Wheels, would like opinions.

[DMMuir]

Right now my 40 Deluxe has 15" red wheelson it. I'm not against the look, but looking to keep it pretty original.



My options are keeping it as is.



Painting the 15's the correct color (Which is ?????)



Ordering 4 new smoothie chrome wheels

Finding 16's like it should have that I can put radials on.



Restoring the originals and putting tubes and bias on it. (Very unlikely, I plan to drive her a lot.)

[A bones]

One vote red wheels.

[qmdv]

It only has one red wheel. What are the other colors

[DMMuir]

Originally Posted by qmdv

It only has one red wheel. What are the other colors

It has 4 red wheels they are 15, I do have 7 of the original 16x4 wheels, but those require tubes


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[rustythumb]

my vote-not smoothies-ever.

[RKS.PA]

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I think you can put radials on your 16*4 wheels without tubes....assuming they are in good shape and not rusted. Someone on here with more experience hopefully will chime in. You could paint them any color that suits you.

[Tim Ayers]

Needs 16’s. 15” look too small and the tire is too big

[DMMuir]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Needs 16’s. 15” look too small and the tire is too big

I’ll get a better pic tomorrow once I get her back on the ground. I’ve got the fuel tank out fixing the sending unit


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[GB SISSON]

16s... Like many others here I have stock 16s with radials and no tubes. Been about a year now and they all still have about 32 lbs and I have never topped them off. I bought all four 215 85r 16s at a used tire place for 125.00. They are tall profile but narrow. This gives a stock looking profile, but narrow tread for easy steering. They have been stock size on dually pickups for years but most of the dually guys go up a size or two, leaving the skinny 215s for us old vehicle guys.

[19Fordy]

It all depends what "look" you want your 40 to have.

Original, custom, period correct, etc.

To my knowledge origina 16 in wheels were painted same color as car.
DeLuxe had stripes. Not sure about Standards. Here's my OEM in 1964.
Color was Folkstone grey.

What ever you decide make sure the wheel with tire installed fills the fender opening.

[DMMuir]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

It all depends what "look" you want your 40 to have.

Original, custom, period correct, etc.

It’s original. Still has factory paint, interior, glass, the only non original parts right now are the 4 wheels


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[DMMuir]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

16s... Like many others here I have stock 16s with radials and no tubes. Been about a year now and they all still have about 32 lbs and I have never topped them off. I bought all four 215 85r 16s at a used tire place for 125.00. They are tall profile but narrow. This gives a stock looking profile, but narrow tread for easy steering. They have been stock size on dually pickups for years but most of the dually guys go up a size or two, leaving the skinny 215s for us old vehicle guys.

Have a picture of what that looks like?


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[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by DMMuir

I'm looking to keep it pretty original.

Painting the 15's the correct color (Which is ?????)

Finding 16's like it should have that I can put radials on.

DM …..On a '40 Ford, the "correct" color is what matches body color. From '41 thru '48, "correct" is body color with three white pin-stripes right outside the cap area, like this original spare (and Ford script tire) out of a '41.





Any 1940 through '48 Ford 16" wheel will bolt-on to your '40, and will also accept the stock hub caps.


ANY of these wheels WILL accept and run with TUBELESS tires....MANY guys here will attest to that. Your car will steer and drive so much better with the radials. As long as your beads are clean and smooth, the edges around the hole for the rubber air valve are solid with no pitting, and you apply a thin coat of some sort of sealer like JB WELD over each of the 12 rivets heads located down in the drop center of each wheel as a precaution, these wheels do not leak. '40 and '41 wheels are 4"-wide between beads. The '42-'48 wheels look identical outwardly, but are 4-1/2" wide between beads and make it just a little easier to fit 16" tires all the way up to 7.50-R16s. You can tell the (4-1/2"-wide) '42-'48 wheels by the angles of the two vertical surfaces that go down to meet the 'drop-center' surface where the rivets are. The '42-'48s have one VERTICAL surface toward the outside, with a somewhat SLANTED surface toward the back side of wheel, whereas on the '40 and '41 wheels, those two vertical surfaces are straight parallel with each other. Note the subtle rivet heads which you ought to seal just for insurance, although they virtually never leak. DD


………..

[fortyfords]

My coupe has 16's with bias ply tires and tubes and it drives down the road just beautiful. Picture won't up load.

