Reverse Wheels

[RalphG]

Not wanting to side track a previous thread on wheels I will ask this question here.
Ok I am going to show my ignorance here. For more years than I can remember I've heard the term "reversed wheels". Chrome wheel shops used to advertise "chrome reverse wheels". Looked like an ordinary stock wheel only chromed. What is the difference, advantage, benefit or attraction of reversed wheels?

[JSeery]

The centers are drilled out (where they rivet to the outside rim) reversed and rivet it back in. It gives more of a "dished" look and moves the tire outboard.

[CarlG]

The wheels that I reversed were to give more clearance so that wider tires could be used.

[RalphG]

Thanks for the info. I guess tire clearance would be an issue when using that type wheel. Wider tracking, maybe a little heavier steering in the days before power steering.

[JSeery]

Reversed rims or deep dished rims are often used with shortened rear axles and wide tires on fender less cars. You would not want to use a lot of dish on a front tire, it would throw the scrub line off.

[Terranova]

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Reveresed wheels up front would effect fender rub, not scrub line, just to clarify.




Scrub line refers to the imaginary line between the bottom of the front and rear rim that you don't want anything hanging below. Or at least that's how I learned it.

T

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Back when i worked at the "service station" we reversed a lot of wheels. Most wheels back then had riveted centers. We cut these rivits with a air chisel, knocked the center part out and turned it around reversing the outer section.

I had a 50 plymouth coupe that we knocked the center section out and put the center in a buick wheel. The Buick was a wider rim and looked pretty cool on the coupe.

Typically we bolted the rim center back in the rim and installed a rubber liner to cover the bolt heads to prevent damage to the tube.
Station wagon rims were always wider than regular car wheels and worked very well .

A few summers ago i dropped off a wheel and tire to be fixed for a flat tire . I returned to pick it up and was told "we dont do tubes"......then i took it to a local firestone and returned to be told we dont fix any tire we didnt sell !!!

I fixed it my self......

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

...We cut these rivits with a air chisel, knocked the center part out and turned it around reversing the outer section...Typically we bolted the rim center back in the rim and installed a rubber liner to cover the bolt heads to prevent damage to the tube...

That's what I did with the wheels I reversed. Except that I used some sealing washers and ran tubeless tires.

[Blu Dice]

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

Back when i worked at the "service station" we reversed a lot of wheels. Most wheels back then had riveted centers. We cut these rivits with a air chisel, knocked the center part out and turned it around reversing the outer section.

I had a 50 plymouth coupe that we knocked the center section out and put the center in a buick wheel. The Buick was a wider rim and looked pretty cool on the coupe.

Typically we bolted the rim center back in the rim and installed a rubber liner to cover the bolt heads to prevent damage to the tube.
Station wagon rims were always wider than regular car wheels and worked very well .

A few summers ago i dropped off a wheel and tire to be fixed for a flat tire . I returned to pick it up and was told "we dont do tubes"......then i took it to a local firestone and returned to be told we dont fix any tire we didnt sell !!!

I fixed it my self......

You bolted the center section back to the rim?! Wow what kind and size was the bolt?

[JSeery]

Sorry, used the wrong term. Should have said Scrub Radius!

[Ol' Ron]

One thing you have to watch out for is scrub radius,caused by king pin inclination. This will put an added load on the spindle and sreering box. Like T said

[JonC]

Just a reminder for anyone thinking of replacing rivets with bolts, rivets swell and cause an interference fit, bolts do not, and will loosen in time.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by JonC

Just a reminder for anyone thinking of replacing rivets with bolts, rivets swell and cause an interference fit, bolts do not, and will loosen in time.

I guess, given enough time they might loosen. They haven't so far, but then it's only been 35 years. (BTW, I did use fine thread grade 8 bolts and lock nuts as well.)

[wisbangman]

In 1962 I reversed the wheels on a 1940 standard 2 door. Cut the rivet heads with a gas torch . Gas welded the insides to the outsides of the wheels. The rich guys had, chrome reverse. We just painted them - we were cool then. Would I do it that way today ? Hell no, but I was 18 then. Remember how that worked ?

[tubman]

I think I might have started this whole thing with my post on a previous thread. Back when I did it, it was strictly for looks. I eventually made a set of wheels with Ford centers and Buick rims so I could run BIG tires in the rear of a "T" bucket I built, but in the beginning it was just because they looked cool.

[V8COOPMAN]

This pic shows a pretty good example of a BEFORE and two AFTERS, on the same type wheel. Note that the valve stem is on the outside of the original (BEFORE), as it should be. DD

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

This pic shows a pretty good example of a BEFORE and two AFTERS, on the same type wheel. Note that the valve stem is on the outside of the original (BEFORE), as it should be. DD

This about drove my Dad crazy one time when he had to air up a tire and couldn't find the valve stem -- it was on the inside!

[JonC]

Sure do look nice.

[12cliff23]

just a cool coat of paint and some baby moons, maybe the chrome rings if you really had some $$. wonder how much that would have been in about
1964

[JSeery]

As I remember baby moons were about $6 a set.