I inadvertently deleted a message from a young man asking for info about
converting a steel wheel car to wire wheels. Hopefully he will see this &
accept my apology for not replying directly.
Wire wheels are wider at the hub than steel wheels & require a narrower rear
end. To do the swap, you will have to source a real wire wheel rear end &
swap it into your car. You will also have to change the parking brake cable.
Your original brakes including the backing plates can be reused.
In front, only the hubs must be exchanged for a wire wheel hubs.
Personally, I do not recommend the swap for anyone on a limited budget. Good
used hubs are almost impossible to find, as are good, true, wire wheels. By
that I mean a set that is truly round & has the rim centered with the hub. A
new set of wheels & hubs will run over $1000.00. Conversion "bolt on" wire
wheels which use all the original components are around $1500.00.
For a daily driver, steel wheels require less maintenance, are less likely
to leak, & are stronger & more likely to survive a brush with a curb.
For many, the look of wire wheels is important enough to offset the cost.
Jim Stuart
Reply to <jimbb88@usa.com>
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