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08-31-2016, 07:49 PM | #1 |
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55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
Are the factory steel 55 56 for passanger car rims the same as what was on a 55 56 thunderbird? And was a 57 thunderbird 14" or still 15" wheels?
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08-31-2016, 08:01 PM | #2 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
57 Birds had 14 inch wheels.
As far as the 55/56 wheels, I believe that the TBird wheels were a little wider. Not sure about the offset
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08-31-2016, 09:15 PM | #3 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
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The oem '55/'56 T-Bird steel wheels are 15 x 5, with a 3.5 inch backspace measurement. Yes, '57 T-Bird steel wheels are 14 x 5, and I assume the same backspace. |
08-31-2016, 09:34 PM | #4 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
X2.
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08-31-2016, 10:17 PM | #5 | |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
Quote:
I didn't find any mention of wheel offset. See this link... http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1955-1...-victoria5.htm . . Last edited by dmsfrr; 09-02-2016 at 04:28 PM. |
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08-31-2016, 11:11 PM | #6 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
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Ford didn't build anything twice in those days. The shifter knob on a manual Thunderbird is the same as Ford tractors . It's cheaper at the tractor store. Last edited by miker98038; 08-31-2016 at 11:17 PM. |
09-02-2016, 11:26 AM | #7 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
OK, I've been looking at this thread for awhile and just wanted to question the answers given. I could easily be wrong but it seems to me that my 55 bird and a 55 ford wagon came from the factory with the same wheels, Passenger cars were slightly different and I can't remember just how but I recall in offset or rim width. Both could be interchanged however. All these wheels I had were Kelsey-Hayes.
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09-02-2016, 04:13 PM | #8 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
I guess you could be right. I was basing my answer on the interchange, from almost 50 years ago, when I mounted snow tires on the pass car rim. All I really remember for sure is they both could use the dog dish hub caps.
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09-02-2016, 06:15 PM | #9 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
I haven't found anything online about another oem wheel width or off-set specs for '55/'56 full sized car wheels.
There is this Coker Tire page for Ford reproduction steel wheels with a wheel size menu. https://www.cokertire.com/o-e-style-...el-primed.html The backspace measurement listed for their 15x5 wheel is: 3 inches. |
09-02-2016, 06:47 PM | #10 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
I don't know about the Birds,but most of the wagons had a wider wheel than other full size cars.
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09-03-2016, 05:59 PM | #11 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
"I guess you could be right." This is one of my favorite compliments ever. thanks miker90308!
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09-03-2016, 06:43 PM | #12 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
You're welcome. The 50 year old stuff is getting hazy. But so is last week. Looking back, those wheels came off a wagon, possibly the same one the rear end came out of. But I sure don't recall any wheels narrower than 5". I wouldn't have caught a minor offset difference if the tires cleared. And I never would have looked for a different manufacturers marks.
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09-05-2016, 10:12 PM | #13 |
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Re: 55 56 ford car versus thunderbird
My wheels from my 55 club sedan fit onto my 56 t-bird without a problem...
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