Wheels for '60-'66 Imperials

["Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Paul,

Neither my '63 Custom 4dr Southampton, nor my '60 Convertible (wonder if
it the same red one someone posted about selling a day or 2 ago, red
leather interior? Of course, mine was redone in red vinyl, so it can't
be the same) ever had a problem with rims, let alone hubcaps.  That
covers 7 years, and many miles of driving.  The '66 appears better, more
original, and drives better than the other two, but I have gone through
at least 4 rims in 4 years.  The replacements have been a little rusty
on the surface, and my own fault for not taking the time to clean, and
paint them, but I also needed the car on the road right away so that may
be it.

As far as the hubcaps, I do believe the '66 is much heavier than the
previous styles.  They certainly make more noise, flexing on the car,
you can hear it sometimes if the surrounding acoustics lend themselves
to it, and have many more parts to them.  I have used tape, and gone
through them making sure the teeth are strait, but every once in a
while, ZING! First you hear it, unmistakable sound.  Then you see it,
bouncing, rolling across lanes.  Then you  hit the brakes, pull over if
you can, get out, and risk your life crossing over up to four lanes of
traffic, not something I do wantingly, or legally probably, but I gotta
get that cover!  Unless someone has actually run it over, many times it
can go back on the car after cleanup.  They will take a licking, and
keep ticking sometimes.

This is just my experience, not scientific at all, but I have read here
about these rims not liking radials too, so who can tell.

I do like the sound of the Coker rims, so maybe one day, not sure how
they would look on a '66, but at least it would be better than those
others.  My opinion only, of course.  As I enter middle age, kicking and
screaming the entire time, I do find myself disenfranchised with what is
popular now for people to do to their cars.  Those rims being a perfect
example.

I still would like to know who makes them, if they go over the original
drums, or if the car was modified to accept a conventional designed
wheel.  

Happy motoring!

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
RandalPark@xxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 2:16 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Wheels for '60-'66 Imperials


Hey Bill,

If you really want to buy new wheels for your car, you could go with the
reproduction wires that are sold through Corky Coker(for one). They are
available in the correct bolt pattern. Yes they are VERY expensive, but
don't look too bad on even a '66. Also, I think that they are made to
work with tubeless radial tires.

Wheels from late forties New Yorkers and Imperials from the mid '50s
will work, but they do not have the ventilation holes for the brakes.
This is crucial. Also, some '57 and '58 Imperials have 14 inch wheels.
Even though they may bolt onto your car, you wouldn't want them.

I have had no trouble with wheels or wheel covers on any Imperials, but
I don't have a '66. I realize that '66 is a one year only style, but
otherwise, I don't know why they would have more trouble staying on the
car than other years. I suppose that the extra heavy cast parts on '66
could lead to them not being as secure. I am only guessing here that '66
wheel covers weigh more than previous years. The way that they are
mounted on the wheel was designed for the lighter wheel covers. All of
the other years had cast parts, too, but not as much as '66. This is
only a possible explanation for the trouble that you have had.

I a combination of over 235,000 miles of driving my Imperials, I have
only lost one wheel cover. That was on the 
'56. It was a replacement that I had purchased at a swap meet and didn't
fully check out before installing it on the car. I was running bias ply
tires at the time, so I am sure that radial tires has little or nothing
to do with the problem.

I have never had a rim fail. My '65 Imperial was driven over 80,000
miles with its original rims and Perelli radial tires. I think that the
rims fail if they have become corroded. This can happen if a previous
owner used "Fix A Flat" and left the stuff in the tire for a long
period. It is corrosive and will ruin the rim. I have seen Imperial rims
(and other cars) where this has happened.

If money is no object I think the reproduction original style '50s wires
would be a good alternative, as long as you store the originals
someplace where they can be replaced by a future owner.

Paul

 In a message dated 7/17/2004 3:00:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Wm. R.
Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>Maybe I'm missing something here, but my first thought at seeing those 
>wheels, was "What about the 5 1/2 on 5 bolt pattern".  I was under the 
>impression no one made wheels, aftermarket or otherwise for our old 
>Imperials.  Besides the Furd truck wheel interchangeability.  I have 
>had to search hi & lo to find replacements for my '66.  I think the 
>wheel ran from '60-'66, but it may have gone back as far as '58-'59.  
>Aside from the dreaded failure of the Center Carrier Bearing, or Center

>Support Bearing, either way you want to call it, I have always felt the

>Wheels, and at least the '66 hubcaps to be the Achilles Heel on these 
>cars.  Wheels fail along the inner weld line from the age, and mostly 
>use of radials (my experience anyway), and the hubcaps on the '66 were 
>designed to become 60 m.p.h. Frisbee's of Death.  At the very least 
>insurance liabilities, although for whatever reason, I don't know why, 
>when they have flown, they have never hit another car, but if they did,

>there would certainly be some damage, and ensuing insurance claim.  I 
>have seen some almost severe accidents barely avoided when a wheel 
>cover throws off, down the highway, across lanes of traffic, cars, more

>scary, SUV's swerving to avoid hitting one.  Then of course risking 
>life & limb to stop on the freeway, get out, run after, and retrieve 
>what may be left of said cover, get back to the car, and merge back 
>into 60+ m.p.h. traffic.  I have quite the collection of mangled 
>covers.  The cover itself is not to bad, but the retaining ring, or 
>backing, is shot.
>
>Anyway, I wonder where he got the wheels?  Who makes them?  Might they 
>make some that had a little taste, style and class?  Not everyone wants

>to look like some Pimp from Pomona in their Imperial.  I for one would 
>be interested in a befitting wheel replacement.
>
>I hope this has not come up previously, I have been blowing through 
>most emails lately.
>
>Bill Ulman
>Seattle, WA
>'66 Crown Convertible Coupe - never to be Pimped out, or sold to become

>a low-rider if I can help it.
>
>
>
>
>
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