Hi, I have a neat old 1930 Desoto I am working on and it has wooden spoke wheels. I want to convert it to the Chrysler wire wheels or steel wheels. It all ready has factory hydraulic brakes, The wooded spokes are quite wobbly. Has anybody did this or could you direct me to an information source ? I appreciate all the help I can get on this one. hog1938@fmtc.com steven
Two things will help you on this. Show us a pic of the front and rear drums (for offset) and give us the bolt pattern Tim
^^^ They're 4 1/2" bolt circle. Most likely Plymouth hubs & drums will fit if you can find them. The wood wheels were an seldom ordered option on your DeSoto, so wire wheel parts are actually easier to find.
Right on both accounts.^^^ Perhaps Dodge bros Steel disc wheels ( an option) from the era will fit without any mods at all. Wooden wheels belong on hay wagons (from the 19th century) and also make good clocks.
1930 DeSoto had wood as standard. Wire was optional. The drums/hubs are different on wood wheels. They don't have a normal looking bolt pattern. The pattern is for the flange that holds the wood spokes. I'd think finding the wire wheel drums won't be easy. hamber "31Dodger" might know which mopars would interchange on the hubs. Here is a 1930 Plymouth, to see what he has for hubs:
F&J is right how the wood spokes are. And there is a special kind of tool to take them off. Hope someone has a good answer because I know a guy that hopes to do the same thing
Tool for what part? I've taken spokes off before. If the spokes are not shrunk from age, you take out the bolts, and then need to press the center hub through the spokes. You have to support the back, just like when lug studs get pressed. If the wood is shrunk, it may come apart without pressing. Back to the DeSoto; The front and rear hub AND drum ***embly is totally different from wire wheel type, in those years. But a couple of years later, Mopar did have bolt-on wood wheels with a normal pattern, At least by 1933 I believe. And those were the wooden wheels that were optional, and wires in those years were standard. That 30 DeSoto wire would be 6 lug pattern, very early 29 DeS was 5 lug. Any of these hubcaps were very hard to find at Hershey 40-45 years ago, so it must be tougher today Sometime after, maybe 32 or so, I think they went to five lug again, but I'd say those drums may not fit the 1930. Also, DeSoto had a six and a new eight cylinder car in 1930, so there could be a difference in brake size, not sure.
The tool is something my friend has that goes on the hub? and by striking it knocks the wheels loose. Been a few years since I saw it so my memory is dim.
Yes you are right. That is a rear hub puller for wooden wheels. It fits around the mushroom shape where the hub cap screws on. Then has a center threaded huge bolt to press against the axle shaft, then whack with a hammer to pop the taper fit apart. some other tool makers, made one that screws onto the hub cap threads. A normal later hub puller won't work because there are no lug nuts to hold the legs on that puller style
The Jalopy Journal
