Steel Wheel Centers

Does anyone save wheel centers for future projects? I have a pair of vintage gm 16" steel wheels, 6 lug that I acquired with other parts. I ended up having the bias ply tires removed. The hoops were thin around the lip and rotten in areas. Centers looks good and I was considering saving them for a rainy day. Just trying to see if any of you find it worth you time saving center.

 

I saved 2 from a 40 Ford. I cut the centers down on a drum lathe, and used hoops from an earlier 60s VW bug 15". I have them on the front of my 32 ford

 

How much did you have to cut the centers down for them to fit in the VW hoop. Were those 40's Ford wheels 16"?

 

Why not, if you have them you may never need them but if or when you need them you will really need them.

 

Cut to fit the hoop you find; it was maybe a 3/16" cut

yes the 40 was 16

 

Not much demand for 6 lug centers. HRP

 

I save mine

 

If they are ford 5 on 5.5 I save them. All others I junk, only saying that because I know I am never going to run any other wheel than an early ford.

 

More than you would think if they have the spring clips for the early hubcaps in good shape. They seem to find favor with a lot of the AD truck guys who want to run original style hubcaps.

Mink, I think it all comes down to the if you have a place to stash them where you won't be tripping over them and someone won't be raising hell about them being there. You don't have to feed them or carry water them so they don't need much care if you stash them away.

 

Well I'll get to cutting. Thanks, they do have the spring clips for the early hubcaps. Mr48chev can you tell me a rough time period on those type

 

Well that only took 20minutes to do each. My last question would be, "where do I pick up some 16" diam x 4.5" or so width wheel hoops?"

 

6 lug style through '48 on p***enger car and through about 1959 on pickups. '49 through '53 p***enger had 5 lug with clips.

As for your question about 16 narrow hoops, look to the late model space saver spares. They are narrow enough, but I am not sure the inner diameter of the wheel where the center mounts is sized adequately for that purpose. A tape measure will tell the tale.

Ray

 

Thanks

 

I saved the centers of 4 Buick 15" 5 on 5 wheels. Will look for rim hoops to plug them unto. Just ground off the head of each rivet inside the rusted hoop and popped them out with a drift punch. The hoops were useless wouldn't hold air or accept a tube.

 

On a side note. Has anyone had experience with fitting gm centers in vw hoops?