Hot Rods Smoothie Chrome Wheels

Over 20 yrs ago I bought smoothie chrome wheels for the 41 from Early Wheel Company. They've folded and apparently the revived the company has also folded, I emailed and phoned. Do any of you have a recommendation for a reliable wheel manufacturer for smoothie wheels with custom backspacing? I also need a set of baby moons that fit inside the wheel center not on lugs on the outside of the center. Anyone know a reliable source for those?

 

https://thewheelsmith.net/ makes lots of custom wheels.

 

They can definitely do any backspace you need and can also do them in 2 piece forged aluminum with inside clip caps.

 

The problem is most custom wheel manufacturers have proprietary designs for the centers they use, so not all smoothies look exactly the same. And if you do find the right center design from somebody, they may not be 'customer friendly' to custom backspacing. @Bandit Billy had that very issue with a pair of wheels from Wheel Vintiques; he special-ordered a pair with custom back spacing, they took forever to show up and were wrong when they got there. Billy talked to Wheelsmith, and at their advice removed the centers from the offending wheels by grinding out the welds and sent those to them. They returned (on new rims) what he wanted... but don't expect it to be cheap. Not that any quality wheel is cheap these days...

I suspect that after 20 years, the plating is failing. This might be your best solution to get exactly what you want.

 

Did you try Rex at Wheel Smith

 

Only on one rear it has a thin rust ring. The rears are 30 years old the fronts are only 20 years old and are ok. They are 10 years newer because I changed from 14" to 15". I emailed Wheel Smith and they can do the rear but only go to 3 7/8" backspace on 6" wheels and I need 4 1/4". I checked Wheel Vintiques site and they don't offer that backspace either

 

4.25" backspace is fairly common, although maybe not on that style wheel or one that narrow. Got a pic of the existing wheel?

 

4.25 isn't common on a 6" width wheel. I know the backspacing is correct for my car as I've been running it for 20 yrs and 100K

 

If that rear wheel is 6" wide, you don't have 4.25" backspacing. Maybe front spacing, but not backspacing. You need to pull it off and actually measure it. It would look like the front wheel. And are you sure it isn't a 7" or even a 8" wheel?

Maybe a shortage in the ol' memory bank?...

 

Not American racing smoothie. Had a new set full chrome, went rusty in 18months before they even got installed. Stripped and powder coated in the end.

 

No shortage of the memory bank. The original receipt also shows it. Rears are 8" w/5 1/4" B.S. frt 6" w/4 1/4" B.S.. I do know how to measure back spacing

 

And one more time I contacted Wheel Smith and they are unable to provide 4 1/4 B.S. on a 6" wheel

 

Could you ask for the barrels and centres as raw parts and get them welded yourself?

I can also see why they might not be able to do them as that s not a lot of the outer part of the barrel left on the outside, I guess it all depends on how much of the centre 'curls' back into the barrel.

 

Sorry. I did not read the fine print. Did not realize it was a 6 inch wheel. Did you give Wheel Kid a try at Rally America?

 

^^^I've looked at his web site and gave a call but couldn't leave a message as mailbox is full^^^

 

I'm a bit confused... just what rim diameters do you have, and are you looking for identical replacements or a change in rim size?

Looking at who sells what, a 4.25" backspace on a 6" rim is still out there but only in a 14" wheel and limited styles. They have disappeared on pretty much everything else and I suspect that may be due to a change in current rim/center designs that are available. A lot of backspace options that were available only a few years ago are now gone. You may have to see if you can find a salvageable set of older wheels as raw material to use with your centers.

 

15" direct replacement. I don't want raw I want chrome. A lot of things have changed especially prices. Back in Jan 97 I paid $328 shipped for all 4 chrome rims

 

I can remember 4 chrome reverse for $100 out the door! Those days are gone forever...

But the wheels guys may be hamstrung by what they can get now.

 

I agree with Steve, you’re probably gunna have to look to get these built as one offs if you want exact specs. Wether that be from new raw parts or cannibalised from old parts.

That’s why we do this though right? You know making and modifying stuff.

Any chump can buy stuff out a catalog

 

Couldn’t you just get the current ones rechromed?

I ***ume that’s what the issue is? Or are you looking for a second set of wheels?

 

The hoops and centers are chromed individually then welded together. You can't get plating to go into recesses, trying to plate them ***embled would result in almost immediate rust at those places.

 

I see, you learn something new everyday

 

I just got an Email from Wheelsmith this morning saying that their new catalog was a hit at the street rod nats link to it made-to-order cl***ic car wheels

Note that they make most wheels to order and it is somwhat of a take a number and get in line and does take a few days. No going out to the shipping container fresh from china and pulling boxes out.

 

^^^read post 12^^^

 

Are you able to cut the welds off yours, send them to rechrome, then send out for ***embly?
Looking like that may be your only option.

 

Hood louvers on our 327 powered 40 Ford Sedan Delivery.

Hello,

When my wife and I got our 327 powered 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, we wanted chrome wheels. But, after looking at the various chrome/chrome reversed models, my wife now wanted a set of American Racing Equipment 5 Spoke Wheels. Perhaps, she knew those custom 5 spoke wheels were a little beyond our reach. But, those were the wheels she wanted.

What we settled on were simple painted rims and trim rings with a ford center cap. That allowed us to start saving for the set of 5 spoke wheels. We always thought the hood louvers showcased the power under the hood. so, the look we wanted was to have 5 spoke wheels as it looked more in the drag racing mode.

Jnaki

As one can seen we kept the trim rings and center hubcaps until we sold it to another young couple. If we had kept the sedan delivery, we would have put on those 5 spoke rims. We had saved enough for some 5 spoke rims on our El Camino and that was cool.

Your chopped coupe is pretty nice and perhaps, a set of 5 spoke American Racing Mags would give your hot rod a definite racing look or just a nice custom car. The chrome wheels seem to be giving you more problems than the worth of the whole situation.

Wheels, other than plain chrome give the hot rod added contrast. YRMV

Here are a couple of hot rods with custom 5 spoke wheels vs wire wheel spokes.


Then there is the 1936 Ford Coupe with plain steel rims and the push truck with Moon Discs, changing the whole concept to a simple look...

 

Having same issues. Looking for 15x6 Chrome early style centers with 4.25 backspace. None anywhere can get 15x7 in reverse style or wheels with dual bolt pattern.
Has been a tough time. Need more positive offset as later model subframe is a little wide.

 

jnaki, I'd love to have a set of 5 spokes, I have them on my off topic Olds, but I've not found any with the B.S. I need. Painted rims and caps wouldn't be any different in B.S. availability
S****ing'Metal I have the same problem and my A arms are narrowed. It wasn't any problem back in early 90's when the car was being built. Things change, companies go out of business etc