I am buying aluminum wheels for my 39 Studebaker. They will not provide the traditional look I desire though. Has anybody tried putting old fashioned wheel covers on aluminum wheels? Covers from the fifties?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I don't think they'll fit...the clips on the wheel covers won't fit in lips of the AL wheels.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

you might be able to buy some moon discs and screw them onto an aluminum wheel

MOON Disc (Screw on) from 10" to 46"DIA


http://www.mooneyesusa.com/shop/product.php?products_id=473

Yeah, I have two sets of those. I may have to resort to them.

JP is the aluminum thicker then, so the wheel covers don't fit?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It depends totally on the wheels. Some have a wheel lip like a steel wheel, in which cae you can use full wheel covers of the correct size.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Most of the AL wheels I've seen don't have the same geometry lip as the steel wheels. You may be able to get them on, don't count on them staying long. Not only that, but the clips could gouge the hell outta the AL, making them useless unless covered.

I wouldn't do it...there's plenty of steel wheels that should fit that car sitting in salvage yards all over the US. A few hours on the 'net, and you'll have the wheels in your hands in no time...and they'll be the ones you really want. You'll be able to go with nearly any cover your heart desires, to include the dog dish style baby moons.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

JP makes a great point. What is the bolt circle dimension for the Studebaker. There are lots of steel wheels of varying weights. Of course the rear wheels will be Ford. Are you using truck axles or car axles? As I recall, Ford Truck bolt circle is 5 1/2" and cars are 4 1/2", but that's trying to remember information that was in my head 40 years ago.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

The front 39 stude are 5 on 5", the ford are 5 on 5.5".

I am concerned about unsprung weight. The truck will be very light so I did not want to put on 30# wheels. I have ordered some wheels that are around 15# for 7 x 15".

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

When you get the wheels, if they don't have a standard type wheel lip, and they probably won't, it sounds like you might have to get creative.

I have some Weld brand wheels on my Farm Truck. They have a cover about 8" in diameter with a couple of nice, polished stainless button head allen screws that thread through the cover into a tapped hole in the wheel. The screws are unobtrusive.

You should be able to drill and tap the wheels and drill the wheel covers. It would be hardly noticable.

Just an idea.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

AKH Vintage Wheels - Truck Wheels

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Thanks JP. I already ordered them yesterday.

Larry, the full moon discs already are drilled so I'll have to drill and tap the wheels.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Personally, I'd probably contact Alcoa for their aluminum wheel blanks, then have a buddy machine them for me at his shop. Where it would only cost me 2 kegs of beer plus the cost of the blanks, it would cost the normal person a metric crap-ton more. One off wheels for the common person is very expensive. Knowing the right people in the right places is priceless.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Well, yeah.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.