I working on a new front in my 32 5W coupe. Basic idea is a late 40’s LA street racer with FH and allot of old speed parts and all Henry parts. I left Ardun, SCOT, Kinmont, Scintilla etc. I wanted more traditional but hard core style so LZ -41 brakes, Okie Adams front axle, LZ transmission, Wing gauges, inline x4 LZ carbs, Kong Jackson distributor etc. ( Yes I know, this parts was unusual for the average guys 1949 - but for me its feel nice ) -But one day a FED guy walked into shop with his 392 with the 555 heads. Lots of work on that ( it’s now done, filled, O-ring, new splayed caps, Bryant crank etc ) As a Hemi guy ( 426 ) I got some ideas… It lead to a rather std 392 with a vintage Weiand intake and Ross pistons 10 in compression and a hotrod cam. But…I also got an older 60’s - 70’s methanol short block as I bought a Hilborn injection and a magnet and the 555 heads to. But my FED plans is another case….topics. Anyway. My idea now is build the coupe ruff ( good mechanics and steel ) with the FH as planned. But later on get a new ch***ie for it. I has a 32 std frame with a 34 cross with a Lasalle transmission I might can bought. -So today I bought 2 NOS front Ford 39/40 backing plates ( and that’s started this new idea ) So my plans that had been for a while is a roadster as Orr, Henderson, Nitty etc, cl***ics early post war roadsters. So plan is keep the Okie Adams front axle and the LZ brakes and the cool deep Auburn 32 dash with Hollywood panel/Wings with my std 32 ch***ie and the Merc engine and the LZ transmission to a roadster. I had both Halibrand Solids wheels and Ford 16 x 4 and rear LZ 5 x 16 ( or might can get the high clearance rear ) I think I keep or sell the Solids and use the steel wheels on the ’roadster’. Ok… I need find a 32 Henry roadster, Ha ! Well I know one close to me but a empty body ( need work ) and just way to pricy. But I has no hurry here. -So back to the 5W coupe ( now a late 50’s style ) with the 392. As I said I might has a ch***ie and transmission and I do has a -56 Olds rearend. I can keep my nice std 32 wishborn ( to the roadster ) and make hairpins to the coupe. Now over to thread topics… I would like to see 50’s Halibrands on it, 18” rear and 16” front. -Where to find this and what is market now to find this wheels. Ideas ?
Hot Rod Ranch in Ca , If they will sell Or Hershey Pa , that requires walking & searching. I word think in 5k range for 4 . I would think $$ ahead to have made Then if Magnesium look to stain/ age the aluminum,
Depends on your definition of '50s Halibrand wheels. I sold a set of 16x6-inch Smoothies for $2500 with knock-offs and pressure plates, 18s are harder to find and thus, more money. If you're talking about Indy Roadster wheels, 18s can fetch around $1500+ each while 16x6s are all but impossible to find and when you do, they get BIG bucks. I've seen a set of 16/18-inch Indy wheels sell for north of $12k.
I has the smooth solids 16” at 5 and 6 and as you said get the 18” is pricy. My is repaired ( don’t know how much ) but painted very nice ( they are for sale by the way ) -So what I talk about here is the Indy style roadster wheels. The solids I see as late 40’s maybe early 50’s. I know this roadster wheels can be hard to find and pricy and erroed to become dangerous. But depending on size and a nice set I can’t see 10K is way off. If anyone see this, give me a call. I’m not into new production wheels.
LB's was solids. I has a set 16" solids but not 18", but I'm after the later style. I'm worry on the errode thing but, I'm not in a hurry and can pay. No new deals.
Why do you want 18" wheels? You are not gaining anything. With the available tires today you could put a 700x16 Firestone from Coker that is 30.40" tall, the old 18" Indy tires are 30" tall. Just my two cents but I would keep the 16" smoothies and put a 600x16 on the front and 700x16 on the rear. The car will drive great and you could put your money ells where on the car. This is what I am building my 32 roadster with.
