Using 26 -27 T wire wheels on earlier T,s

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Using 26 -27 T wire wheels on earlier T,s
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Kuehn on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 12:26 pm:

I have a question. After finishing up my 24 coupe I am intending to start on a depot hack of some sort. I had some 26-27 wire wheels years ago but have since sold them. I believe the bolt pattern is the same as the earlier models but was wondering about the rear wheels. I am thinking the earlier style brake drums would work ok. I am pretty sure this has been done before in some way. My grandfather had model A wheels on the coupe I am restoring and he just welded the hubs on to the wheels. There is the adapters for the model a wheels avalible. Any suggestions out there? Thanks John Kuehn


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Jeffrey Cole on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 12:33 pm:

I wouldnt weld the wheels to the hub.
Yes the small drums can be put on the wire rear hubs,requires drilling holes and such.I went ahead on my project and used a 26-7 rear axle with the bigger brakes and the orignal brake drums and hubs were correctly installed.
front hubs,you have to redrill a wood hub to install the studs for the wire wheels.Some say it is ok,others say not.

In a situation like this that the materials have to be aquired before begining I would suggjest useing the adaptors and the 28-9 A wheels.They seem more plentifull on the used market than the T wheels are.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick - (2) '26's - Bartow, FL on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 01:57 pm:

The 1924 Model T's had 30" x 3" on the front and 30" x 3 1/2" on the rear, while the '26 and '27's had 21" demountable rims. With the new, lower, re-designed all steel bodies and newly designed rounder fenders of 1926-27 the smaller 21" wheels looked proportional, but to put 21" wheels on the higher, older style, 1924 coupe, making it sit 4 1/2" lower and have 4 1/2" of increased space between the tires and the fenders than it was designed might look quite odd and give your Model T an unoriginal appearance. It may be expensive, but I would put on the proper size wooden spoked wheels and rims to prevent the wrong type of "Wow! effect". From, "Wow! what a great looking Model T" to, "Wow! What kind of old car is that and why does it look so odd?!" Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth Harbuck on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:06 pm:

Jim,

The 21" wheels for balloon tires have an OD of 30" just like the clinchers before them. Yes, the 21" wire wheel is smaller than the 24" and 23" rims of the clinchers, but the car is going to sit no lower.

John may want them for safety reasons. Seth


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Indy. on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:08 pm:

Jim,Have you ever compared the two different size wheels/tires side by side? You don't get 4 1/2 inches of lowering. Maybe one inch or so.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick - (2) '26's - Bartow, FL on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:14 pm:

Hi Jack and Seth. No, I have never compared the two side by side. If that is the case, I guess I spoke too soon. I was merely subtracting 30 from 21" coming up with a diameter difference of 9". Thanks for the correction and sorry for the inaccurate info. Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jphn Kuehn on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:26 pm:

Thanks for the information! No I wasnt planing on welding the wheels to the hubs. My grandfather did it over 60 years ago and I guess he just did what was the easist thing to do at the time. I went back to spoke wheels in the 24 coupe restoration. It would probably be cheaper to go with adapters with model A wheels than using wood wheels unless I can find some good deals at Chickasha. I guess it depends on how original I want to go. Thanks John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth Harbuck on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:39 pm:

John,

Lang's, and maybe others, offer adapters to mount T wire wheels to earlier wood-spoke wheel hubs. If they are like the "A" wheel adapters on my car and don't support the wheel at the "hubcap end", then it might not be a grand idea to go that route.

The hub of the "A" wheel has a larger (5.5" vs 5.0") bolt circle and also has stiffening ribs between the bolt holes, so in my opinion, support of the A wheel at the hubcap end is less important.

"A" wheels are far cheaper than "T" wheels, so I've been told. Good luck!
Seth


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave_Sosnoski on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:46 pm:

The 24 Model T's did not come with 30x3 on the front - at least not the coupes. The 30x3 is a non-demountable wheel. I believe that they were used on the non-starter cars through 25, (possible all the way through 27). The starter cars used 30 x 3 1/2" demountable on the front and rear. During 1925 (not sure if this is calendar year or model year) they changed to the 21" split rim demountable.

Dave S.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Jeffrey Cole on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:57 pm:

I hope some wire wheels and hubs can be had at that Chickensaw place!:>)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim ( www.ModelTengine.com ) on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 03:35 pm:

Does anyone have any actual experience putting a 26/27 hub and wheel on a small drum rear end? I'm planning to do the same at some point here, but if it won't work, it would save me a ton of time and effort if I knew now. Can someone post photos?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Indy. on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 05:06 pm:

Tim I've done it. It 's a piece of cake. Just take big drum off and put small drum on hub,redrill four holes(one is correct) and reinstall the studs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Sizemore on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 06:01 pm:

Tim, I have done the same as Jack. I used 1/2 20 studs from the local parts stores.
JS


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Indy. on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 06:06 pm:

You can even get new drums drilled with five holes from John McClaren.


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