You know, I have an idea which may be less expensive than buying new wheels.
If you had a perfect set of '66 wheel covers for your car, you could save them.
You could run the car with a different year wheel cover that appeals to you,
and would not be so prone to "flying discus syndrome".
I knew a guy with a '66 Crown Convertible, and he really liked the way that it
looked with a set of '63 wheel covers on it. To me, the '63 wheel covers were
the least attractive of all. Yes, I have a '63, and yes it has the correct
wheel covers, and yes the car looks fine. But if I were to chose a set that I
would use on another car, '63 would have been one of my last choices, yet, his
'66 looked GREAT with them! His car was white with a gold interior. This is
just a suggestion but, in my minds eye I can nearly see them on your car. It
might look real cool!
Paul
In a message dated 7/17/2004 7:11:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Wm. R. Ulman"
<twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>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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