Thread: 1929 Essex Highboy

Tweet

OK guys, I'm on my way out to garage now to see about an alternate location. Thanks for all of the info and suggestions. NOW, while I have your ears(eyes)........When I started I had a front axle from a '49 Ford F1, actually it's still on the car. I found some older ford wheels with the right hole spacing etc., so I went to tire store and found two 185-60x15 tires. So I had them put on the Ford rims. Since then I have put on a coversion kit that gives me Chevy spacing. Now obviously the ford wheels won't work anymore. I thought I would just mount the tires on a chevy wheel and pssst, done! BUT, found that the Ford wheels are 6" at outer rim and the Chevy wheels are 8" or a bit more. So looks like I can't use those tires on those wheels. What now?

Originally Posted by oldrodder43

OK guys, I'm on my way out to garage now to see about an alternate location. Thanks for all of the info and suggestions. NOW, while I have your ears(eyes)........When I started I had a front axle from a '49 Ford F1, actually it's still on the car. I found some older ford wheels with the right hole spacing etc., so I went to tire store and found two 185-60x15 tires. So I had them put on the Ford rims. Since then I have put on a coversion kit that gives me Chevy spacing. Now obviously the ford wheels won't work anymore. I thought I would just mount the tires on a chevy wheel and pssst, done! BUT, found that the Ford wheels are 6" at outer rim and the Chevy wheels are 8" or a bit more. So looks like I can't use those tires on those wheels. What now?

Hey Perley! Your coupe's looking REALLY good!

Haven't been on here in awhile, so I just spent an hour or so playing "catch up."

The wheels you currently have on the front of your Essex are Chevy S-10/GMC S-15, in a 15x7 inch size. Rim width sizing is ALWAYS measured on the INSIDE of the rim, where the tire mounts between the beads. This keeps measurements uniform regardless of material thickness-Imagine how much thicker the outer wheel lip is on a cast aluminum wheel than on a stamped steel wheel, for example.

Anyhow, I believe that some Chevy Caprices from the late seventies thru the eighties had a 15x6 inch wheel with the 5x4 3/4 inch (small GM) bolt circle you need. BE CAREFUL as some of these cars ALSO had a LARGE 5x5 inch bolt circle, same as the fullsize half ton trucks and vans! Won't work!

I also recall reading a post recently on another website telling about a 15x4 inch steel spare tire rim which was used in some GM "G" bodie midsize cars, like Monte Carlo, Malibu, etc from the early to mid eighties. Might be worth a look see, as well, if you get a chance to trek to the local junkyard soon.

Keep up the good work! I always LOVE seeing other grassroots guys plugging away, gives me hope and inspiration!

Regards,
Shea

Thank you Shea. I have a friend up in New Brunswick who is a LaKing, Maurice. Any relation?
Anyhow, thanks very kindly for your input. I will check out the closest junk yard to see what I can find.

OK guys, here is another help needed item. My computer will not send an attachment, like pictures. It does funny things, mostly it locks up and I have to reboot. Any ideas?

The other week I bolted on my '58 chevy tail lights. They look nice. I have two back up lights I got new which I would like to use, but rear end is getting crowded. Need to put number plate on there, and that pretty much fills the space between the tail lights. Got to do more figuring on that one.

I need to work on the sub floor framing now, get the rise up into the rumble seat area. Then need to floor it over. I have cut apart an old washer and a dryer and plan to use the side panels for floorboards. Cost = Nothing!

AND, I need to come up with something to operate my clutch throwout arm. Space is almost non-existant down in there. I was going to use a hydraulic piston with a small master cylinder, but my exhaust is in the way. I don't think a mechanical linkage will work either. Drats!

Next thing is ---- I need a plug attachment to plug into my 1991 Chevy S-10 5 speed B/W transmission for B/U lights and for electric speedo. Anyone got one that you could send me? I can pay.....A little!!!

More as I am able. Got to get this picture issue resolved soon. Perley

You might be able to use a hydraulic slave cylinder from an early 60's 1/2 ton Chevy pickup. There was one on the 62 I had.

Hello Friends, Fellow Rodders! I'm still around, doing a little now and again! Too darn hot up here this summer. I work a little while in the morning and again in the late afternoon and evening. I am finishing the sub floor in the cab. Nearly ready to take the body off and turn it upside down to finish welding the sub-floor structure and all, and a few little things to chassis. Got to put clips on the brake tubing and see about a clutch operating device. Maybe a pull hydraulic slave from Speedway? I don't have room to go forward with a conventional push type cylinder, and definitely NO room for a mechanical linkage! I stilll haven't resolved my problem with getting pictures up from my computer. I got the engine running last week! YAHOO! Runs really well. I had to replace the water pump. Seal was gone on the old one. More when I can.