Zephyr Rim widths

Did Lincoln change wheel width's in 1941?

it seems that one of my spares looked different, then the others

On a fast horse they looked the same,

So I'm thinking that Lincoln widened the rims to 5 inches in

1941, Now i'm thinking that i should put 41 rims on my 40

since the they still use the same tire sizes.and possibly change

the ride qualities.

Zman <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

40 RIMS ARE 1 INCH NARROWER....41'S HAVE "RAMP" STEP ON 1 SIDE...40'S HAVE

STEPPED STRAIGHT RIDGES INSIDE. BOTH SIDES.

JB

MAYBE 1/2 INCH.....MY CAR IS ON RUBBER....IS ANYONE OUT THERE WHO DARES TO RESPOND HAVE SOME 40/41 RIMS SANS RUBBER AND HAVE A TAPE MEASURE???

CORRECTED IN OH

JB

Bill, the book shows a whole different wheel in '41, but does not say what was different, I know that when a 7:00 X 16" tire is mounted on a narrow wheel, especially 6 ply tires, they sure do not look right, I have had several people asking about 16" wheels lately, and they seem to be very hard to find, if someone has some extras, let me know, Rolf

Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag on Zephyr wheel rims now. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

1941 Zephyrs and Continentals *ONLY* have 16x5 inch wheels (see attachment). Late 1938 through 1940 Zephyrs have 16x4 inch wheels. 1942 and later wheels were 15x5 inches. No point in even discussing the 1936 through early 1938 wheels with that silly Volkswagen sized bolt circle!

This, of course makes 1941 wheels the most desirable of all Zephyr wheels (as if 1941 Zephyrs are not already the most desirable of all Zephyrs). Street-Rodders tumbled to this fact some time ago and have driven prices for 1941 Lincoln wheels out of sight! *IF* you can find one for sale, try getting it for less than $150.00.

I would like to run radial tires on my 1939 Zephyr and I've been searching for a set of 1941 rims for over a year and have found only one so far. The car will run with traffic at 75 mph with the Columbia overdrive, but *NOT* on those ANCIENT "Gum-Dipped" Firestone bias ply tires! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'll probably never find the other four rims now. That's probably a good thing because I shouldn't be driving the Zephyr at that speed anyway.

It's impossible to put the cat back in the bag after it's out.

I install modern tube less firestone radials on my stock 40 rims. It rides like a dream at 80...like a Lincoln. The tire spec said 6 inch rim width, i am pretty certain my stock 40's are 5..but they beaded and have work great for the 2500 miles I drove this last summer...I dont like wide whites so it has not been a problem......

I know for certain 41's were wider than 40s..but how much..anybody got some??

see picture firestone transforce 215-85r16

Hey Phil,

I started a little re-search and noted that the 41 Mercury also

added the 5 inch rims on the mercury cars, and I'm wondering if the Guy's

like Dennis Carpenter sells wheels for ford cars!I guess the problem would

be with the hub caps, the Z wheels has those spring clips to keep the hub

cap from popping off.

Now I'm sure that Ford probably used the 16X5 rims on other cars and pick-ups.

Bill

Just looked int '32-'48 Ford "green-bible", and it only shows 3 16" wheels, 68-1015, '36-'39, 11A-1015, '40'48, 4" wide, and a 8C-1015 at 4.5" width Some '48 and up pickups were sold with 16" rims, as I recall, but they took the Ford "push-in caps, Mercurys are not shown in this book, but I think they went to 15" in '42, like our L's, but took the push in caps

I don't have the Ford part documentation that Rolf has but I've been scrounging junk yards all over the country for 40+ years and here's what I've found.

The only Ford/Lincoln/Mercury wheels with a 5 1/2 inch bolt circle and hubcap clips are Lincoln. A LOT of Ford products used the 5 1/2 bolt circle but they had either the "Push-in" hubcaps or the "Push-over" hubcaps. ALL of these wheels will fit our Lincoln Zephyrs, but NONE will accept the Zephyr hubcaps except those with the hubcap clips.

When I built my 1947 Continental in 1968-69

(see http://community.webshots.com/album/33590926dAmhsj ),

I used 15x6 inch wheels from 1956-57 Lincolns. These wheels have no protrusions to accept any type of hubcap because they used full wheel covers. I drilled holes in the rims and bolted on hubcap clips from some junk 1939 Ford wheels. They have worked just fine with tubeless radial tires - never lost a hubcap!

Chedk out the attachment for an assortment of photos of some scroungy Lincoln wheels. There is a photo of a 16x5 inch 1941 Zephyr wheel in my previous post.

Ok Phi, that pretty well covers the 15", lots of options there, but what about 16"?? Also I think you got those spring clips off of some other wheels than '39 or '40 Fords, they used push in caps, there I go picking nits again, sorry

Au Contrare, Rolf. Ford used the silly Volkswagen-sized bolt circle wheels WITH hubcap clips from 1936 through 1939. In 1940 and later, the wheels had the standard Ford 5 1/2 bolt circle and used push-in hubcaps. The wheels that I got my hubcaps clips from came off my first "street rodded" 1939 Ford convertible coupe when I converted to 1940 brake drums and 15 inch Ford pickup wheels in 1963. After breaking several Columbia axles, I converted to a Ford pickup rear end and Lincoln Bendix front brakes. I installed 1940 Ford convertible door glass with vent windows for MUCH better ventilation and drove that car between Riverside, California and Omaha, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming four times a year for three years.

