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16" wheels on a 54' ford??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by FnDIRTYGREASER, Mar 15, 2004.

  1. FnDIRTYGREASER
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 108

    FnDIRTYGREASER
    Member
    from LA, cali

    First off im trying to get some 16" wheels and WWW tires from someone local, but my dilema is are these too big?? Any one ever run 16" wheels on there 50's car?? I hope it wont lift my car that much higher, but I think it will look alot better with the tires tucking in the fender much more? also these are off a 41'ford, anyone know the lug size?? would they fit my 54 customline?? any advice would be great,. especially if someone is running this size wheels..thanx
    manny
     
  2. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,510

    Spooky
    Member

    Howza Brutha,
    Woody from Streamilne Automotive in Colorado told me that
    the 16" rims were an option on Fords in '49. Really rare from what I was told.
     
  3. RPW
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 951

    RPW
    Member

    Sorry, but 16" wheels with www on a 54 Ford will not look good. They are way too high and you will get a 4-WD look...
     
  4. FnDIRTYGREASER
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 108

    FnDIRTYGREASER
    Member
    from LA, cali

    [ QUOTE ]
    Sorry, but 16" wheels with www on a 54 Ford will not look good. They are way too high and you will get a 4-WD look...


    [/ QUOTE ]
    Well, i have lowered my car already, so it isnt stock height. 2 coils in the front and 3" lowering blocks in the rear. Do you still think it will look 4x4? Also, if they are pretty rare, they might be worth getting. But will they fit my 54'?? Are they the same lug pattern? I beleive the 54' are 5x 4 1/2
    thanx brutha...
    manny
     
  5. Tuck
    Joined: May 14, 2001
    Posts: 5,869

    Tuck
    Tech Editor
    from MINNESOTA

    heres pics of my '50 with 16" rims... I think it raised the hight of my car "one inch" haha- big deal

    they did come on 49's from the factory.

    I like the way they look, It wouldnt hurt to "try them out" and see if you like em...
     
  6. 50Fraud
    Joined: May 6, 2001
    Posts: 10,099

    50Fraud
    Member Emeritus

    I believe the '41 bolt pattern is 5 x 1/2, and they won't fit on your '54.
     
  7. Tuck
    Joined: May 14, 2001
    Posts: 5,869

    Tuck
    Tech Editor
    from MINNESOTA

    one more...
     
  8. FnDIRTYGREASER
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 108

    FnDIRTYGREASER
    Member
    from LA, cali

    [ QUOTE ]
    I believe the '41 bolt pattern is 5 x 1/2, and they won't fit on your '54.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    thanx 50fraud. But does anyone know for a fact they are 5 1/2?

    And tuck..right on. those look good. If it raises my car one inch, I guess I will get 4" blocks and cut one more coil off the front..haha
     
  9. RPW
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 951

    RPW
    Member

    Yes, the 41 bolt pattern is 5 1/2, the 54 is 4 1/2.
    And I still think they are too big for a 54! I can mention that I did use 8.00 X 15 tires on my 54 for a very short while (got them for free and it was 15 years ago), even though my 54 is low as well they did look much to big.
    I guess the 8.00 X 15 outer dimensions would be somewhat equal to 16" tires.
    Best choice on a 54 would be 6.70 X 15, or maybe 7.10 X 15.
    And the best looking tire the ribbed Firestones...
     
  10. du$ty
    Joined: Jan 9, 2002
    Posts: 1,366

    du$ty
    Member

    nice 4x4 tuck... [​IMG]yes..pre 49 ford cars were 5 on 5 and 1/2.like a ford truck.like they said some 49 fords had 16s.i could get you a set.i have a lead on them..was gonna pick them up just to have them...but they are in Texas.so if anyone else is looking. let me know.
     
  11. Tuck
    Joined: May 14, 2001
    Posts: 5,869

    Tuck
    Tech Editor
    from MINNESOTA

    honestly... its hard to tell the diff between the 15" and 16" other than the width of the rim/tire...

    I have another set im going to reverse and it'll offset the tire out 1 more inch and look even COOLER.

    tall rubber on my old 14" rims were damn near as tall as these 16"... the trade off? Bigger "wheel" less rubber...

    Did you know that some '49 fords had 18" rims from the factory? They were US postal cars [​IMG]
     
  12. du$ty
    Joined: Jan 9, 2002
    Posts: 1,366

    du$ty
    Member

    yeah..i know.there be no rules ..i got 14s off my old ranchero on my t they are 850s so they are mondo big..but i had them and i think they look jazzy....so what the hell do i know...im crazy.
     
  13. JimC
    Joined: Dec 13, 2002
    Posts: 2,243

    JimC
    Member
    from W.C.,Mo.

    Why do you want 16 inch rims?

    Now, if you were going to put custom wheels, there may be justification for going to 16 inchers.

    It is possible to put 14, 15, or 16 inch rims on your car and keep the outside diameter of the tires the same by buying tires with the highth you want, whhether radials or bias ply.

    It is possible to get pretty good tires from salvage yards off wrecks.

    I would suggest measuring the daimeter of the tires on the cr now, then choose the rims you want, then find tires that fit the rim and have the diameter of the current wheels.

    Most 1954 fords would have been sold with 670x 15 inch tires.

    The next oversize would have been 710 x 15.

    My wife's brother-in-law has 800 x 15 on his 54.


    Jim


     
  14. 286merc
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 1,793

    286merc
    Member
    from Pelham, NH

    6.00 x 16" came stock from the factory on the Mainline. In fact they were factory from 49-55 on the stripped down cheap models. Many owners switched to 6.70 x 15's. I junked a 52 Mainline 2 years ago, still had 16's; kept the rims.

    16's were not factory on any Merc after 42.

    Just straightening out the facts here, the looks is up to you.
     
  15. RPW
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 951

    RPW
    Member

    Yes, that is right, 16" wheels were available in 54 as well, I know that. The 49-54 16" wheels were quite narrow, only 4,5" (tires were 16 X 6.00). The 15" wheels were 5" wide.

    And since he asked for opinions about the use of 16" wheels I gave mine, else I would never had done that... Of course its up to the owner!
     
  16. FnDIRTYGREASER
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 108

    FnDIRTYGREASER
    Member
    from LA, cali

    Thanx guys. I guess its a no go either way. I will keep an eye out for some 6.70X15 tires, since im rolling on 15" wheels right now. And are the ribbed firestones radial or bias ply?? once again great advice from you HAMBers.... [​IMG]
    manny
     
  17. RPW
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 951

    RPW
    Member

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