Model A wheels on front?

[Bearcamp]

Here's a pic of the rat rod I bought and plan on doing over this winter, needs alot of work to get the way I want it. It now has Model A 19" wheels and tires on the front and wanted to know if anyone else is running these without any problems. It has a big block Chevy but front axle is moved out a ways so don't think a weight issue will be a problem. the wide back tires are coming off and I'm using 15" 1954 Cadilac spoked wheels. Any thoughts about the front?

 

[dmw56]

Those are not Model A wheels in the front. Model As had small center caps and bolted on the outside of the center caps. Check the diameter again. They are 16"-18" 1932-35 wheels. BBC weight still might be a problem but then again a Flathead V8 was no light weight.

 

[Bearcamp]

I do know that they have 19" tires on them. If they're not Model A then what might they be?

 

[Bearcamp]

I didn't notice any problem driving it other than the bounce with only air bags and no shocks.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Definitely not Model A wheels if they are 19". What is the bolt pattern? Judging by the backing plates that doesn't look like a Ford front end. Any better pics?

 

[Bearcamp]

Here's some complete with the ugly 2x4 tube in the front.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Ok... but since you are asking about the front wheels, how about some better pics of the front wheels?

 

[Bearcamp]

Sorry, here ya go.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Chevy axle and wheels.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Well, just remember those are 80 year old wheels meant for 80 horsepower and 45 miles an hour. There are a lot of wheels that will fit that pattern, including some 16" artillery wheels (15s too). If those chevy spindles have the stock bearings, they are jurrasic and need changed to cup/cone bearings too.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

If those chevy spindles have the stock bearings, they are jurrasic and need changed to cup/cone bearings too.

True dat!

 

[dmw56]

Your awnser to what they are was right there on the hub cap.

I'd cut the front end off at the 2X4 and start over.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Your awnser to what they are was right there on the hub cap.

I'd cut the front end off at the 2X4 and start over.

That and the fact they are 6 lug wheels.

Agreed on both points. They should have been more concerned with build quality than with bolting on rusty wrenches. Dump the entire front end and start over.

 

[Bearcamp]

Your right on the front end,,,,it's gone. As far as the military wheels,,,,,can I get them in a spoked wheel as that's what I want on the front. About what year is the front axle? I do know the truck is a 1937 1 1/2 ton. Would that be the stock axle for that? I saw the cap had Chevy on it but didn't know if it fit on something else.

 

[Crossfire]

Spoke wheels.

The main problem you are going to get with the spoke wheels and the weight of the bigblock is the spokes loosening up. Find you a set of artillery wheels,not the wheels that most are calling artillery wheels and are newer wheels with holes all around. They are not that hard to find,balance up good and you won't have the dreaded front-end shakes that the spokes give .

 

[CORPO]

Your right on the front end,,,,it's gone. As far as the military wheels,,,,,can I get them in a spoked wheel as that's what I want on the front. About what year is the front axle? I do know the truck is a 1937 1 1/2 ton. Would that be the stock axle for that? I saw the cap had Chevy on it but didn't know if it fit on something else.

a stock 1 1/2 ton axle would have a wider 5 lug pattern you can check out my 36 build I have the 1 1/2 ton axle on the front of mine (the link is in my signature)