Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Would one of you '55 owners please post a picture of a 'true' 1955 wheel for me. I have a a couple of variations and before I bead blast & powder coat the rims, I'd like to have them all match correctly before I spend the $$$.

Many thanks.

55 Juniors are the same as '54 Juniors (except '54 Super Clipper). Seniors are another story.

55 Seniors are 5x5" bolt pattern on 15"x6" (L rim), whereas 55 Juniors are 5x4-1/2" bolt pattern on 15"x5-1/2" (K rim). So JR rims will NOT mount onto a SR car and vice versa.

Craig

Appearance of wheels from a pic to match is not enuf.
Be sure to measure the offset of the center of the wheel too.

I don't know about Sr. wheels but i have a 80 Dodge wheel that is nearly identicle in appearence to my 56 Jr. wheel. HOWEVER, the offset or 'dish' of the center of the wheel is deeper on the Dodge than the 56 Jr. wheel.

I'm not familiar with powder coating. Never had any done. But u need to get some opinions from those that have. Not sure how well powder coating transfers heat, compatability with wheel cover cover retention, weight, balancing or other issues that mite affect wheel performance characterisitcs.

Quote:

here are the wheels that were on my '55 --- i don't know the offset and all that but these are what mine look like anyway

one pic on the car and one pic of the spare in the trunk
don't know if that'll help but i hope it does

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55 Sr. wheels are 15 X 6.00 426834
55 Jr. wheels are 15 X 5.5 455303

56 Sr. wheels are 15 X 6.00 6480025
56 Jr. wheels are 15 X 5.5 6480024

I don't know the difference between 55 and 56 Sr. or Jr. wheels

The bolt pattern is different between Junior and Seniors. 5x5 for Seniors, 5x4.5 for Juniors. Also the '56 wheels I have seen do not have the hub alignment pin holes since they switched to lug nuts in '56.

Okay guys,

Here is what we got. (54) years later we have a mixture of rims to which I get to contend with. Please take a peek and tell me what you think? PM's okay too.

DSC07034 (3 currently on the 400)
DSC07042 (1 currently on the 400)
Rim_Parts_car_black (3 currently on '55 Pat parts car)
Rim_Parts_car_red (1 currently on '55 Pat parts car)
Rim_creme_notire_1 (behind garage)
Rim_black_notire_1 (behind garage)
Rim_creme_withtire_1 (near pack-rat nest)

Okay........I'm thinking that the 3 matching on the 400 gotta go! Where in the heck did they come from?

I also think that the following match each other; DSC07042, Rim_Parts_car_black, Rim_black_notire_1 and Rim_creme_withtire_1 are all matches. Unless I'm really missing the boat here, these are probables for powdercoating.

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See your dilemma as things sure do get confusing.

According to parts books, the 55 senior used the same 15x6 senior wheel as far back as 23rd series. Part #426834 without riveted clips.

If that is case, question is were the full wheel covers available on 23rd series or did they use the three quarter size like 21 and 22nd. Need a 50 expert to chime in there.

If only had smaller size, then seems the DSC07034 would be proper since the small caps were also available on other years in that group.

That would probably make the ones without nubs 56. My 56 has those but had assumed they were 55 because of locating hole and it had a 55 rear axle when I got it.

Parts car red & creme no tire looks like may be #403100 for 22-23rd with riveted clips but missing the clips.

Are the hole sizes the same? Black no tire looks like it might be different (larger bolt holes) unless optical delusion.