Substitute Wheels

Figured this would be the place to go to . Original 16" wheels seem to be harder , and harder to come by . I'd like to hear any , and all ideas for replacement wheels that you other members have come up with . I like the tall skinny stock look , so not looking for wide wheels . Either 16 " , or 15 inch . And are there any modifications that would need to be made to accommodate them ? Thanks

 

I had some CJ7 stock steel wheels and they were from a 1980. They look slightly different than older wheels but are still 5.5" wide. Jeep Dispatcher wheels through 79 are also 15x5.5.

Or are you looking for new wheels?

 

Spiderman,

It will help you get quicker answers by adding your Jeep to your signature line.

That being said, you profile says it's a 63? Bone stock? Lift kit? Any other mods?

 

Heavy duty 16" wheels were OEM on M38A1 military, and also on early Jeep pickups. Doesn't mean they will be cheap or easy to find.

A number of older Ford wheels will fit, including Bronco. IIRC, IH Scout may also have had the same pattern.

 

Also older 1/2 ton Ford 4WD pickups

 

For 15" wheels, get some late CJ steel wheels. They are 6" width, not 5.5". WTB here and on the other CJ sites. Samurai and Scout wheels will work too, but I expect they will be hard to find.

If you want 16s, you can look for 60s Jeep pickup wheels. These will also be 6", I believe. Try a WTB on the Wagoneer/J-truck sites www.ifsja.org www.fsjnetwork.com likely others.

Ford 2WD wheels will have the right bolt pattern, but the center hole is too small. Maybe Ford 4x4 wheels will work, but I expect they will be harder to find than Jeep wheels. IIRC some Dodge wheels are the same as Fords.

Really, aftermarket steel wheels are fairly cheap. You need a wheel with a 5 on 5.5" bolt circle, 4.25" center hole, and about a 3" backspacing. Search on Summit and Jegs and see what's available.

 

Sorry gents . I have a bad habit of not explaining myself fully . My rig is a real mongrel . Seems to be mostly a 53 m38a1 , combined together with a 63 cj5 . It has the standard 4.5 " x 16 " steel wheels . I don't have a lift kit in it . Seems to be at a real good ride hight as is . I have noticed 1 wheel is a little bent , you can see the wobble if jacked up . It , and the others are getting somewhat depressed at the lugnut holes . I don't really mind wheels that are not period correct . Oh , btw , someone asked if any modifications have been made . None that I'm aware of . Standard 9" drum brakes front , and rear . I know eventually I'll have to change these wheels , and like the look of plain steel wheels . Thanks

 

Also , not fussy about being used . Fits my budget better .

 

So, I'm not totally clear why you want replacements... Because yours are showing their age, or because you want something different?

BTW, If yours are original military they will be more heavy duty than most replacements.

 

No , don't really want different . Just trying to come up with a plan before the condition of the ones I have forces me to have to do something hasty . And you guys have proved to be the gurus when dealing with these beasts .

 

I have no doubt I am addicted . My Jeep might be the ugliest thing ever , but I am definitely obsessed . And I don't even feel bad about it .

 

Hi. My name is Pete and I'm a Jeep-aholic.

It all started with watching the Roy Rogers show on Saturday mornings before my parents were awake. I saw Pat Brady driving Nellybelle, and I got hooked.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pVCiTA86umk/SvLYNn_95UI/AAAAAAAAB68/eX3s2LnZz-A/s400/1950%20Nellybelle.jpg

Next thing I knew it was Tonka Toy Jeeps. People said it was just a phase, that I'd grow out of it.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7788512202_e161eaa7e4_b.jpg

But it wasn't enough. I needed the real thing. By age 15 I was "four wheeling" and "off-roading." My poor parents were so ashamed.

Oh sure, I tried substituting - land rovers and toyotas, even baja bugs, but it was never the same kind of high.
I knew I'd hit bottom when I found myself in a subaru just because it had four wheel drive (sob).


Since then I have spent nearly all my time and money on Jeeps and loose women. The rest of it, I wasted.

 

I'm having a real problem finding plain vanilla steel wheels for my 60 CJ - Nellie Belle wheels. My current rims are a steel 15x6 (or a little less, not stock). I have searched for years for the (later) stock steel KH 8 inchers. Can't tell you how many times I've reached the seller to find they sold that morning - 2 or 3 hours after posting the ad - they're like unicorns.. I've chased inumerable 76-83 CJ used wheel ads, only to find the wheels are aftermarket stuff. I suspect the local prospects are way better on the West Coast and mountain states than down here on the Gulf Coast. Unless you want a wheel that is 1) spoked, D'd, or otherwise holed; or 2) something that looks like a Kmart Christmas tree ornament designed by a 12 year old crackhead, your new choices appear to be Omix and Omix. That is probably what I'm going to do, after I get past choking on $150 each plus freight. Not that I'm not glad they make them - just ......

 

I got rims for sale PM me to arrange for photos