Mjock,

Post a photo, if you can, of your "original rims/hubcaps" as that may shed light on the subject. A lot of people think their
rims/tires/caps are original, but aren't. I hunted the globe for 16inch non-split "innie rims" which take Fords "bottlecap"
hubcaps. They are as hard to find as a virgin in a brothel. Took 6 months and 3 states.

Also, these original rims were not designed to use radials, but rather tubed bias-plys. Radial rims have a safety lip on the inner
edge and I've been told by an expert wheel builder (Wheelsmith in Corona, CA) that you shouldn't use radials on these old rims
as it can potentially compromise the rims integrity...lots of guys are doing it, but it's a bad idea.