Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Wanted 15" steel Wheels for model A. Does anyone know what make, year, and model of car would have 15" solid steel wheels that fit a Model A hub?

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Ford pick-ups (-like F100s or F150s) from the 50s thru 70s all shared the same 5 on 5½" bolt pattern as the Model-A.

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Thanks Brent

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Wondering, with the short wheel studs......are there issues mounting steel wheels?

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Post war Mercury cars and Lincolns were 15" with the correct pattern till 1952 or so. As was mentioned, pickups kept 15" 5-bolt on 5 1/2" pattern as well and for a longer period. A lot depends on what type of hub caps a person wants and how well the back spacing works. The larger brake drums can be an issue at times but most of them should fit if switched to hydraulics with 12-inch drums.

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

The Ford F-150 used the 5 x 5.5" bolt circle, and simular offset thru 1996.
In 1997 F-150's went to 5 x 5.31" bolt circle, and it's very hard to tell that
little of a difference, with the naked eye, but they Won't inter-change.
So, you should be able to use F-150 wheels up thru 1996.





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Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

The problems come from the fact that the stock Model A wheels (actually through '35) contact the drum at two different elevations. If you run steel wheels on a 28-35 brake drum you need a spacer or you risk the wheel coming off of the car. I don't believe anyone makes a spacer to solve this problem but they are simple to make. If you run '28-'35 wire wheels on the '40-'48 drums you risk cracking the rims at the lug nut holes. They make an adapter to resolve this problem. See: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...=1#post1286293

Charlie Stephens

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

There is one thing you need to watch for. I posted basically the same information elsewhere on this thread but since it involves safety I wanted to repeat it.

The problems come from the fact that the stock Model A wheels (actually through '35) contact the drum at two different elevations. If you run steel wheels on a 28-35 brake drum you need a spacer or you risk the wheel coming off of the car. I don't believe anyone makes a spacer to solve this problem but they are simple to make. If you run '28-'35 wire wheels on the '40-'48 drums you risk cracking the rims at the lug nut holes. They make an adapter to resolve this problem. See: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...=1#post1286293

Charlie Stephens

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

https://media.fotki.com/2v2HwRzc5xHuj7.jpg
1949-1951 mercury and Lincoln’s are the right bolt pattern and the Mercury hub cap looks nice

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

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Charlie pretty well covered things. As he stated, later wheels onto the early hubs intended for spoked wheels is a no-no (or should be) without using a spacer. The raised inner section of the hub will be the only thing supporting the wheel and you'll be tightening the lug nuts against a wheel backed by air.

The adapter/spacers shown were being sold by a guy on Instagram a few years ago.


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https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1618643349
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1618643349

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Thanks Charlie.
If a spacer is applied what about using longer lug bolts?

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

If yours are not long enough you need to replace them. Be sure to get someone that has done it before and knows what they are doing.

Charlie Stephens

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Driveability and wheel total diameter makes a difference.. you change the final drive ratio when you go under about 30" of total wheel diameter. Hard to find a 15" tire with enough sidewall height,its basically like changing the rear axle ratio...see how tall the tire is on Russ B's sweet cabby?

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Again, thanks Charlie.

Yes, not the first go around with these swedge lug bolts and cutting them out.

Re: Wanted 15" Wheels for Model A
 

Around 1950 a friend had a 1930 Model A Coupe that he put a set of 15" wheels on it.
They came from a 1948 Mercury. I believe that was the first time 15" wheels were used.