65 Cuda wheels..which way to go?

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sfcuda

sfcuda

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Ok. You've probably heard these questions before..which is why I'm going to you all for the answers.

~my 1965 Cuda needs tires, but they're on the original 13" wheels. Gotta bump up a size or two.

~I wanted to go with 14" wheels and 215/60/14 tires, but 14" sbp wheels, as you know, are tough to come by. WHERE CAN I FIND 'EM?

~IF I find those wheels, would they be big enough for a future disc brake conversion?

~I do have a set of 14 x 4 1/2 steelies..but they're too narrow for the 215/60/14 tires I want. I really like the 215 look, but to keep things simple and affordable, I may go with 205s. Still on the fence here.

~I also have a set of 14 x 6 steelies..but again..wrong bolt pattern. Do you recommend a bolt conversion kit?

OR...should I just go with 15" inch wheels since they're easier to find?

thanks all!
 
sfcuda said:
Ok. You've probably heard these questions before..which is why I'm going to you all for the answers.

~my 1965 Cuda needs tires, but they're on the original 13" wheels. Gotta bump up a size or two.

~I wanted to go with 14" wheels and 215/60/14 tires, but 14" sbp wheels, as you know, are tough to come by. WHERE CAN I FIND 'EM?

~IF I find those wheels, would they be big enough for a future disc brake conversion?

~I do have a set of 14 x 5 1/2 steelies..but they're too narrow for the 215/60/14 tires I want. I really like the 215 look, but to keep things simple and affordable, I may go with 205s. Still on the fence here.

~I also have a set of 14 x 6 steelies..but again..wrong bolt pattern. Do you recommend a bolt conversion kit?

OR...should I just go with 15" inch wheels since they're easier to find?

thanks all!
Click to expand...


If your 14" steelies are truely 5.5" you can put your 215's on there all day long. With 14" wheels a 70 series tire looks better. 15" wheels 60 series.
 
You can get steelies in 14" or 15" diameters for not that much. I bought a set of 15' X 7" SBP steelies from a guy at carlisle for $75 each. He takes original wheel centers and welds them into new outer wheels. He does Rally wheels and steelies in SBP & BBP and sells them for less than going total reproduction like www.wheelvintiqes.com. If you go to chryslers at carlisle in July look around and you will see him (he is the only "one legged" guy selling custom size old style steel wheels!).

Although I bought some 15 X 8 SBP rally wheels from Wheel vintiques originally for my car. They are a quality product !! Made from heavier gauge material than the original wheels and powder coated argent silver. The down side of the WV reproductions is the cost is well over $100 each
 
Johnny Dart said:
If your 14" steelies are truely 5.5" you can put your 215's on there all day long. With 14" wheels a 70 series tire looks better. 15" wheels 60 series.
Click to expand...

Gah!
I screwed up in my original posting! My steelies are 14 x 4 1/2 sbp. Are they too narrow for 205s? I"m sure they won't fit the 215s I've been wanting..but the 205s might have to do if I can't find the right wheels soon.

good info, all! I value all your input!
 
racerbob said:
You can get steelies in 14" or 15" diameters for not that much. I bought a set of 15' X 7" SBP steelies from a guy at carlisle for $75 each. He takes original wheel centers and welds them into new outer wheels. He does Rally wheels and steelies in SBP & BBP and sells them for less than going total reproduction like www.wheelvintiqes.com. If you go to chryslers at carlisle in July look around and you will see him (he is the only "one legged" guy selling custom size old style steel wheels!).

Although I bought some 15 X 8 SBP rally wheels from Wheel vintiques originally for my car. They are a quality product !! Made from heavier gauge material than the original wheels and powder coated argent silver. The down side of the WV reproductions is the cost is well over $100 each
Click to expand...

Ha! Thanks Racerbob! That sounds like a good way to go. I'll look up this one-legged dude at Carlisle. Is there a name or direct line to him?

AND..I'm leaning toward the 15" wheels. How wide a rim should I go with? I'm going with 215 tires. Thoughts, anyone? Thanks again, all!
 
Factory 14" x 4.5" steelies. 205/70-14 BFG's all the way around, on my 65 Dart.
Nice choice for an early A.....8)
 

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I have always loved the tire wheel combo on your convertible. I want to do something like that on the wagon. I will be looking for 14" steelies at Spring Fling this weekend. Are you going to be there with the convertible? I would love to get a closer look at that car.
 
timbolia said:
I have always loved the tire wheel combo on your convertible. I want to do something like that on the wagon. I will be looking for 14" steelies at Spring Fling this weekend. Are you going to be there with the convertible? I would love to get a closer look at that car.
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Looking for 14" Steelies.
Well why not buy these,with tires ?
Sent you a PM.
 
I stayed a little smaller on the tires on this car,because I didnt want to rob power from the /6.

Might change my mind with this new motor though. This thing will roast these tires....

Honestly, want to go to a 15" steelie with a 60 series tire. 15's look real good these.
 

