so ive decided to run 16 inch steel wheels on my 59 with hubcaps. the hubcaps im looking at are the smooth ones that mac's offers for the 48-56 trucks. Now what style of retaining clips would this take and how do i tell the difference at the junkyard? Also would these caps fit on a 16 inch wheel without any problems or where the 16 inch ones a bigger diameter?

 

If you're using the old type hubcaps from a 48-56 you have to use rims with the nubs on the inside, they won't work on the newer type rims with the outer nubs. The innies are getting rather hard to find, good luck. F-1 came with 16" wheels so that's not a problem.

 

so when did they change to the outie style?

 

Speaking of hubcaps.... can somebody identify this one. Found it under the house I just bought.

 

Here's a photo showing the two different style of hubcap mountings. The innie is on the left. The style changed in 1966/67 for trucks, 1949 for cars.




One thing to be aware of is today's tires are much wider than the originals, and the narrow rims that originaly came on our trucks are margainal at best for using with a modern radial. Wider 16" rims with the innie hubcap nubs are available from the aftermarket. Check with Bob Drake, among others.

 

That is the 48-56 type F-1/100 pickup hubcap. I'd say you got a really great deal on your house. ;-)

 

Wheel Vintique, http://www.wheelvintiques.com,and Stockton Wheel, http://www.stocktonwheel.com, have them listed, around a $160 a piece. I think they also make them wider. I was on their web site the other day but remember much about the wheel they have to offer.

 

well im going to run a 7.50-16 rough bais ply tire (i think it will look better) so rim width is ok. thanks for the links i might have to buck up and buy new ones if i can't find any. which i was originally planning on buying wheels anyway so no big budget change.