It’s about style. On my smoothies I has 4.75/7.50, or 5.50 fronts, but I’m not just after height. They is very nice actually ( se picture they was on a winning 32 roadster in Sweden with a Ardun ) and my idea was has them repainted black to the 5W coupe with FH and race style later 40’s. I heard from guy sold them they was bought at LARS many years ago Ok but minor repairs, so they was painted to has the factory look. I know this wheels was used under 50’s and they can be cool also with the turbine side out. But with a 392 I think the look change to the more modern and it’s late 50’s, when one use the later style ( that become a cl***ic wheel design ) the car get a new / another look. If I has a 16 or 18 inch wheel is second important. See this wheel, it’s a 15” one friend sended me ( for sale later on ) If one like to bought this smoothis I can sell them and arrange freight.
That's what they ran at Indy in the '50s (16s up front, 18s out back). So if one is going for that look, that's the ticket. Here's a pair for reference. Going on a '29 Roadster...
Here's my sedan . . . Front -- U.S. Royal 6.95x14 tubeless tires on Granada (or Monarch) modified aluminum wheels -- 25-1/2" high. Rear -- Firestone 7.00x18 tubed tires on Halibrand 18" magnesium wheels -- 32-1/2" high.
If you want to build a street car that is even remotely authentic to 1947, the Indy wheels are way out of the picture. Even the smooth Halibrands are too high zoot, but there is a slight chance. But then again, it would only be 16” all around. No 18”ers. If you aren’t being authentic, then do whatever makes you happy and don’t ask us if it really happened. None of us were alive then. We do our research from vintage photos and magazines. And I’ve never seen a regular street-driven hot rod with Indy wheels in that time period in all the magazines I’ve looked at.
Correct. The Indy wheels didn't show up until the early 1950s, with the 18s being first, followed by the 16s up front. I didn't see where he mentioned a 1947 cutoff, but if you were to stick with that, the options for building a hot rod would be pretty boring. If we limit ourselves to what might have been driven regularly on the street, a lot of "traditional" parts that have become acceptable today should likely be disqualified. I know there are exceptions, but most hot rods cruising the streets in the 1950s were not equipped with Kinmonts or Ardun heads or a SCoT blower or even a quickchange for that matter. But these parts get used today like they were run-of-the-mill speed parts back in the day. I don't see a problem running parts that are correct to the era, just because nobody else did it back then. The real reason you didn't see the Indy wheels on early hotrods is because it's a Metric ****-ton of work to get the early Ford components to accept the knock-off hubs and if you do, what about brakes?
Maybe he’s changed his mind. But Hank has had many threads on the HAMB and Fordbarn asking what authentic parts were used for his late 40’s timeframe. I thought he was still working towards that goal.
As I explained my 5W coupe might has a early Hemi 392 as I has with a vintage Weiand 2 carbs intake and a hotrod cam, and that set the period to late 50's. So it will be another ch***ie to the coupe with 34 cross and Lasalle trans and Olds rearend, but I will keep the LZ 41 brakes and the Okie Adams front axle and Wing gauges etc, Bell wheel and luggage bar etc etc. -But here is when the Indy wheels come in. I do has the smooth solids 16" and also Ford 4" fronts and LZ 5" by 16 rear. But... the 5W ch***ie I has/had planned will insted get into a roadster right after war period style with the -41 Merc engine ( race style, 4 carb inline intake, Kong distributor, Potin 425 cam etc ) I can use the solids here but planned steel wheels. As I said I might can sell this 16 inch solids. That ch***ie will has a dropped heavy axle, Ford 39/40 brakes and the LZ transmission and the 32 rearend ( as planned to the coupe. Shore I could use the solids to the coupe with early Hmi, but the Indy wheels is a better choice my way see it. On the Ardun, Kimont, Halibrand 201etc etc I had those parts - but sold it.
One thing to consider regarding the Indy wheels. With the exception on very few rare examples, they all had the pressure plate cast into the wheel. That makes it very hard to adapt to anything other than the original 6-pin design unless you machine off the pressure plate, fill the 6-pin pattern and redrill it to 5x5.5, etc. The Smoothies are a lot easier to adapt as the pressure plate is separate and thus is a flat area that will easily accept a different pattern once plugged. So, if you're planning on going the Indy route and you want to stay with the original design, plan on having to modify your existing setup to accept the knock-off hubs as well. It ain't gonna be easy and it ain't gonna be cheap.
