what's the bolt pattern of my wheels?

[Cpt.Fred]

good morning all,

i have just been offered 5 15" steel rims off some old ford,

bolt patter is 5 x 4 1/2". is that correct for my 1940 hubs?

i'm thinking about changing my 16" wheels into 15" some day,

those rims are close by and go for 140EUR the 5 of them all together,

which i think is an OK deal...

thanks!

Fred

[mackster]

good morning Capt! i believe the bolt pattern is 5 X 5.5 im sure someone will correct me if im wrong but I just ask that question not too long ago. i often wish i was 5 X 4.75 I woulda have a bunch of wheels cheap! but oh well...hope this helps.

[Cpt.Fred]

thanks, mack!

not quite what i wanted to hear... but i'm not in a hurry anyway,

it would just have been a nice opportunity. the car would look nice

with satin black steel wheels, and with the 15" i could go lower

in the front without affecting the steering to much.

blabla.

fred

[mackster]

thanks, mack!

not quite what i wanted to hear... but i'm not in a hurry anyway,

it would just have been a nice opportunity. the car would look nice

with satin black steel wheels, and with the 15" i could go lower

in the front without affecting the steering to much.

blabla.

fred

i hear ya! im in the same boat myself! I coulda have all the wheels i could possibly wanted if i had a chebby pattern...boy, it even hurts just to write it!

[Andydodge]

Fred, Mopar wheels from 1934 at least to the late 60's have the same bolt pattern as 1949 onwards US Ford, they are 4.5" x 5, which is what you have been offered.......Toyota vans and pickups and Studebakers also have the same bolt pattern........I don't have a Studebaker but the 1995 Toyota HiAce van I use for my shop has the same bolt pattern as Ford, so its wheels will also fit my 1941 Plymouth.......or I could put the plymouth wheels on the HiAce.......lol............nope, I don't think so........check a local wheel shop as I think that BMW may also be a match........note that whilst a bolt pattern maybe the same the centre hub hole may need to be enlarged and the wheel locating spike on our stock mopar brake drums will need to be removed or a hole drilled or found on the new rims...........andyd

[Andydodge]

Also US Ford and Mopar use 1/2 UNF studs/nuts................andyd

[Cpt.Fred]

andy, good morning!

that's more like it... so maybe i'll have a new set of wheels next week.

thanks!

mack, that doesn't sound so bad, don't you think? you'll find some!

fred

[mackster]

andy, good morning!

that's more like it... so maybe i'll have a new set of wheels next week.

thanks!

mack, that doesn't sound so bad, don't you think? you'll find some!

fred

mines are for a 51 so i know they are 5 x 5.5 iwish i could have your bolt pattern! wana trade?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Mackster...the bolt circle should be 4.5 on your car..Ihave several of these cars from 41 through 54 and all are this size and this continues to be the same all the way through current Chrysler full size cars today..though they are expressed in metric they are yet 4.5

how are you measureing your bolt pattern, you cannot measure cross stud to stud unless it is a 4, 6 or 8 lug wheels..

[Robert Horne]

My 38s, 37s, and 48 have the 4.50 inch diameter bolt pattern.

So does my 87, 95, and 96 Ford Ranger, 87 camper, boat trailer, tow dolly,

and utility trailer. The thing to watch is the back space.

Many have very much different back space.

Many have a different center diameter hole also.

The close fit for my 38s are the 87 Ranger, 15 inch steel wheels, and the 87

camper wheels.

[Robert Horne]

good morning all,

i have just been offered 5 15" steel rims off some old ford,

bolt patter is 5 x 4 1/2". is that correct for my 1940 hubs?

i'm thinking about changing my 16" wheels into 15" some day,

those rims are close by and go for 140EUR the 5 of them all together,

which i think is an OK deal...

thanks!

Fred

The 4 1/2 should be ok, and also check the center hole, as some Fords had

a smaller center hole than did the Plymouth/Dodge.

[Uncle-Pekka]

May be a dummy question...:

- Is the mopar 15" rim steel wheel more difficult to find than the furd wheel?