Check out "The Green Hornet" at:

http://community.webshots.com/album/18281656jhkDSUwrmg

I got the 1947 Continental in 1964 and proceeded to build it in to an early street rod with a 368 Lincoln V8 engine and a 1964 "Lincoln" 4 speed Hydra-matic transmission with power brakes and steering, electric windows and seat, and 15x6 inch 1957 Lincoln wheels. It was an excellent driver and served as my daily transportation car for nearly 10 years.

The only 16 inch, 5 1/2 inch bolt circle Lincoln wheels *WITH* hubcap clips that I know of are the late 1938 through 1940 4 inch wide wheels and the 1941 *ONLY* 5 inch wide wheels.

Hey Guy's I'm sorta of laughing out loud, and thanks for all the good info.

I am still looking at the differences, and even though that extra wheel

looks basically the same, I did some thinking on what the consequences are

mixing a 16X5 inch wheel with the 16X4 Looking at some of the numbers I measured

there would be a difference in rotating miles, even though its small, depending on the miles traveled,it adds up.

So back in old days they could have run mixed wheel rims on the Z's and may have caused

problems in tire wear and other problems.

I tried finding Part numbers with no results.You would think that Lincoln would have noted that

in specifications some where. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again

Bill

Well Bill, I know you want everything just so, but the 4" rim would probally fit better in the trunk, and is the correct 06H-1015 for your '40, the book says they were used from '38-'40, and of course are 16" in diameter, the '41s are listed separately and are also 16", either 4'5 or 5" wide, and are a 16H-1015, good luck, Rolf

i have four 16x4 wheels on my 41 and a 16x5 in the trunk. the extra width prevents the trunk shelf from operating correctly. not really a problem unless you have a flat. david

Hey David,

I just happen to have an extra 16x4 rim that I would be willing to exchange for your 16x5. Then we would both have a matching set of 5 rims and your trunk problem would be solved! If you're interested, please e-mail me at kcd@texas.net and we can work out a deal.

My '41 Zephyr convertible project car came with three 16x5 wheels, one 16x4 and one 15x5.

http://community.webshots.com/album/547784099zrftQj

The trunk currently has NO wood in it, so the extra width would not pose any problem for me!

Ok I guess this could become a "WHEEL BLOG" I don't know exackly

what companies are manufacturing rims for cars these days, but "motor

Rim", comes to my Mind, but also Kelsey Hayes, one company indicated

they would make rims, but one has to order 500 rims.

There are probably enough 40 and 41 Z's plus Connie's still in existence

not counting the Flast head Ford groups that would buy them.

So it might be worth an investment.

I'll do more checking.

Bill

Hi Dave, barring a rim trade with Phil, or some brand new rims from Bill, I would first try putting that incorrect lug wrench under the spare, the tire is slightly elevated by the width of the wrench, and is probally creating a bind that is the problem with the wooden flap not working right, just a guess, but I know they are a press fit down there. Very nice array of tools and equipment in that tiny sedan trunk, good job, Rolf

oh c'mon with all the people hot rodding these cars...there are plenty of parts available...keep looking..these were mass produced automobiles...yes, 60 years ago...but chk with merv on the west coast...boos herril where ever they are...or someone on this board.....we have a good group...get out your magazine..except the fact that the classifieds dont ever update or change..there is bound to be someone legit in there..try al whelihan..or the guy in roswell...or look up bennie bloodworrth in ga..he was parting 100 lincolns..or so.......rub that checkbook...if the nice hobbyists cant help...the greedy parts mongers will.....parts are there...maybe bernie holland...call arrington..he rodded a 40..he will prob sell old wheels for a cool grand..

refer to the lzoc website parts guys...

Well, 1941 Zephyr wheel acquisition has not been really high on my priority list at the present. It's more of a 'targets of opportunity' activity right now not a 'beat every bush' kind of thing. There is an over-abundence of other more critical parts I need first. However, I HAVE checked with Merv Adkins and Alan Whelihan as well as several other sources without much success. Merv looked at Bennie Bloodworth's collection in Georgia and found it to be mostly later model rusty junk. Alan sold the only '41 Zephyr wheel he had at the Santa Maria swap meet last year the day before I arrived. Perhaps he will have another one this year.

I knew Bernie Holland when he was in Burbank, California and I heard that he died recently. I picked up one 16x5 Zephyr wheel on ebay last year and later got e-sniped out of a set of four more on ebay in the last 10 seconds.

Most of the folks I know of that have street-rodded '41 Zephyrs recently have already sold their 16x5 wheels at swap meets. Ya gotta catch 'em in the act!

Arrington's car is a '40 and would not have had 16x5 wheels. I swapped a pair of (post-war) 15x5 wheels for what I assumed to be a 16x5 Lincoln wheel on this forum some time ago. The wheel was 16x5 inches alright but it had a 5 inch bolt circle, NOT 5 1/2 so it won't work on any Lincoln. Bummer!