Wheel spacers.

[Gregs57]

Hi All. So got the front end rebuilt. Job went well. Lower control arm pins came out easily. Now that front end is done I started on the disc brake conversion. I'm using the Wildwood setup and as per all the posts my stock dog dish rims do not clear the calipers. I have a set of Cragars for the car but would still like to be able to use the dog dish caps for the sleeper look. Question is has anyone used spacers. I have researched Scott Drake Spacers and found that there are some about .030 thick. The contact patch on the caliper is so minimal I'm thinking a spacer may do the trick. Open to any and all thoughts or opinions. Thanks Greg 

[lalessi1]

My dog dish hubcaps cleared the stock studs, I added longer studs and the hubcaps did not clear the longer ones, maybe your studs are not original? You can buy 14" Ford rims that clear the calipers, I am using one for a stock type spare and it clears the calipers. You may need pretty thick spacers for the stock rims to clear the Wilwood calipers....

[59meteor]

Are you using 14 or 15" steel wheels? On my 59, I installed the Wilwood front disc brake kit, with 11" rotors and aluminum 4 piston calipers, and I am running 15" Wheel Vintiques Series 62 steel wheels (15x6" front, 15x8" rear). These wheels work with the factory small "dog dish" hubcaps, and clear the calipers with no spacers required.

[Gregs57]

Thanks for the reply. I was trying to use stock 14 inch rims. Where do you find the rims you have mentioned. Thanks Greg

[lalessi1]

Ford made a variety of cars in the early '70s with front disc brakes and 14" wheels. Granadas, Torinos, LTDs, etc. I bought mine a while back, it is a 14 x 6.5 off an LTD from eBay. We have no old car junk yards around here...

[59meteor]

Thanks for the reply. I was trying to use stock 14 inch rims. Where do you find the rims you have mentioned. Thanks Greg

I ordered my wheels new from Summit Racing. They look just like factory wheels, other than they have a larger center hole. As Lynn mentioned, there were a lot of factory Fords made with 14" wheels and disc brakes, starting in the mid 60s, but really became more popular in the late 60s thru the 70s. Most 69/70 Mustangs and Cougars, many Fairlanes/Torinos, Montegos, Mavericks, Comets, Granadas, etc had 14" wheels and disc brakes, although they would likely be a bit wider, and have a slightly different center for clearance. I went with the 15"s because the selection of 14" tires is getting pretty small, especially if you want to be able to buy tires without needing to pay more $$$ thru a specialty tire company. I Have BF Goodrich TA Radials on my 59, which were easy to find.

[RICH MUISE]

Good point, and that's likely to be more of a problem in the future.

[Gregs57]

Thanks for the feed back. I'm thinking of going the stock 15" wheel route. To be more specific can anyone tell me which years will accept the dog dish caps. I dusted off my 30 year old Cragars and they look great on the Meteor. I still would like the sleeper look. Greg

[lalessi1]

I used Wheel Vintiques Series 62 15" wheels. They are very nice, relatively inexpensive and the 15 x 7 wheels fit on all corners. I have dog dish hubcaps on mine. The hub caps will fit on any 14" Ford rim that is not a "styled wheel".

https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/wheel-vintiques-62-series-ford-chevy-style-o-e-primered-wheels/part-type/wheels?N=wheel-bolt-pattern-application%3A5-x-4-1-2-in&SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&fr=part-type

[rmk57]

 
    I also use the series 62 15x7 from Summit. The stamping isn't quite as crisp as original but overall a pretty good product. On the front I have oem 15x5 55-56 Ford. They clear my stock late 60's Fairlane callipers.Your almost better off buying new than trying to find a nice clean set that aren't bent or curb rashed.

[57Skyliner]

I will be using the Wildwood Disc brake conversion. I would like to use my full caps has anyone had experience with using the Granada/LTD2 or Torino wheels and the original full caps--specifically the Turbine Caps use on Thunderbirds.
OR-has anyone used a spacer with he original wheels?
Thanks.