(in the States? - I know that here in EU we need to grab whatever is available)

What I know D24 rolled on 16" rims from '46 to '47, but changed to 15" for '48.

[Cpt.Fred]

thanks for all the info!

i'll ask the seller about the center hole diameter and for some pictures...

Fred

[BobT-47P15]

I have used some older Ford rims on a 47 Plymouth in the past.

They worked OK, but the diameter of the bolt holes is a tiny bit

larger than Plymouth wheels. The head of the lug bolt will ride

down into them just a tad farther, but that didn't present a

problem.

Don't recall about the center hole size.

You can either knock off the guide pins from the brake drum, or

drill a hole for them in the rim. I find the pins helpful when mounting

a wheel using lug bolts.

[Cpt.Fred]

they're from a 50 ford. it seems they're having holes for the guide pins...

[greg g]

Check the center hole some of the early ones were different. If the wheels fit the center, the lug bolt hole should align. I have used dodge rims on a mustang and for rims on a dodge van. Only thing missing is clips for the hubcaps. I don;t think Ford used clips.

[mackster]

Mackster...the bolt circle should be 4.5 on your car..Ihave several of these cars from 41 through 54 and all are this size and this continues to be the same all the way through current Chrysler full size cars today..though they are expressed in metric they are yet 4.5

how are you measureing your bolt pattern, you cannot measure cross stud to stud unless it is a 4, 6 or 8 lug wheels..

i thought you measure across from the studs, like a star pattern...hmm...Im gona re measure today... 5 X 4.5 will get me some nice wheels!

[suntennis]

Bolt pattern is important, but the alignment pin is also part of the picture. Since our cars use lug bolts in place of lug nuts, Mopar was nice enough to have alignment pins on the hubs and holes in the wheels to mate up with these pins. The point being that not all wheels with our bolt patterns also have holes for the alignment pins. The fix is to remove the pins, drill holes in the wheels or find another wheel with alignment holes. Some the new alloy wheels have lots of holes and may work on our cars without an issue.

[Cpt.Fred]

mack:

there you go! good luck!

hope i can negotiate a little on those lousy

steel rims... all rusty and and dirty.. who wants them, anyway?

suntennis:

you're right, but look at all the holes on the photo - i hope they match!

maybe i should go try out, a friend has a nice shoebox...

Edited October 12, 2010 by Cpt.Fred

[Plymouthy Adams]

lot of folks make that mistake..no biggy...you have a whole selection of factory Chrysler wheels from the later years..just be cuatious of the offset when picking and choosing as the newer cars are positive offset on the average...I have three cars here with late model factory mags retrofitted and one other with aftermarket aluminums to be fitted..some have to be slightly modified..others are bolt ons..watch for ceter opening as this is the biggest drawback with the modern wheels and front wheels (flat hub) application.

[Plymouthy Adams]

as stated above..alignment pins...on lots of 60-70's wheels factory from mopar with the bolt in ceters..most were alread drilled with holes already for the decorative center..these wheels fit well and only need one of the ornament holes opened up to allow for the alignment pin. However the drawback here is the loss clip for original hubcap..trade offs on about any mod...

[Cpt.Fred]

since i do not want to use any caps in the front (and plan on skirts in the back)

i do not really care for the clips... we'll see if i can get them.

shipping has to be added to the price (or the costs of getting them personally)

and if they do not fit easily, i'll let them pass.

[Young Ed]

That picture sure looks like a mopar wheel to me. Perhaps the ford had a transplant of its own?

[William Davey]

I have found an easy way to measure and confirm that the 5 studs are on 4.5" center. Measure from the far edge of one stud to the center of the 2nd stud from the first. You'll find that measurement is almost exactly 4.5". Measure wheels the same way.

I believe this metod will work for 5 studs on any diameter. Found the info on a web site devoted to selling custom wheels, tried it on my 55 C-3-B8 and it works.

[mackster]

Good news for both of us CAPTAIN!