[alanwoodieman]

are you going to drive it or show it or combination. this is our 40 wagon with 16" radials-been on there for over 8 years, Drive- run radials, if you may have it judged as a HPOF get a set of bias ply's on 16" wheels for those times

[DMMuir]

Here’s her current look


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[RKS.PA]

Originally Posted by alanwoodieman

are you going to drive it or show it or combination. this is our 40 wagon with 16" radials-been on there for over 8 years, Drive- run radials, if you may have it judged as a HPOF get a set of bias ply's on 16" wheels for those times

Alan, that is one beautiful car....but you probably already knew that!

[estout81]

Perfect! Wheels look good. I had one the same color back in 1964. Drive it and enjoy as your youth is fleeting fast!

[DMMuir]

OK. Decision made.

I will drag out the original-ish 16's. They will need sandblasting and paint. New tires and they will go back on.

She'll look and be original.

[RKS.PA]

Originally Posted by DMMuir

OK. Decision made.

I will drag out the original-ish 16's. They will need sandblasting and paint. New tires and they will go back on.

She'll look and be original.

Think and hope, you'll be very happy with your decision!!:

[STEVE O]

Wow love it. Hope you are going to keep it all original!

[19Fordy]

Good decision. Save your 15 inch rims.

[Digger]

To me, red and green is Christmas colors. Never liked it on any car.

Not sure why you would care what everyone else thinks anyway. Do whatever look and style you really like. And change it when you want to.

[DMMuir]

Originally Posted by Digger

To me, red and green is Christmas colors. Never liked it on any car.

Not sure why you would care what everyone else thinks anyway. Do whatever look and style you really like. And change it when you want to.

Biggest reason is sometimes someone will suggests something I like better than my ideas!!


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[MuskegonFlatheadFan]

For what its worth, I run 15" wheels with bias plys and tubes. I have not had any problems with the ride or handling.
I think painted wheels is the way to go. Two rattle cans and an afternoon, and you can have a completely different look. My coupe has had black wheels, red wheels, stock caps and rings, chrome bullets, and currently burnt orange wheels in SATIN, with flipper caps. Bottom line, have fun with it, and don't be afraid to change it up whenever the mood strikes.

[DMMuir]

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Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

DM …..On a '40 Ford, the "correct" color is what matches body color. From '41 thru '48, "correct" is body color with three white pin-stripes right outside the cap area, like this original spare (and Ford script tire) out of a '41.





Any 1940 through '48 Ford 16" wheel will bolt-on to your '40, and will also accept the stock hub caps.


ANY of these wheels WILL accept and run with TUBELESS tires....MANY guys here will attest to that. Your car will steer and drive so much better with the radials. As long as your beads are clean and smooth, the edges around the hole for the rubber air valve are solid with no pitting, and you apply a thin coat of some sort of sealer like JB WELD over each of the 12 rivets heads located down in the drop center of each wheel as a precaution, these wheels do not leak. '40 and '41 wheels are 4"-wide between beads. The '42-'48 wheels look identical outwardly, but are 4-1/2" wide between beads and make it just a little easier to fit 16" tires all the way up to 7.50-R16s. You can tell the (4-1/2"-wide) '42-'48 wheels by the angles of the two vertical surfaces that go down to meet the 'drop-center' surface where the rivets are. The '42-'48s have one VERTICAL surface toward the outside, with a somewhat SLANTED surface toward the back side of wheel, whereas on the '40 and '41 wheels, those two vertical surfaces are straight parallel with each other. Note the subtle rivet heads which you ought to seal just for insurance, although they virtually never leak. DD


………..

This is the 4.5?


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[DMMuir]

And this is the 4”?


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[Mart]

The one with square shoulders is a 4". The other one might be a 4" or a 4.5". Measuring between the beads is the only sure fire way to tell.

Oh and for what it's worth, I think it looks ok on the existing wheels. It would look good on the 16s. I agree with the comment above, the red does not suit a green car. I think maybe it might just be worth painting the 15s cream or something like that. That would tide you over until the 16s are ready.

Definitely not smoothies, but we have already established that as a given.

Mart.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by DMMuir

And this is the 4”?


