DIY wheel center

[thebearded1]

Are 16” wire wheels 5” bolt circle? I have 5 of them.

If they are Ford wire wheels they are 5 on 5.5" bolt circle. I have a pair of 16" wires and 17" wires that were on the car when I bought it. The previous owner was using adapters on the rear (4.5" to 5.5") to run the wire wheels but they looked bad cuz the adapters made the wheels stick out too far. Eventually I would like to drill out the rear axles and drums for 5.5"

 

[thebearded1]

When I mentioned maybe selling the tires and just getting some 16" wheels for the front I was referring to some solid steel wheels.

 

[Neshkoro]

What’s the need to go with 5.5 bolt circle wheels? They are not near as easy to find as 4.5 bolt circle wheels. 4.5 is standard Ford and Dodge.

 

[thebearded1]

What’s the need to go with 5.5 bolt circle wheels? They are not near as easy to find as 4.5 bolt circle wheels. 4.5 is standard Ford and Dodge.

Because I am running early Ford hydraulic drum brakes up front. 5 on 5.5 also allows me to run ford wire wheels.

 

[Buffman]

Try Appletree.com they are a VW dunebuggy hot rod supplier. They have adapters and/or wheels that should work.

 

[fletcherson]

Why couldn’t you have round plates cut and drilled to your bolt pattern and replace the center mounting surface on the vw rims? That wouldn’t be too expensive, and the welding would be straight forward.

 

[Indycars]

Why couldn’t you have round plates cut and drilled to your bolt pattern and replace the center mounting surface on the vw rims?

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[thebearded1]

Try Appletree.com they are a VW dunebuggy hot rod supplier. They have adapters and/or wheels that should work.

trust me i looked at many vw specialty places and nothing would work

 

[thebearded1]

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They do more than sheet metal shown in the link above.
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I thought about them but it was going to be more expensive than a set of wheels the right width and bolt pattern. It's fine I have some wheels that I made work. I'm sure the junkyard that had the VW wheels would have wanted way too much anyway, they want way too much for everything there.

 

[Crankshaft]

I had great luck finding 15x5” wheels with 5.5” lugs on mid-sixties ford trucks. I use a set of ‘66 truck rims as my roller set; paid a $100 for all 4 including the hubcaps! 16” wheels is a struggle. Most of what I find is rusted out on the edges and the ones I have found from streetrodders upgrading their wheels to more modern designs.

 

[thebearded1]

I had great luck finding 15x5” wheels with 5.5” lugs on mid-sixties ford trucks. I use a set of ‘66 truck rims as my roller set; paid a $100 for all 4 including the hubcaps! 16” wheels is a struggle. Most of what I find is rusted out on the edges and the ones I have found from streetrodders upgrading their wheels to more modern designs.

Cool I will keep my eye out if i'm at any junkyards. I want 15s as I have tires for those right now. I already have a set of 16" 5 on 5.5" wheels with taller tires.