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04-05-2020, 04:01 PM | #1 |
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Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
When I was in my teens, my Uncle and I went through a junkyard in South Dakota and I found 3 Firestone bent-spoke, adjustable wire wheels. I wasn't sure as to what they were, but I liked the bent and adjustable spokes. They were also a bit different in that they had a snap-ring on the outside - like many truck wheel/tires. I've carted those dang things around for 40+ years - never having seen a '4th wheel' to buy . . .
Anyway, fast forward 40 years and I managed to find a fourth one of these - which completes the set. What I'd love to find is a set of the original Air Balloon hubcaps. If any of you guys happen to know anybody who has a set, would absolutely love to run these rims on my 32. Here is a picture of a restored set on a 32 roadster that was recently built by Brizo - called the 'Firestone Roadster'. Not sure where he found the hubcaps - maybe from Don Orosco . . . Would appreciate any help or leads that any of you might have . . . RestoredWheel-Hubcap.jpg |
04-05-2020, 04:41 PM | #2 | |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
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04-05-2020, 05:04 PM | #3 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
Might be worth a call to Brizio.
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04-05-2020, 05:08 PM | #4 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
Yes Dale, They are attractive wheels. They have one fault; as you're well aware, wire wheels, to be mounted correctly, need to have that outer back portion firmly located against the appropriate portion of the brakedrum. These Firestone wheels don't mount properly; that outer portion is located about 1/8" off the drum. Consequently, the lugholes end up taking all the stresses, and ultimately crack. Now that you're aware of that, you can devise some method to prevent this happening.
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04-06-2020, 03:42 PM | #5 | |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
Quote:
1) I checked the bent-spoke, adjustable wire wheels that are actually on the car and thought to myself . . . "Hmmmm - they were on the car when I pulled it out of that garage - wonder if they fit correctly???". The original builder of the car "Earl" built it in the late 30's to early 40's, were probably a pretty "cool wheel" at the time . . . but truthfully, they never could have fit correctly. photo2.jpg photo copy.jpg Well, sure as heck, they are the SAME as the Firestones (probably made by Kelsey as well) - with the same 1/8 - 3/16" gap between the mounting surface and my later drums. I also checked against the original 32 drums (that were on the car) - they have a gap as well, though maybe not quite as much. (Need to 'clay' the drums and get a precise measurement) 2) Given that BOTH sets of wheels have the issue, I pondered how to "fix" them to correctly mount as they should (on an Early Ford). The only easy way to do this is to create a steel "ring" that will have 3 tabs that fit down inside the wheel and I'll put a small TIG tack weld to hold them in. These rings will be the diameter of the wheel mounting surface, about 1/4" wide and 1/8" thick or so . . . and will "fill the gap" between the wheel mounting surface and the drum surface. I will design them in CAD and have them laser cut - pretty easy job actually. Anyway, wanted to thank you for bringing this up, because I know I would NOT have pondered it . . . has been too long since I thought about the issue. Take care! |
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04-05-2020, 08:13 PM | #6 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
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I already have 'wire wheel plates' from Dennis Lacy for the current wire wheels and the Boling Brothers / Lincoln drums - will be interesting to see if they are wide enough for these wires. Will get back to you all (on this thread) . . . |
04-05-2020, 08:56 PM | #7 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
Dale, I mean original 28-35 drums...I have no knowledge of this aftermarket stuff, may well be they fit up ok?
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04-05-2020, 09:17 PM | #8 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
i believe the face of the bolling bros drums are set up for standard 40-48 wheels
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04-06-2020, 09:45 AM | #9 |
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Location: NJ
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
I saw a set of complete wheels and hub caps at Hershey two years ago. The guy was knocking $200 off the price if you correctly identified the wheels.
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04-06-2020, 04:36 PM | #10 |
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Re: Firestone Air Balloon Wheels and Hubcaps
They may already be available as some Model A's need them when changing to later wheels. Maybe SpeedWay??
Paul in CT |
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