Once upon a time I had the name of a gentleman located in Oklahoma that cut the center out of a wheel and welded it into a new hoop. Anyone know a contact for such wheel repairs?
Hmm...I should know the answer to that, but can’t come up with who that is. I know folks that have done it, but only for themselves.
Cutting a stitch welded center out with a 4” cut off wheel is ez. You need a hub for truing and the same inner diameter drop center on your new rim.
If you don’t have the equipment or skills to do it, and I don’t, http://thewheelsmith.net/wheel-restoration probably could. They did some 55 ford centers on 7” rims for me some years ago. Shipping would be an issue. But most larger towns have a guy who does wheel repair on bent rims for the new and used car dealers. I’ve had alloy rims repaired, and he could do steel also.
Don't know anybody who does this today. It can be done with a Ford spindle, bearing, and hub in a strong vise. I still collect the 15" early Ford centers (12 5/8" OD) that fit early '60s American Motors cars with 4" hoops. You can most probably get as straight a wheel as Coker Wheels sells without breaking the bank. The cheap Ramblers had the narrow hoops.
We did this in High School metal shop, if you're looking for someone in OK. contact the guys at Straykat Kustoms they should know
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