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I personally think the 215s look fine on a 4.5 steelie, I used to have 205/70R14 on the front and 215/70ss on the back, and it looked OK. Then I had to buy tires and I went with(In anticipation for better wheels)185/70 in the front and 235/60 in the back! Trust me it does not look very good like that. Now I replaced those 4.5 wheels with 14x7 Aluminum slotted mags, much better.
 
Huh..I hope that will work. I really like the 215s..

But you're saying the 4.5's were safe for 215s? I only ask because the tire shop guys told me I had to go with wider 14" rims on 215s for safety reasons. I have the 14 x 4.5s ready to go on the 215s..but they said they wouldn't do it.
 
Johnny Dart said:
I stayed a little smaller on the tires on this car,because I didnt want to rob power from the /6.

Might change my mind with this new motor though. This thing will roast these tires....

Honestly, want to go to a 15" steelie with a 60 series tire. 15's look real good these.
Click to expand...

That HAS to be the cleanest Dart I've ever seen. Nice work, dude.
 
sfcuda said:
Huh..I hope that will work. I really like the 215s..

But you're saying the 4.5's were safe for 215s? I only ask because the tire shop guys told me I had to go with wider 14" rims on 215s for safety reasons. I have the 14 x 4.5s ready to go on the 215s..but they said they wouldn't do it.
Click to expand...

No such thing as 4.5's.
There are 14x4.5" and 14x5.5" small bolt steel wheels from the factory.
I would not put a 215 on a 4.5" wheel. Your tire guy was correct.

The green Dart has 215/70-14's on 14x5.5" wheels. Works fine on the 5.5" wheels.
 
sfcuda----your question about disc brake conversion & wheel selection is a good one...best to coordinate now before you commit serious money on wheels ....& tires.

The scarebird disc brake conversion will not work with the 14 x 4.5 wheels since the wheel will seriously hit the caliper...only the wider 14 x 5.5 wheels will work with that kit.
 
DonPal said:
sfcuda----your question about disc brake conversion & wheel selection is a good one...best to coordinate now before you commit serious money on wheels ....& tires.

The scarebird disc brake conversion will not work with the 14 x 4.5 wheels since the wheel will seriously hit the caliper...only the wider 14 x 5.5 wheels will work with that kit.
Click to expand...

Thanks, DonPal. That's great info..I'm starting to think 15" rims are the way to go. Any suggestions on what width 15s to go with? Does going to 15"s require re-drilling axles? Or can I just get a bbp conversion kit?

I'm looking very hard at 215/60/15s for my 65 Cuda.
 
I didn't investigate 15 inch wheels because of a preference for color coordinated painted stock normal size wheels with small caps. It's a look that gets many thumbs up.

Even though 14 x 4.5 wheels with 185 x 75 radial tires don't work with the standard scarebird kit I modified the kit to make those wheels & tires work.....gas mileage efforts include tall, narrow tires with high pressures..... 65 dart sees 26 mpg for winter, all around, hilly country driving.
 
DonPal said:
sfcuda----your question about disc brake conversion & wheel selection is a good one...best to coordinate now before you commit serious money on wheels ....& tires.

The scarebird disc brake conversion will not work with the 14 x 4.5 wheels since the wheel will seriously hit the caliper...only the wider 14 x 5.5 wheels will work with that kit.
Click to expand...

I dont know why...the backspacing is the same on all three 14" SBP wheels and the J contour is identical.

Id suggest some 215/70's on the rear and 195/70's on the front

I have a couple sets of 14x4.5 SBP wheels, PM if youd like a set
 
The rub point for the Chevy Celebrity caliper(used with the Scarebird kit) on the 14 x 4.5 wheel is the outer outside upper corner/edge of the caliper....even after grinding a considerable portion off the caliper outside edge.

The contact point on the wheel is just below the rim portion of the wheel on the transition.

Subsequently Scarebird indicated in an email to me that the 5.5 wheel was needed...which was not specified in their Aug 2005 Rev C instructions.

Their current website for instructions is:
http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=29

Those current instructions also don't mention the 5.5 wheel.

Since the rub point is in the transition section of the wheel there must be some difference in the transition between the hub & rim for the 4.5 & 5.5 wheel
 
there is nothing different on the backs of any of the wheels I have other than how the rim is attached (bead weld, giant spot weld, rivits) the contour and backspacing is the same. I dont know why they would have an issue with the skinnier wheels
 
You may be right about the 4.5 & 5.5 wheel center/transition being the same and consequently the 5.5 wheel doesn't work either....it's Scarebird's claim that it will.

I know a 4.5 wheel doesn't work (as the Scarebird's kit is setup) since I've gone thru that installation(on two cars) & tried 10 wheels (7 new) without success. sfcuda raised the exact point that I did wrong.....I bought the kits & wheels & tires without investigating whether they would work with each other...once committed I had to jury rig up a solution.

I made the 4.5 wheel work by using spacers, machining the taper on the hub, & installing an inside tapered bushing on the hub to catch the newly spaced out wheel location.

The point raised/questioned by sfcuda is that wheel selection should be coordinated with disc brake kit conversion & if considering the standard Scarebird kit do not plan on using the 4.5 wheel. Cudos to sfcuda for forward thinking & investigating......
 
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