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DMMuir .....You got it backwards, kind'a like Mart indicated above. Here's the deal. All '40 and '41 Ford wheels were 4"-wide between the beads. Virtually all of the 4"-wide wheels had the two PARALLEL, vertical surfaces like your first picture above.....ALTHOUGH a few folks contend that SOME late '41 4"-wheels have the "ONE-SIDE-SLANTED" drop-center. I have never personally seen one of these critters, but would love to see a "one-side-slanted" wheel that actually measures only 4" between beads. GENERALLY, you can count on the "one-vertical-surface-slanted" wheels as being '42-'48, and being 4-1/2" between beads. And be careful, as there are a bunch of 'similar-appearing' 15" wheels that came on '53-'56 pick-ups that had the "one-side-slanted" configuration which are 5", AND 5-1/2" wide....BUT they are ONLY15" wheels!

I see that your 4" wheel above was green like the car. If you have four wheels that are green like that, had you considered ONLY blasting the inner part of the wheels (including the INNER beads) where the tire is mounted, maybe leaving the original paint and 'character' on the visible part of the wheels.....possibly more in line with matching the 'used' (yet original) look already on the car? Just a thought, although you'd be better off using 4-1/2" wheels if you have access to four of them! If you've maybe considered the 'big 'n little' tire look, you could always run two 4-1/2" wheels in rear, and two 4"-ers in the front. Many, including myself, have done that. DD

[paul2748]

I like the red wheels and think the wheel/tire combo looks good on your car.

[rustythumb]

i have a "slanted" 16x4" wheel that i bought from joe mac at ford obsolete [many years ago]. he said it was a post -war wheel sold over the parts counter.

[DMMuir]

I'm confused about the wheel differences. I compared in the garage today and I only have 1 with the slant. But they measure exactly the same. The caliper pics below don't show measurement, but it was not adjusted between wheels....

@V8Coopman, I may have found your uber rare 4" slant wheel makes sense I only have 1 out of my 7 wheels

[DMMuir]

I wish I could blast surfaces only, but the wheels are too rusted. several don't really have any paint left. I will probably have a local paint supply color match the car so they look right.

[Lanny]

The wheels you show that measure 5 & 3/16" (or so) outside measurement, will
measure 4" inside to inside the beads.

The '40 and '41 wheels, as in post # 26, have the flat surface around each lug hole.

Most all steel wheels, I've seen, made in '42 and newer will have the metal around
each lug hole volcano'd out which ads strength to the lug hole.

Circle track racing these old Fords back in the late 50's and early 60's, we would
not use the '40-'41 wheels as they would get cracks in the metal around
the flat lug holes.




.

[Aarongriffey]

I had a green ‘40 DeLuxe like that in’53/54.bought it off a used car lot for $70.
I would keep the 15 inch wheels on a driver. Much, much cheaper and easier to buy tires for.
I bought 15 inch wheels for my ‘51 F1 and my ‘48 Nash Ambassador.
Went to Walmart n bought tires for 1/3 the price of 16” tires. And no tubes required.
And nobody points at me and laughs because I have the wrong size tires as I drive down the street.

[Zax40]

Wow, your '40 looks a lot like mine. I'm running black stock 16 inch wheels with standard caps and wide whites.

[Fred A]

Back in the sixties we called the lug holes as belly buttons. The earlier wheels through '41 were innies, while the later wheels were outies. The formerly sought after 1941 only Lincoln wheel (innies) were 16X5 where the later Lincoln wheels were 15X6 and used different caps like the Merc. Ford pickups in the sixties could be had with a 16X5 but the lug holes were outies and may have had a different offset. Rare ones? Whatever! Have fun with the color. Good Luck: Fred A

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Fred A

Back in the sixties we called the lug holes as belly buttons. The earlier wheels through '41 were innies, while the later wheels were outies. The formerly sought after 1941 only Lincoln wheel (innies) were 16X5 where the later Lincoln wheels were 15X6 and used different caps like the Merc. Ford pickups in the sixties could be had with a 16X5 but the lug holes were outies and may have had a different offset. Rare ones? Whatever! Have fun with the color. Good Luck: Fred A

These wheels are NOS '41 Merc, said to also be 16 X 5. DD

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by Fred A

Back in the sixties we called the lug holes as belly buttons. The earlier wheels through '41 were innies, while the later wheels were outies. The formerly sought after 1941 only Lincoln wheel (innies) were 16X5 where the later Lincoln wheels were 15X6 and used different caps like the Merc. Ford pickups in the sixties could be had with a 16X5 but the lug holes were outies and may have had a different offset. Rare ones? Whatever! Have fun with the color. Good Luck: Fred A

===============================================
.
.
.

