Various wheels from 1940 Ford Deluxe purchase

[alchemy]

Numbers 5 and 6 are 40 Ford wheels. All the others are not.

@Kube to the hotline for confirmation please.

[WarbirdPhotog]

Originally Posted by alchemy

Numbers 5 and 6 are 40 Ford wheels. All the others are not.

@Kube to the hotline for confirmation please.

Several people have said, however, that the FOMOCO logo was not used pre war which would make me think #6 is not for the 40 Ford. It sounds like the general consensus is that #5 is correct, so I would either need to find four to fit the vehicle (and this as the spare), or at least 3 other to fit to the car.

[deuce lover]

This seller here has 2 listed.$100 ea.Might be worth a call since he posted his phone number.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330006

[WarbirdPhotog]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

This seller here has 2 listed.$100 ea.Might be worth a call since he posted his phone number.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330006

Thanks! Curious, how do the beauty rings snap onto those rims?

[Lanny]

There are springy tangs all around the circumference of the trim ring
that when snapped into place they stay put on the wheel...




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[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by WarbirdPhotog

Several people have said, however, that the FOMOCO logo was not used pre war which would make me think #6 is not for the 40 Ford.

Both "deuce lover" and "Lanny" have mentioned the drop center of a wheel. The DROP CENTER is the portion of the hoop that has the smallest diameter. It is the actual surface where the center and the hoop are riveted together. The SLOPE on the drop center that "deuce lover" mentions can be seen in the first picture BELOW. The wall that forms the REAR drop (RIGHT side of picture) is sloped on '42-'48 wheels, which also happen to be 4-1/2" wide.

So, by looking at the REAR wall of the "drop" on one of these wheels (even with a tire mounted), one can determine approximate year group, as well as width measured between beads.




In the SECOND and THIRD pictures, we have '40-'41 wheels where both walls of the drop are STRAIGHT (vertical, NOT sloped). These wheels are 4" wide measured BETWEEN the beads.







This last picture shows a rare 1940 V8-60 horsepower wheel which is 3-1/2" wide. This pic shows a common area where the size of the wheel (16 X 3.50) and the date code (3 of 40) is stamped. This area normally is near the hole for the Schrader valve.





"FoMoCo" was originally first registered as a trade mark on 11/20/48. That #6 wheel is likely a later pick-up wheel. 16" wheels were optional equipment on pick-ups for some time after 1948, when the standard wheels tended to be 15" X 5" as well as 15" X 5.5" thru 1966, which would all still accept the '40 - '48 hub caps.

Coop

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[19Fordy]

V8: THANK YOU for posting those "rewheeling" (revealing) and clarifying photos.

[NealinCA]

To further confuse (or hopefully clarify), 1941 Ford 16x4" wheels have the sloped back like a 46-48 16x4-1/2" wheel, so the sloped back does not necessarily mean that it's not a 4" wide wheel. And as pointed out above, besides the ultra rare 16x3-1/2", almost all "square back" drop center wheels are 1940 Ford 16x4.

[Lanny]

Hi Neal, say, just curious if you have or know of any pictures to show
a 16" x 4" Ford wheel with one side sloped in the drop center ?

I've learned through the years that some of the things a person
thought to be factual about these old Fords, have been proven
to be otherwise to me as I grew older. I'm 77 now and never
to old to learn the true facts...
Please post any pictures to show a 16x4 Ford wheel with one
sloped side. thanks much.



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[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Hi Neal, say, just curious if you have or know of any pictures to show
a 16" x 4" Ford wheel with one side sloped in the drop center ?

I've learned through the years that some of the things a person
thought to be factual about these old Fords, have been proven
to be otherwise to me as I grew older. I'm 77 now and never
to old to learn the true facts...
Please post any pictures to show a 16x4 Ford wheel with one
sloped side. thanks much.



.

Yes Neal, I'm curious too! I always thought that both '40 AND '41 4" wheels had both sides of the drop as straight, or parallel. Like Lanny asks, do you have access to a picture of a known-to-be '41 4" wheel with the rear side sloped? Thanks Neal!

Coopman

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[Lanny]

Hi Warbird, you mention in one of your posts above that you would possibly
want wider wheels and I'm pretty sure you don't want homemade wheels.

