I have a 49 f1 with stock wheels/tires. I would like to put on old style original cragar mags. Is there anything I might want to look out for?
Any comments would be welcome.

 

They are reproducing a number of the older wheels including the Cragers. If buying new make sure you get the proper backspacing you need.

 

if you doing a disk brake conversion on the front you may need to run a spacer between the disk and wheel. This would also require a different depth lug nut.
I have 15x8 on the rear with P275/60 and 15x7 on the front with P245/60 no clearance issues or problems incountered. CRR-29201 spacer kit on the front

 

Cragar makes them in the original steel and in aluminum. They have different offsets. I had the steel ones on my 56 Fairlane and switched to the aluminum as the offset difference solved a rubbing issue.

 

I've done the disc brake conversion on my 49 and have run Cragars. I didn't have to run a spacer, there were no clearance issues.
I've heard of other people with the disc brakes having clearance issues and have had to gently remove a little material from the back of the disc brake caliper.

 

Classic wheel on a classic truck. The stylists working at Cragar really knew their stuff. I still think they look as good as anything on the market today.

 

So if I'm not running disc brakes, no problems? I think your truck looks great with those mags, love it.

 

Very well said.

 

I had them on my 56 til I swapped suspensions, timeless styling for sure...

Added Note: the Cragars on this truck came with the unilug pattern which made it nice since the truck had a mid-fifties GM rearend in it. If you need different lug patterns then Cragars can meet those needs.

 

I've always loved Cragers.I went thru Summit Racing when I purchased my set. They come in what ever backspacing you need.

 

Jeg's has a sale going right now on Cragers. Prices look OK and free shipping.

JEGS High Performance

 

American Racing is reproducing some old wheels now too. Torq Thrush TTQ, (google them) and in my pic. Mine are 235x60 on 7 inch up front and 275x60 on 8.5 in the rear, all 4 inch backspace with disc brakes up front, no spacers needed and no rubbing. Good pics in my Album.

 

The Cragar SS wheel is probably one of the best looking wheels going. They look great on old vehicles. I have had Cragar SS wheels on many of my hot rods. But, they are the absolute worst piece of crap going, and I won't own another set.

Sometime in the late 70's or 80's Cragar changed their plating process, and literally, if the wheel just sits in the rain, they rust. The new plating process has created a tremendous amount of upkeep.

If you call Cragar, they'll tell you to clean them with steel wool, or have the hoops powder coated. Cragar will do nothing to fix the problem.

If you can find a set of Cragar's from the early 60's or before they changed their plating process, those might be alright.

Think twice. Good luck.