Yes - you need about a 1 3/-8 to 1 1/2 spacer. I did this conversion a on a flathead powered T with a early Ford front end. This amount is needed because the wheel mounting surfaces on the drums up to 48 were raised off the main part of the drum where as the 53 to 56 drums were entirely flat, leaving no room for the recessed part of the wheel hub.

Quote Originally Posted by buckroseau
Hi Don,

I actually got the flat spacer to, "register" the wire rims. They have that little ridge in the center, but they are for the early stock drums. The early drums are dished out towards the hub about 1.5" so it clears the inside dish on the stock wire spokes. The 53 drum is flat. Just wondering if you need that big 1.5" aluminum spacer to get those rims to fit on the 53 drum or maybe I am missing something?

Thanks, Matt