Depends on what you're after. They were made for the early Cobras in a knock-off design similar to the Indy wheels, as well as the more traditional 5-bolt patterns. Naturally, the knock-off designs are much harder to find. I would imagine most of the Kidney Beans would be 15-inch as the 16/18 sizes were out of vogue by then.
I purchased this roadster out of California a number of years ago. It wore it's Halibrand smoothies, 18's in the rear, 16's in the front, when I got it. The rear tires are recapped Indy car tires. Originally they were redrilled for a 5 bolt ford pattern. I have since machined and installed knock-off hubs to install the wheels with 6 pin pressure plates. Looking for one more 2 bar knock-off to complete the install. Killer look.
Smoothies are never wrong, very nice both as they is 70 years later or if some Dow 7 is still on, or polished or painted. Many was painted back then. My idea on my 5W was black painted and turbine side out, but I had also 16 inch Ford and Lincoln steel. But now if this coupe pop up +10 years in time the kidney Halibrands would be my way, but then only if I found them in 16" ( guess hard or say impossible )
I am young , But I can not picture a 32 5w or sedan Street Racer Before 1950 Maybe a T , tub or roadster's .. This Bling & flash not of time but style pic below but I would think street racer more in lines of Indy looking car. Some post pic's of known S-Racer other Then T ,Tub ,Roaster before 1948 Curious to see one.
There are a thread here on Hamb about 40’s period correct hot rods at 88 pages. I like history and I’m not new in cars ( I’m 60 ) and was brought up in the 70’s drag racing scene in Sweden as my father did race. But I devoted myself into stock cl***es with Mopar muscle cars at NHRA rules Before cowid I planned a new 426 Hemi to my Cuda as the other engine was as fast as best in US but new rules had come in ( parts that allowed higher RPM ) so I wanted a new up-build, but cowid came and now engine is done but I grooved a thing for hot rods. I started by see a black 3W coupe in old school ( 3W Larry ) I had no clue on hot rods but knew I wanted old school. -If we go back in time racing is not new and they raced T-Fords in Sweden in early last century with 'racing heads' and on the early 50’s they raced FH with Ardun heads here in sports cars. One of them belongs to a former customer and his cars is not far from me, just a mile and he had the heads and some parts from car his father raced ( he brought heads to Ferguson in LA ) Se below. And in Italy, Germany racing was as old as cars came out. And in USA they had track racing, Indy etc but average guys also played what they had afford, and on the east coast they had fast old cars that delivery booze that got into NASCAR. Prewar cars/racing or call it budget, but after the war guys came home maybe got a paycheck but many with skills and worked in industry and interest of this prewar cars blowed up and if we focus on California and LA area it came up allot of companies that made parts as heads, intake, cams, distributors and ex Bell Auto focus on this category ( guess old 'Summit Racing' ) In the area of Culver City there was many shops and they shore raced in the streets and I seen pictures on this cars with registration plates and they went up to El Miragage. Early 50's NHRA started and SCTA to get the guys out of the streets ( that a historic fact ) But if we go back to the era 46-49 my guess there was many true race cars but also many cars that developed the ‘hot rod’ history with the roadsters. If coupes was popular I can’t say but chop a coupe's was done way before the war, dropped axle was also prewar but shore it went popular after war as Dago, Moredrop, Okie Adams etc. I guess the ******** guys stroke the crank and a better ignition system, higher RPM cam, dual carbs, maybe some used new heads etc but I most cars was probably older prewar modify cars or they just went to junkyard and there was to find better gauges, shocks, brakes, other wheels etc. But if one look at Bell Auto catalog it shore was allot of parts to bought. Then companys like Weiand, Isky etc ( some had to bought the parts so to say ) I guess most was ruff but look at Bill Weiands roadster, Henderson roadster, Mc Gee roadster, Joe Nittys and Karl Orr and wife’s roadsters etc they was also get really nice cars, not just for going fast but they was at El