Lately I have fallen hard for Early Ford Spoke wheels and now it has me thinking about running them on my '31 Chevy. I had already planned on running a 331 Chrysler Engine out of a '51 New Yorker but the idea seems like I am mixing sciences. Have there been any Early Hemi Powered coupes that ran wire wheels that did not look like a cluster-fuck? I did some searching but did not come up with much. I was trying to shoot for a 1952 Period hence the '51 Engine, but it seems that '40+ disks would have been the choice for the era. Which one should I give up or should I shoot for both? The prior plan was to run 1936-39 Ford wheels which I still love but I am jonesin' for the Wires now. I should say screw both of them and run '40 disk wheels huh? I love them all!!!!
the looks depend on the car, but from a safety perspective, if its a 'built' hemi Id be wary of using original wire wheels, Designed for a 80hp motor + 70 years of fatigue/not to mention corrosion... see what im saying? sure they were designed stronger than they needed to be but is that safety margin enough to rely on when you triple the horsepower ??? If you go wires Id consider new reproductions. theres my opinion.
That makes sense. See I was planning on running a stock hemi as they would have in 1952. I was afraid that the wires wouln't be strong enough even just perhaps under the weight, although I heard flat heads are not all that light. I wish I could run a flathead instead of the hemi.....maybe not. Damn if I could have just found that '32 ford body instead of my '31 chevy.
flathead is maybe 150lbs less than a hemi.. depends how you dress them, if its a stock cast iron intake on the hemi, they weigh plenty by themselves apparently. I would guess that anyone running a Hemi in '52 would have had some cash (brand new motor afterall!) and wires would have been considered 'old hat' by 52. they would have used solids for sure.
artillary wheels always look good and you can run some tasty caps too though I am not sure how many guys were running artillary wheels in the 50's...the hemi will be sweet
If you have a '32 5 window body that you can trade for the '31 Chevy body that I have. Hell I will give it to you for free if that the case! I get what your saying about the idea of anyone that had the money to run a HEMI in '52 would have probably had the cheese to shell out on other items such as wheels. And in that case they may have not run the 36-39 Ford Wide Fives that I already have for the car also. They would have been sort of outdated but not nearly as much as the spokes. I had ran the idea of running a 235 that I have with a Side Draft Nicson 3 pot intake that I have. That would allow me to run the spokes and would have been a pretty trick piece around '52. I just can't bring myself to run a straight six yet in my dream car instead of a brutal Hemi. It's really Bass's fault. Every time I watch Mad Fab 4 with his coupe and the way it sounds I am sold over and over again.
What about Kirby Kennedy's coupe and why is it so perfect? He is running Wires with a Y block. Is it the Mass of the "Hemi" that just make it unfit to mix the two?
I built a car to a 56 period. The wire's were availible in 1956 and the Y-block was to I liked them both. If I was building a 52 period car and wanted a Hemi and wire's I would do it, as long as I felt the wheels would hold up. No, you don't see any car's that have a Hemi and wire's ,but both were availible in 1952. Someone has to be the first to try it. Kennedy
Yeah, I like the idea f not getting to hung up with a specific era build but I think that I should at least try while I am in the planning stages. Then again, this is what has arrested me from actualy beginning the build on my '31. I realize that both were around during '52 and that makes sense it's just that I'm trying to get inside the head of some one in 50-52 and asking why would they have held on to the spokes other then personal preference. I flip through The Birth of Hot Rodding book constantly as well as early 50's Hot rod magazines looking for evidence of such an occurrence. So far nothing, but I am sure there were a few. See if it did not make sense for them to run the Spokes with a '51 Chrysler engine back in '52 because of strength what would be my reasoning now besides that I like them. I think that function should take precedence over form always in a Hot Rod. They are supposed to be purposeful right? I guess I started this thread to see if anyone had specific images of them using them back then. I like that you guys are making me think hard about it and offering you $.02. Thanks.
That makes sense. Now does running a Flathead in a '31 Chevy with a '32 Ford frame make any sense at all? Didn't think so. Back to the drawing table.
Go the 235.and wires.that will be cool indeed. car will make sense historically, and be very saleable when you finish it and find a deal on a32 5W. !!
I would run the Hemi with old Ford wires, they are strong. They don't like curbs! If you go back in time say 1934 Fords pickups loaded had more weight on the wire rim than what you will have with the Hemi ! if you set the engine back your weight distribution starts going to the rear! Only my though.
I am sort of thinking along those lines except, I wish to never sell this car so I better find a hell of a deal on that '32 5W body. I am going to do a little more searching on the idea of running a 235 in my coupe. It actually makes a tone of sense seeing how that would have been the engine to use (straight 6) in the late 40's early 50's if you did not run a Flat head or and OHV engine. I may actually work out better but I am just exploring all my option before I start. And as far as "who I am building this car for"? I get what your saying completely. I think that there are compromises to be made through out the build so that it satisfies my taste (Example T5*******) but doing the research and trying to get into the right frame of mind when building this car is half the fun for me. And hopefully when I am done I will have treated this as an exercise in history as well as a hands on building experience. It's just part of my nature to over research things and ask question over and over. I find that my understanding of the history of Hot Rods come from a great deal of questions that I ask pertaining to a car that I am building instead of general history. I guess what I am saying is that my interests are in having a period correct car. So if it satisfies that, it satisfies me.
I can definitely respect your opinion! I just looked at your profile, you certainly know what's up! Very cool tank. It looks like your running a blown HEMI in that with early ford wires. Is that correct?
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