I've been looking at Model A's.
There is a vast quantity with original style wire wheels and original motors. There is also a huge quantity of hot rodded versions- most with V8's and mag wheels.
Not a fan of the mag wheels.
Can the original style wire wheels handle the increased power of an upgraded drivetrain? If the original wheels are used (or a facsimile), are there any brake options other than the original 100 year old drum brakes?
Inboard disks? Custom wheels?
I'm just exploring...
If you use 1930's quality tires with your wires, I imagine you're fine. Upgrade to juice brakes from the 40s, and you are safe as houses.
Or not.
I have some later steel truck wheels. I think they look period correct while being stronger. I can take a pic later today if you want.
In reply to Stampie (FS) :
Yeah, I'm interested.
Found a picture from my build thread. This is on my Model T with adapters but you get the idea. You can also get the small Ford hubcaps for them.
In reply to Stampie (FS) :
Thanks!
Those don't do it for me.
My only concern is lateral loads. But, with period correct tires, thats probably a non issue.
For reference, when i had my 29 roadster (suicide axle, welded 4.11 diff, 327 4 speed) it came on model a wire wheels. Had been that way for a while per the previous owner. We upgraded to later big and little setup with slot mags, and the thing became scary.
Regardless, i wouldn't worry about it if there is a corresponding lack of grip.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
How about these?
In reply to Stampie (FS) :
It's a good look. I just like the spokes.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
You could always do what Cosworth did.
If you had their budget...
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
What did they do? Details?
I think these people can make some for you:
Are you wanting the original narrow size or just the wires? If just wires, you could go with something like this.
They also sell a welded spoke wire wheel that looks a lot like the originals (19"), but I don't know how much stronger the welding makes the wheel in regards to a big increase in power.
It also depends on power/axle I would assume. A flathead V8 with an open diff would probably be OK on original style rims, but a blown big block with a welded diff would not.
-Rob
Mine was quite happy with way way more power then stock and F100 brakes.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
If I remember right Cosworth had aluminum copies of the original wheels made and had them finished like wood.
Lots of vintage race cars, even Grand Prix and LeMans Sports racers through the 50's still have wire wheels. Find out who makes their wheels. You can definitely build wire wheels that can take the lateral loads of (vintage style) race tires. Find out who builds their wheels.
In reply to rob_lewis :
I like those. Thanks.
You should look at Wide 5 wheels. Period correct and neat looking.
Buchanan Spokes makes spokes for motorcycles and cars and airplanes. If it's possible to do what you want to do, they will make you a spoke for it. They probably know if it's possible to do what you want them to do. I've used their spoke kits on several motorcycle wheels builds and they always get back to me within a couple of days ever for weird things like putting modern 17" Moto3 wheels on vintage Honda hubs.
When you say more power than stock, how much power are you talking?
Ferraris of the era ran wires. Granted, they ran mags for racing generally.
You racing this or street?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-toolbox/ford-vintage-wire-spoke-wheels-guide-1928-1935/28813.
.link may be helpful
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Yes I've seen the later juice brakes ( Buick fined aluminum drums* ) with the early style wire wheels. Not. Repeat not the 19 inch model T but early 50's wire wheels and a 350 Chevy. I've also seen a lot of Dunlop wire wheels where if they are painted correctly really do look vintage hot rod. There are tricks used to delete/ hide their British heritage. I've got to dig in the shop to show you what I'm talking about. Give me a little while please.
if you are using a flatheadV8 or that amount of power.(80-175hp) You can use the 16 inch of 40's era Fords.
* Speedway motors sells a repop. Buick drum designed to fit on a Ford hub so you don't need to get a machinist to redril the drums and Re machine the hub
Jaguar used 60 spoke 16 inch Dunlop wires from 1948 through 1961 (XK 120- XK 150 ) the last XK 150 had 265 Hp and was a genuine 140+ Machine that weighed about 3600+ pounds.
after that Jaguar went to 15 inch wires on the XKE up to 1974 from 1961- 1971 they were 5.5 inches wide. And then went to 6 inch wide.
They still produce Wire wheels both in the original Dunlop style. ( Sold by Motor wheel service, made in India and sold out of England) And Dayton Dayton makes pretty much any style you can pay for. ( they ain't cheap) but go to their site it's really interesting.
I raced on wire wheels sold by motor wheel service for many decades and they never loosened a spoke or had a single issue and the Black Jack was a honest 150+ mph car and I threw it into corners really hard because it had a locked rear end and that was the only way to be fast.
There are different spoke wheels being discussed here.
The ones posted by wearymicrobe are cross-spoked inside and out, and are a later wheel with a smaller diameter than the original 21" Model A wheels that are on my '29 Model A pickup.
I would not trust the original wheels on this truck with a lot of power, nor with speeds faster than the 40 Mph that this truck is capable of.
To be honest, I find them sketchy above about 35. (Which is about 10 MpH faster than I trust the brakes)
this is Halibrand knock off's on Jaguar Hubs. ( Rudge 54 ) I've also got a MG knock off with the center cut out of it for the smaller cars like Austin Healey , Ferrari, MG, I think 289 Cobra, anything that used a Rudge 48 hub. Can't find it right now. But as long as you keep the weight under 3000 pounds and the horsepower under 200. You're fine.
For the rear end you can use a Jaguar style early one with onboard disk brakes. Going rate for a whole rear end assembly is $250. Uses a Dana44 rear end. Most are positraction. Finding the narrow (50 inch ) with wire wheel hubs is going to be hard. But they are out there.
Im seeing more and more of the Dayton wire wheels for Jaguar hubs on really high dollar hot Rods.
Yes they sell new parts etc for the Jaguar and you'll be surprised at bearings seals etc that are common with other cars.
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