Retro Wheel Centers

[Alfie623]

Has anyone ever seen this?  These are new wheels and I’m toying with filling and tapping them to receive the Ford centers.  It seems like the hardest part is getting a plumb hole in the aluminum.  It would be really cool if I could bring this together but I think I’m too nervous to try it.  

Bare wheel


My center just sitting there


A pic someone posted on FB

[Gary Lewis]

Do you know anyone with a drill press?  That would make it easy to get a truly vertical hole.

But, since you'll be going in with the plastic anchors, I assume, it isn't terribly critical.

[Blacktop]

What make of wheels are those? Ansens?

[salans7]

The picture you posted from FB are factory wheels that were available from 77-81. They already have the anchors in them from the factory.

I have seen plenty of trucks with your style of wheel and the center caps made to fit them. I agree with Gary, I would locate a drill press and make sure the wheel is tightly held in place.

[Alfie623]

They are US Mags Indy 101 wheels.  US Mags shares the same address with Foose Wheels in Los Angeles area.  I bought them from Summit Racing.

[Alfie623]

I have a drill press but getting the wheel into the press, even without the tire would be a challenge.  I think an easier trick would be to get a piece of aluminum about 1" thick and wide enough to span two of the lug holes.  I would make a jig that would place the anchor hole where it needs to land and use the aluminum as a guide. I could bolt it through the two lug holes and drill with a hand drill through the 1" jig that would keep the drill straight.  I don't think the holes for the centers needs to be perfectly centered and since it's so close to the axis of rotation if it was off 1/32" it wouldn't make much of an issue.   I may get the guts to actually drill these wheels some day but for now I'm focussing on the rest of the work on the truck.  

[Gary Lewis]

I was envisioning doing it with the tires off the wheels.  Even my mill may not be big enough with a tire on.

But the jig might work pretty well.  You might slip a piece of steel tubing over the bit to keep it from chewing on the aluminum of the jig since you have a dozen holes to drill.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Hardened drill bushings for jigs are pretty cheap and ubiquitous.

[LARIAT 85]

I am not usually a fan of aftermarket wheels, but I think the new U.S. Mags Indy slot wheels you have look MUCH better than the stock (1978 - 1981) Ford wheels.  The Indy slots look more "kidney" shaped, whereas the Ford's are more squared off and is a narrow wheel.  I think the Ford ones look better on a 1970s truck than our Bullnoses.  I also think the chrome centers look better than the black, which to me also look like they belong on an older 1970s truck.  The chrome ones would be more period-correct and provide that finishing touch!  I would do it.  

In fact, Lucille had the Indy slot wheels when I first took possession of her in the late 1990s.  I think they were 15x8.5.  I had originally planned to restore them and do exactly what you are proposing, but decided to go with the 15x8 stock Deluxe Argent Styled Steel (wagon) Wheels instead.