What size rims for a stock 38

[38plymouth]

I have the stock 16"s on my 38 p6 and I want to get a set of plain steel 15"s so I can put on a set or radials for normal driving. Does anyone know what wheel width and backspacing will bolt up? I have two dodge diplomat steel wheels off of a police car and they are too wide.

[bob westphal]

By the way, Coker sells 16" radials. I think any of the older 15' wheels would fit. When I picked up my '48, I used the wheels off of my '51 DeSoto with no problem. Most newer wheels such as the Diplomat are wider than the older

15" wheels.

[38plymouth]

I'm trying to locate something off a later model vehicle so I can get them cheap, they only cost $12 a piece at the local pick and pull. I would love something off of an older mopar but I haven't seen anything for sale locally. I'm keeping my 16's with the bias ply's for shows and cruises, they are still in really nice shape. I was just at a local shop and they had one 15x5 1/2 ford wheel but they don't know what it came off of.

[BobT-47P15]

I would presume your car uses lug bolts and there is also a guide stud for the wheels. A Ford rim probably will not have the guide hole.....which means you will either have to drill such a hole in the rim, or knock the stud off your brake drum. Personally, I think I would drill a hole in the rim - if it gets to that. I have used some Ford rims, probably from the late 50s or 60s, that fit the car. But they were used only for a brief while years ago. The bolt holes in the Ford rims are usually a bit larger than holes in the Plymouth rims.

[greg g]

The stock rims are 4 1/2 inch wide, the back space is likely around 3 1/2 inches. Lots of stuff has the same lug pattern Jeep, AMC, Ford, but later Jeep have too much backspace. Ford or Dodge half ton Pick ups and vans would be likely doners. I know that the P15's D 24's will take 7 inch wide rim but not sure about the 38. You might want to check out Wheel vintiques. they have several styles of Smoothie rims. the come in unpainted steel, painted steel, chrome and paint/chrome combos. I got a set through Summit racing for about 35 bucks each unpainted. I got 15's 5 inch wide, 3 1/2 back space. They come in GM MOPAR bolt pattern combo, and when lined up for the MOPAR bolt pattern, the wheel guide pins fit in one of the GM holes to align the wheel properly.

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/index.html

[david lazarus]

I had the same problem with my '38, but wanted to retain the 16's so as not to loose anymore road speed. I had my rims widened and put radials on...best thing I ever did.

Dave

[Young Ed]

I didn't spend too much time looking but wheel vintiques does have some 16s available.