I bought my roadster, I'd say that you were nuts to say that you need a spacer to bolt on a 35 wire wheel. I had done it twice before with out any!! Today all I can say is if it wobbles try the thin 1/4" spacer shown in the ad above. It worked for me.
Regardless of wheel diameter and year, if it is a Ford 5 on 5 1/2" bolt pattern wheel, it should bolt to any of the 28-35 or 40-48 hubs. Does it not clear the drum, or is there another interference problem? Now, the spacers are required to use a Ford wire wheel on 40-48 hubs, but the wheel will still bolt on, the spacer just properly supports the wheel to prevent damage/wobbling. BTW Model A's are 11" brakes and 32-48 are 12"
Spacers it is !!! Yeah they wont clear the drums .I have two model A front wheels and they wont clear the rear drums either . I would guess they are indeed 35's I checked that out also . You all always seem to guide me in the right direction !!! Here this weekends progress !
Any chance you are hanging up on the welded on balance weights? The rims should fit the drums unless there is something you are not telling us. The adapter ring does not move the wheel out it only provides support for area that was raised on the early mechanical drums but not the later hydraulic drums. Charlie Stephens
New style drums are flat 12" and the back of these old spoke wheels is a open 9 1/2' inside ,and a 1 1/2 ''deep .So the spacers will fill that 1 1/2 " space . Im getting ready to order mine now . Should work good .
Ok just found out this rear end is indeed something else , but was taking out of a 48 Ford Hot Rod truck . The drums are 12" and will not fit in the wheel but, I have my parts on the way now . Thanks for every ones help ..
You are close but I don't think you are back in business yet. If you look at the original '32 brake drums you will see 5 raised areas near the studs. These tabs provide support for the wire wheels and they will eventually crack if they don't have this support. Most antique ford parts dealers sell rings to provide the support for '28-'35 wire wheels when they are run on newer drums. Charlie Stephens
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