Looking ideas for a '56 Ford

[AndrewNTX]

I'm working on a unique '56 Thunderbird, the car rides on 15" steel wheels and chrome hubcaps, stock. The color is green and the interior is green and white. I'll go with something in the "hot rod gray", to to aim for period correct but more modern in size, 17" or 18"; the gray and the car body color will be nice.

The car is set up w/ a 5.0 Ford, EFI and AOD. Vintage Air HVAC heat/cool/defrost. It has the makings of a nice hot rod, given the right wheels and proper stance. Power from the motor will be easy using typical 5.0 parts. The overdrive trans will be nice for motoring on the freeway.

Some ideas I've been considering for wheels...

AR Salt Flat type - if I could find something in 18"
Billet Specialties Apex G
Rocket Booster gray
Boss 338's
...

[streetrods]

I think the apex G or the boosters would be my choice with 17s up front and 18s in the rear... Whatever you decide to go with post pictures...

[Finmach]

Cragar has some nice looking ol'school wheels with gray center sections. 17x8 wheels can mount 275/50-17 tire (28x10.8-17) for muscle looks.

http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/cragar_wheels.asp

[cheapthrillz]

These would look cool with the "spoke" area being grey and the center cap area and hoop being polished...... just throwing out ideas.....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[PRRC]

Heres a wheel I think would work really well with the T bird.
You can also take a look at our web site, we have several wheel lines to choose from.
Tim

[AndrewNTX]

Thanks for all the replies, some great ideas that I never thought of.

I had some 17" wheels left from a past project so tried them on the car to get some ideas. These are 17x7's set up on 4.75" b/s. There is plenty of clearance but these tires are pretty short, 205/50's. Also the ride height I've got a ways to go before I'm liking it. The rear skirts can be left off.

What do you think of the car body color over the gray centers?

[streetrods]

I like it with the gray centers and fender skirts on....

[PRRC]

The 55-57 T-Birds look much better with the skirts on. Never cared for the look with them off the car. Just my opinion...

Jim

[wellis77]

I'm going to sway from the pack. I like it with the skirts off. The wheels look good as well.

[Cannon]

I think an older classic like that needs a classic wire wheel to set it off...

This one is from dayton, I actually want something like this for my project but im poor lol.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/04/cc2rvcrosslacepainted-1.jpg

[windsor]

love those T-Birds!

[cheapthrillz]

The grey centers and size looks perfect from those mustang wheels, but that style doesn't do that car justice. It needs a "full" looking wheel. Look back at the pic I posted and also Jim's (@PRRC).

Also, IMO it looks better with the skirts....

[AndrewNTX]

A car buddy at work also suggested some Dayton wires for the Thunderbird.

I ran across this car at the HubGarage, a clean '56 set up on wires and it does look good. It's shown skirts off and continental kit in place displayin a fifth wire. If you like the car here's a link to more pictures:

https://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/zeebs/vehicles/39334/photos/1635647

Had a little fun w/ something really different... I had seen the style on a Factory Five 33 Hot Rod.



I think an older classic like that needs a classic wire wheel to set it off...

This one is from dayton, I actually want something like this for my project but im poor lol.

[AndrewNTX]

And I had to post my favorite '56 that is running some simple five spokes, it looks just great. The black car is lowered a bit too. I believe they are Coy's chrome in 17" front 18" rear.

[AndrewNTX]

I really like the Rocket Boosters in eother silver or gray.

After some trial fitting of an extra 18x9 I had around here, I know a 9 won't go comfortably at 5.75 b/s.

Front 18x7 @4.5 b/s
Rear 18x8 @4.75 b/s
OR
Rear 20x8.5 @5.25 b/s

Just saw Hot Rod Magazine's new issue w Josiah Coy's black GTO and the 18/20 ET Classsics...

[streetrods]

I just put a set of the boosters in gray on a 66 mustang... I really like them..

[streetrods]

also would just go 18s in back and 17s up front... think 20s might look too big on a small bird

[AndrewNTX]

Yes I think you're right on the 20. The 18 I test fit has a pretty nice proportion on the car; I would like to select some Bfg KDW2 tires to about 25.7 to 26 tall all around. I was drawn to the deeper backspace and 1/2 more width on the 20. At the moment, still leaning to the 18x7 up front though.


also would just go 18s in back and 17s up front... think 20s might look too big on a small bird

[streetrods]

Yes I think you're right on the 20. The 18 I test fit has a pretty nice proportion on the car; I would like to select some Bfg KDW2 tires to about 25.7 to 26 tall all around. I was drawn to the deeper backspace and 1/2 more width on the 20. At the moment, still leaning to the 18x7 up front though.

18s will look good as well all the way around... have you found a good deal on the rocket racing wheels? If not pm me and I'll let you know where I got mine if you decide to go with some..

[AndrewNTX]

Quick cut n paste to get a visual...

[streetrods]

looks good...

[AndrewNTX]

Boosters would be nice.....

I've been after a set of Apex G's for a while..wonder how they would suit this car?

[AndrewNTX]

Black 17" Bullitts could look just right too. I replaced all the suspension bushings and cut one half coil from the springs. It is very easy to remove the coils, pop the lower ball joint and release the control arm.

[mc84_zz4]

The Bullits looks the best of all the 5-spokes posted so far, IMO.
The soft curve complement the cars' lines. In black they look best too IMO.

[DynoDon]

Not a big fan of 17" + wheels on this car. Just steps too far away from the style of the car unless you do a whole bunch of "Foose" type stuff to it.
I stayed with 15's on mine;
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/PICT00201-1.jpg

[AndrewNTX]

Dyno Don, yes those Salt Flats look sweet on your T Bird. I am not 100% certain yet, but I think I can make 17" look ok without too much Foose type modifications; we will see. I think ride height and maybe deleting the bumperettes would go a long way. The color of the car has a lot of influence and what will it do on green? We'll find out.

Here's the update. I had a set of OE 17" Ford Bullitts narrowed to 7" wide back in 08. Wheels were done for my '63 Falcon Sprint. I had Salt Flats on order but got nervous American Racing would not make the delivery in time for the Falcon Nationals - so I had these ready for backup. After all, the Salt Flats came in, after about 3 months of waiting, calling and pestering AR; the narrowed Bullitts got put in the boxes and remained ever since.

Fast forward to the Thunderbird. I do like the Halibrand/Salt Flat/Kidney Bean wheels, loved them on my Falcon Sprint. That car sold to a guy in Australia, I know a big reason was how it looked on those 17" Salt Flats. Reading up on here, and the HAMB, the wheel that made a lot of history on the early T Bird were these wheels.

I made a call to PS Engineering. I talked to Phil Schmidt about the 17" Kidney Bean 5 holes. He had centers and said it could be done.We talked backspacing and all that, and ordered a set.

Now, if you were to see my garage and attic, you would know I hardly ever turn down a wheel deal. I have a lot of wheels - Mustangs, Lexus, Falcon, guess I need to stop buying wheels! Well as luck would have it, I came across a pair of black OE Bullitt in the classifieds. Price was great, so picked up the pair and took two of the already narrowed 17x7's up to the refinishers to have them match them in black. Another set of staggered wheels!


The really big news, is meanwhile over at PS Engineering, my set of 17" staggered 5 Port Kidney Beans was built and is now enroute!