I have had prolly over 50-60 older Ford steel wheels with the INNIE hubcap
mounting tabs that I have sold over the years.

I have had a this ONE wheel for many, many years. Out of all the wheels I
have had, I have never seen a mate to this one. Maybe someone in FB land
will have seen or have some like this, to tell me what they came new on.
It has the Ford oval stamping , and measures 15x5.5 wide and has the 5.5
bolt circle. Here's the kicker, it has the INNIE hubcap mounting tabs for the
early Ford 9.5" hubcap with the 8" mounting circle.
I BIG difference is the center of the wheel, from the hubcap mounting tabs
out to where the center mounts to the rim has a newer shape to it, like
newer wheels, (NOT rounded bowl shaped) like the other wheels with the
early Innie mounting tabs.
Not sure if this is a date code, but it does have a very small 66 stamped in
the bead area, right with the Ford stamping of 15x5.5 K.

Here is a picture, I'm hopeing someone has some Honest, True info on this
Rare old Ford wheel.

Click on Pic to Enlarge... thanks

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Here is a picture, I'm hoping someone has some Honest, True info on this
Rare old Ford wheel.

[Lanny]

Thanks, Pete for the time you spend...




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[rustythumb]

i no longer have it, but in the 80"s, i bought a n.o.s. 16" x 4" wheel with the slope from joe mac at ford obsolete. he told me that it had been sold over the ford parts counter post-war.

[NealinCA]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Hi Neal, say, just curious if you have or know of any pictures to show
a 16" x 4" Ford wheel with one side sloped in the drop center ?

I've learned through the years that some of the things a person
thought to be factual about these old Fords, have been proven
to be otherwise to me as I grew older. I'm 77 now and never
to old to learn the true facts...
Please post any pictures to show a 16x4 Ford wheel with one
sloped side. thanks much.



.

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Yes Neal, I'm curious too! I always thought that both '40 AND '41 4" wheels had both sides of the drop as straight, or parallel. Like Lanny asks, do you have access to a picture of a known-to-be '41 4" wheel with the rear side sloped? Thanks Neal!

Coopman

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Here are 3 of these non-existent Ford script 16x4 slope backed wheels. They may indeed be post war replacement, but they are stamped Ford, not Fomoco.

There is one typical square back 40 Ford wheel in the lineup for comparison

[Lanny]

Hey Neal, thanks for taking the time post these pictures.
Looks like they Do have the '40-'41 lug nut holes that are tapered inward,
so you are making a believer out of me.
By chance, do any of them have a "date code" stamped in them ?
Thanks again.




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[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by NealinCA

Here are 3 of these non-existent Ford script 16x4 slope backed wheels. They may indeed be post war replacement, but they are stamped Ford, not Fomoco.

There is one typical square back 40 Ford wheel in the lineup for comparison

Just goes to prove that you'll learn something new every day if ya just keep your eyes open and ask questions. I know that I sure do appreciate you digging those wheels out, Neal. If it is true that most, or all of the '41s had a slanted rear drop, then true '40 wheels are actually starting to become rather rare now-a-days.

Coop

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[NealinCA]

I could not locate a date or size stamp on any of those 3 slope backed wheels. They are indeed "inny" lugnuts like other 40-48 Ford wheels.

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by NealinCA

I could not locate a date or size stamp on any of those 3 slope backed wheels. They are indeed "inny" lugnuts like other 40-48 Ford wheels.

=================================================

Hi Neal, some confusion here on the term "innie" for these old Ford wheels.
It is pretty well an established fact that from 1940 - 1948 Ford cars have
the "innie" hub cap tabs/nubs for mounting the hub caps. Pickups to Early '66
for the "innie" hub cap mounting tabs.

But the lug nut holes in the wheels are "innie", (tapered inward) on '40-'41 wheels but the '46-'48 Ford wheels, the lug nut holes are volcanoed outward on the lug nut holes. Picture on one of the posts above of the lug holes.




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[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Lanny

But the lug nut holes in the wheels are "innie", (tapered inward) on '40-'41 wheels but the '46-'48 Ford wheels, the lug nut holes are volcanoed outward on the lug nut holes. Picture on one of the posts above of the lug holes.

As Lanny points out:

1940 "innie" lug nut holes - first and second pictures.



Rear of same '40 wheel.




Volcano style lug nut holes on '46 - '48 wheels.