Mirage to. I listen to a old sound track with Pete Henderson that he talked on street racing and El Mirage. When it comes to blowers etc Navarro was at Bonneville I guess 1948 using a GMC blower but that was strictly racing ofcourse. -This is how I see the story, but I might be wrong. Getting up in the 50’s the parts exploded and then the Chevy SB came and 60’s and 70’s racing and hotrodding grooved aswell. Today the promod cars is with turbo in near high 4 seconds ( still a ‘car’ ) I could not found a 32 3W so I bought a new Brockville 29 roadster and a std 32 frame. I bought a Anson dropped 33/36 axle and a 201 QC Halibrand. I chanced my mind on the new body and I found a Henry 32 5W here ( imported from Texas near 20 years ago, no rust but a new floor as body was challeling and a 3" chop ) I had allot of unique and very expensive parts ( in this build-up ) but sold them as it was not my cup of tea. As the guy from Russia with the FH Hemi heads and the Scintilla was from Italy and brakes from hard core airplane parts, and the QC, so shore it was there in the 40’s but for me it did not ‘feel’ right ( and my guess few or non had them on the street's ) This 5W coupe was set-up to has modest Henry parts just as they had back then, Ok it has -41 LZ brakes and a Okie Adams front axle, and engine a 41 Mercury has a baby stroked crank, the 21A rods, Potvin 425 cam. I has both a Kong Jackson and a LZ V12 distributor set up for V8, the L&S Racing heads from Burbank and the inline Multi intake also made in Burbank with 4 LZ carbs. Ok, this is hotter parts than most average guys might had back then, but this is most LA made parts. Then I has the LZ transmission, but I don’t think they was expensive at the junk yard, but it’s a 32 rearend. I would say no overkill regards period correct parts ( or ? ) Then I has a 32 Auburn dash with a full series of Wings, and I guess few had that, but it was possible bought them. As they was sold I’m shore some used them. Wheels is Ford 4” and LZ 5” rear ( but I has the 16” smooth Halibrands ) but they feel little ‘too much’ for this period, but they was made 47/48. -If I’m wrong in any details please correct me. https://www.kuxa.se/nyheter/2019/10/4/ockelbo-lundgren-terskapande-av-en-legend But thread was on 50's Halibrands. As I has a early Hemi 392 my coupe might pop up 10 years but I plan a roadster, and late 40's style ( instead )
I think the Swedes build some of best looking hot rods. I like the stuff CheaterPete does. Worked for a Gunnar Mannerheim when he owned Mobile Climate Control in Canada. Was a great guy to work for. Good luck with your build!
@3w Hank is this a like 54ish catalogue Halibrand stated in 1947. Sounds like you want Kidney? Why not have made & I believe you said wanted Magnesium , Some times Originals not available Nor even was made with Technology of 3d, laser scans & old Fashion cast pour . Magnesium and other alloys are very popular my understanding overseas . You are few years older then I , I grew up in H-R family pre war just on East side of USA , I am not a Historian & know not all was seen in Mags . The Hemi cl*** you mentioned is not a cheap cl*** to compete in . the pic below clams to have been first on East Coast Va 51 ,winter snow, spring summer, fall . Track started 16 th dirt Then 1/8 , pic 51 52 , this was street drag cars @ time , by 57 the change , Pretty much of boys/ men of family worked @ track from 51 to its closing around 2012 , & another track that open in 63 to present . , This Halibrand Cat /ad I believe 54ish , I do not know if compleat line @ time because I do not see solid unless later before 60 thoe , & maybe earlier designs No adds pic's of just seen in person @ Halibrand then @ track ? Not a 5w nor Hemi Maybe 64 ish look or 67
I guess one thing you should be aware of when searching for old Halibrand wheels is what people are calling each model. I call the second generation wheels with the small openings a “little window”. Some people call them kidney window, which is easily confused with the Indy style wheel that a lot of folks now call “kidney window”. Just use caution, and photos. Personally, I’ve been collecting old Halibrands for forty years. I have mostly smoothies of various sizes, and a few little window too. There are another dozen old Halibrands in my brother’s and Dad’s collections too.
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