The description of wheels, known as "innies" or "outies" is referring
to the "hubcap mounting nubs", Not the lug holes.
The hubcap mounting nubs faced "inward" on most FoMoCo cars and
pickups thru '65 or real early '66...Then the hubcap mounting nubs
changed to larger "outward" facing hubcap mounting nubs.




.

[DMMuir]

So,

I would like to find 16" wheels, preferably 6 inch or so wide. That way I can keep the original look and actually put a little bit of tire under there.

Anyone know a source? I would like the trim rings and centers I have to still work.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by DMMuir

So,

I would like to find 16" wheels, preferably 6 inch or so wide. That way I can keep the original look and actually put a little bit of tire under there.

Anyone know a source? I would like the trim rings and centers I have to still work.

What you WANT to do is a great idea....you and hundreds of other guys! But it ain't quite that easy. The 16 X 4-1/2" wheels (of this style that accept the '40-type hub caps) were the widest that were generally found on Ford cars. There were a VERY FEW 5"-wide 16"-ers on some select '41-ish Mercurys, but these wheels are so hard to find any more that they are almost as rare as chicken lips. Try these folks in Montana that get one or two every now and then. In fact, their January ad in the link below states that they MIGHT still have two of the 5"-wide 16"-ers available, but $200/ea? Link below!

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...mercury+wheels

Believe me, the 4-1/2"-wide 16" wheels are plenty wide enough for even the 7.50-R16 tires on the rear of this '36 coupe. Those are 5.50-R16s on 4"-wide wheels on the front. DD



One more closer picture of that rear 7.50-R16 on a 4-1/2" wheel on the same car. DD

[V8COOPMAN]

Oops!



.........

[tubman]

I thought I saw someplace on the H.A.M.B. that there are some wider 16" Toyota truck wheels (from a Landcruiser, perhaps?) where the rims fit an early Ford center perfectly. Perhaps you can make your own.

[joe 1950]

Just my opinion a friend of mine has a 40 cpe with 16 inch wheels painted color of the body and 3 stripes as was stated and radials drives like a dream also the best thing i ever did was put radials on my 50 cpe those crack chasing bias plys are for showing

[DMMuir]

I may have to do just that. I will have to look for some 4.5 wide wheels I guess. Mu luck to have 7 4" wheels and the 4 15's!

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Believe me, the 4-1/2"-wide 16" wheels are plenty wide enough for even the 7.50-R16 tires on the rear of this '36 coupe. Those are 5.50-R16s on 4"-wide wheels on the front. DD



One more closer picture of that rear 7.50-R16 on a 4-1/2" wheel on the same car. DD

[DMMuir]

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Originally Posted by joe 1950

Just my opinion a friend of mine has a 40 cpe with 16 inch wheels painted color of the body and 3 stripes as was stated and radials drives like a dream also the best thing i ever did was put radials on my 50 cpe those crack chasing bias plys are for showing

I want to keep mine original but drivable. I have no plans to put bias on it. Radials are and will be installed and people can live with the inconsistency. If I ever want it in a period correct contest I will find some used/worn out cheap bias and toss on spare rims... She won't win a beauty contest with 80 year old paint and interior, but it's pretty amazing that it's all survived this long as is.New pretty bias tires wouldn't fit her faded and worn image anyway.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by joe 1950

Just my opinion a friend of mine has a 40 cpe with 16 inch wheels painted color of the body and 3 stripes as was stated and radials drives like a dream also the best thing i ever did was put radials on my 50 cpe those crack chasing bias plys are for showing

"Crack-Chasin' Bias Plys".....that's a term that should be 'highlighted' on the first page of every old car guy's notebook! DD

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by tubman

I thought I saw someplace on the H.A.M.B. that there are some wider 16" Toyota truck wheels (from a Landcruiser, perhaps?) where the rims fit an early Ford center perfectly. Perhaps you can make your own.

These are the rare non USA 16" toyota landcruiser wheels from the 45 series pickups, but they are multi-piece lock ring wheels and all landcruisers have been 6 bolt on 5.5. They do interchange nicely with chevy wheels.

[V8COOPMAN]

.

I see that you've got your Christmas lights up early this year. Does this mean that you've got your Christmas shopping finished also? DD

[GB SISSON]

They give the swallows a place to roost instead of the wires to the ceiling lamps above the woodie.