What Wheels Should I Run On My Hot Rod?? - Hot Rodding 101

When building a traditional hot rod wheels can confuse a lot of first time builders and we often receive emails about what to run on their project. A lot of people get mixed up between the different styles of wheels that Ford used, and do not realize there are so many options!! Matt sits down and walks us through the 3 style of wheels that Ford produced. Each style of wheel have different factory options that can be used to further customize your hot rod. There are also a huge variety of hub caps and trim rings that can be swapped around to change the look of your car. While this isn't every single wheel option for Early Fords this should help you going in the right direction!!

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Iron Trap Garage
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19545

[bobgaylord]

I really like this tutorial type of video. I'm an old hot rodder, but never owned an early Ford, so don't have a lot of knowledge about them. Vids like this help people like me, as well as younger guys coming into hot rodding for the first time. Love how your channel has evolved over the years - why else would I get up at 6:00am to watch ?? :)

[messinger]

Matt, I think a great combo is to theme the hubcaps to match the engine swap. Every hotrodder likes to point out their upgrades. For me that means Mercury caps to highlight a Mercury y-block.

[EdWimble]

Matt, Re: 1935 Kelsey Hayes 16" bent spoke
The wheels shown on the 5 window appear to be 40 spoke Kelsey Hayes - same as mine. From my understanding : with Kelseys, the spokes which attach to the front of the hub cross over each other as on the wheels you are showing here (in fact, they each cross two spokes - at the rim and at the hub).
However, there are other, very similar, 16" wheels out there made by Motor Wheel Co. which have only 36 spokes where the spokes "do not" cross over at the hub but cross over roughly midway between rim & hub - similar to stock early Ford). The Kelsey Hayes and the Motor Wheel Co. products look almost exactly the same at a glance, apart from the cross over at the hub, and it's easy to mix 'em up without really checking - even when they're sitting right next to each other.
Both, Kelsey Hayes and Motor Wheel Co. 16" bent spokes were aftermarket options for 1935 and were also made in other sizes for other years 18" for 1932 & 17" for 1933/34 - I have seen 18" and 17" but they seem to be rarer than the 16" (or, maybe people just go for the 16" for their hot rods).
So guys, be careful what you're buying. Either KH or MWCo. are great to use but you don't want to be getting 'em mixed up and taking home odd wheels. Count the spokes, check the cross-over at the hub - and also, check out the spoke pattern inside the rim drop centre, if anything is different it will be a different manufacturer's wheel.

[lcdemack]

This is the sort of instructional info video I search for on vintage Hot Rod equipment often, and rarely find. Comprehensive, inclusive of many minor details, etc. Need much more of this sort. Thanx.

[eliembree]

I really like this style of tutorial video. One of these a month would be outstanding. Wheels, tire brands and sizes, v8 flathead differences etc would be cool tutorials. You guys are doing great work.

[DuckReach]

As mentioned below, the old photos are great. If you know the providence of them I'd love to watch a Iron Trap you-tube old photos slide show with captions.

[VintageFilmChannel]

Oh, also, love the old photos, wish you would keep them on screen longer so we can really notice the details. Keep up the great work!

[pat]

Speedway also offers an adapter for the wide five. Years ago I cut out the centers of an extra set of wide fives and found that they fit inside of the steel spare wheels from ford explorers. That allowed me to mount radials and greatly improve the ride and handling.

[neil]

I’ll add more applause for these types of videos (though I enjoy all of them). I grew up in the muscle car era but have been dabbling more in early Ford stuff. It can be overwhelming trying sift through the old publications and sadly a lot of the old hot rodders are fading away. There’s a lot of good info on bulletin boards but these videos really pull it all together.

[georgeparker]

Hi, I am a 1950's, flathead circle burner. Fabricator/builder. This was a great tutorial and if I may will add some of my experience to it.

[newagaingospel]

My favorite wheel treatment is the steel wheel with baby moons and trim rings. Even did this on my 67 Chevy. Looked great

[approachingtarget.]

Outstanding. I just picked up a 32 chevy coupe. Not running but complete. I just got it yesterday and realize its got the wooden chassis. Once i get it washed and see what all i have to work with. This channel will be a great source of information.

[hotrodmyk]

A really good tutorial, thanks. Right now I'm running "smoothie" style rims with baby moons and beauty rings. Kind of went with what I ran in the late '60's.

[scottmartin]

Very nicely done and good info- very good period pictures!

[dombutler]

Thanks Matt, a wheely good video! I really like the look of '40s smoothies, 16" wires are a close second place. You could do a video on tires, axles, steering boxes, channeling, etc. there are so many choices!

[MrRthord]

Matt and Mike, excellent video. In addition to the subjects mentioned below. I’d be interested in videos covering shortening a torque tube and its radius rods, when to use and how best to mount split rear radius rods (which Ford rods are best and how the length of the ratio rods affect handling or not), how to convert a banjo rear to open drive using Ford parts, and how to change the gears ratio in a banjo rear end.

[chuckster]

Hey Matt
Nice video on the wheels.
An addition to the 5x5 1/2, there were some mid 50's Chrysler wheels with this bolt pattern.
The Chrysler rims were 15x7 if I remember correctly and looked like a reversed wheel so they stuck out further than the Ford wheel.
When I was 16 years old I had a set of the Chrysler Wheels on the rear of my 46 Ford coupe with large car tires like a 950-15 with the black side out.
The front tires were 600-16's 4 inch wide rims.
I had a set of longer shackles on the front spring which dropped the nose about two inches.
I joined the U.S. Army when I turned 17 and sold the coupe.
Boy do I wish I still owned that car.

[shfr]

Matt ! Did you know, 52 -67 VW Beetle wheels are like wide 5 Ford and give you different offsets. 45 years ago my brother and i street raced flat head Ford populars or Anglia 1947 ish. We used widened rims with VW centers bolted to our stock Ford rear. That was geared for 16s i think so with fat 13s boy we were fast off the mark!

[damiansgaragebuilds]

Sanding 16” Ford spoked rims will give you hand cramps! I just went through it for my project

[tompalcie]

Great information. Suggestion- early ford brakes and front axles. Maybe even buick, Lincoln brake conversions. Keep these segments coming