What do you know about these wheels?

[Olds64]

I was browsing Olds junction and ran across this:

http://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobile.com/ssiv.html

Anybody have anymore information on these wheels? I have never seen an Olds with them. They seem like they would be a good addition to my 71 98.

[rocketraider]

They will fit your Ninety Eight and look good. The worst thing about the SS-IV is the trim bands are usually rashed up pretty bad and they are near impossible to find. However...

Early 90's chevy pickup 15" trim bands fit like they were made for them.

Sometimes you'll find a chunk broke out of the Polycast, and the diecast centers tend to pit, but overall a good wheel for the 1971-76 big cars.

I've had them on various Deltas and Ninety Eights, and they change the whole character of the car. Makes a Delta 4-door hardtop look downright racy.

[Olds64]

Cool! Now the only problem is finding them. I guess I get to search on Evil-bay and Hemmings.

[okie88]

I like these wheels also. You don't see them around anymore. Included is a shot of one of the set on my 56 88 (long term)project. Probably somewhat a waste of a neat set of wheels, but I like the way they look. If I see another set, I'll let you know.
Mike
100_2355 (2).JPG

[Oldsguy]

I have seen those SS IV wheels before and they are nice in my opinion.

[rocketraider]

They don't look bad on the 56 at all. The whitewall pattern on the 1955-56 Delta showcar's tires was made up of rectangle blocks that look a little like the SS-IV.

Olds had used that wheel design even earlier than 1971. The 1964-65 big car cast aluminum bolt-on wheelcovers had eight vents, and a stainless wheelcover that also resembled them was optional on 1968 Cutlass.

Can't tell you how many people I've seen toting SS-IV out of swap meets intending to put them on a Cutlass. Their lips drag the ground when I tell them they won't fit the bolt pattern without an adapter.

Then there's the Motor Wheel "Exiter" polycast wheel that the SS-IV is actually based on. It was offered in the late 60s and most advertising showed them mounted on a 1969 442. The basic design is identical to SS-IV, except the Exiter had a tower center and the polyurethane extended to the edge of the steel rim instead of allowing for a trim band as the SS-IV did.

Fall Carlisle '03, I ran up on a set of ten NOS Exiters, 14x6 4-3/4 bolt pattern. Mustang vendor had 'em, and since they weren't Ford BP, he was selling 'em cheap- as in $10 each. If I hadn't been on that stupid Bravada, I'd have brought all ten home, but since room was tight I only bought four. They are currently on my 74 Hurst/Olds. I found that an 80's FWD SS-III center cap fits the Exiter center tower like it was made for it, and reproduction SS-I center cap Rockets fit perfectly in those FWD centers. So for all practical purposes, my Exiters look like a 1974 factory installation!

And yes, I'll admit to bullshitting the unknowing by telling them the Exiters are "Hurst experimental wheels".

[J-(Chicago)]

There may be a few of these in the junkyard by me.
I used to see them all the time when i was a teenager

[2blu442]

Since this thread is discussing the rubber coated wheels I'll take a risk of being labeld as a "thread Hijacker". Does anyone recognized these wheels? They are the 5 on 4 3/4 bolt pattern but I don't have the center caps, and so far have not been able to identify them. I've got a set of 4 and I believe they are 15X7 in size. Any ideas?

[Oldsguy]

They probably would not be too bad looking with center covers.

[csstrux]

I'm probably way off base but they kind of look like early to mid 70's? T-chicken wheels to me. may have been later, but that's what they look like to me. Could have come off a fox body like the fairmont. I'm guessing it's from the ford family any way.

[Olds64]

Thanks for all of the good information. I just thought they might look good on my 71 98. If I run across some I will have to pick them up if the price is right.

John, your 71 Delta 88 doesn't happen to have those SS IV wheels on it, does it?

[2blu442]

Sorry, my delta has hubcaps on it. The last set of SS IV wheels I saw were on ebay about six months ago. They didn't sell, and had very few bids on them. John

[rocketraider]

John, those are for 74-77 Monte Carlo and Laguna S-3. Chevrolet called them "Turbine II".

Motor Wheel made a mess of different Polycast designs for just about every American carmaker. We've all seen the Pontiac Honeycomb. Ford put them on Thunderbirds, and on Topaz and Mustang as late as 1990. Buick had a version similar to Chevrolet's. They were available for late-70s Dodge Chargers and Magnum XE's.

Their advantage was they were cheaper to produce than a comparable styled steel or aluminum wheel. Their disadvantage was they were heavy.

[2blu442]

Thank you for your help Rocketraider!
John

[csstrux]

I didn't know chubby used stuff like that?! bad guess. sorry.

[rocketraider]

Yup- GM, Ford and MoPar all used Motor Wheel Polycasts. I know the wheels Chad's thinking about, had a set on a 1977 Thunderbird. They looked good but couldn't keep center caps on them.

Except for SS-IV and Honeycomb, seems most of these wheels had a turbine design.

[Olds64]

We've all seen the Pontiac Honeycomb.

I think those look pretty good.

I will probably end up putting Cragar SS on my 71 98 if I can't easily find a set of SS IVs. I have a set of SS wheels off of a late 70s Delta 88 but I doubt they will fit my car. I got them from my dad (Oldsguy). He had them on his 69 Delta 88 with wheel adapters. After one of the adapters failed I vowed I would never use them on one of my cars. Luckily, Oldsguy was only going about 30 miles per hour and didn't do major damage to himself or the Olds.

[Oldsguy]

Yeah, that was a mistake. I sensed a rumble and vibration but ignored it for a couple of blocks. Lesson: always stop and investigate.

[Olds64]

You have to admit that the 69 looked really Herculian with those SS wheels on it though.

http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/...to.php/photo/5

[Bluevista]

I knew those Turbine II wheels looked familiar, all the disco boys with the red peppers hanging fom their mirrors had them on their Monte's, liked the slotted steel Rallys too.

Allan

[csstrux]

When my dad still owned the cutty cruiser, He was running the AR HurricaneII's and those really worked for the car. I'm still a fan of them, even if they are a bit out of style.

[elwood565]

hey olds64, ive thought about these wheels for my 71 98 too. i think they would look great, but i decided against them because i want a wheel/tire setup that is a little wider than factory. but other than knowing i want something a little wider, and maybe even a bit bigger in diameter, say like a 17/18x8, im having a hard time finding something i think would look good on my 98.

i would love a set of ssII if you could find them in the 5 on 5 bolt pattern anywhere.

-Bob

[Olds64]

Bob,

I will have to check out my SS wheels and see if they will fit our bolt pattern. If they do, Oldsguy and I have about 3 sets. I am sure we could part with one set.

[elwood565]

oh, that would be great Olds64! i think a set of those would look really tough on the 98! if they work maybe they can be a little christmas present, for the 98 and for me!

-Bob

[Olds64]

Yeah, I wanted to take my wheels off sometime this week and "LUBE" the steering components. With the front wheels off I can double check those SS wheels I have and see if they fit.

[Oldsguy]

About the wheels, I have a set under the back porch, in fact I used one yesterday to hold down the tarp over my lawn mower. But I don't think the bolt pattern is correct, and even more sad, they may be only 14".

[Olds64]

I was thinking about the green ones that were on your 69 Delta 88 (the ones in my garage). Don't you also have a set of 4 white ones that are the same bolt pattern? I also thought you had two yellow ones that were 14 inch. I can't remember. Did we ever try to fit the green ones on your 76 Regency (might be the same bolt pattern as the 71)?

[Oldsguy]

I have four white ones under the back porch but don't know the size.

[rocketraider]

5x5 BP SSII/SSIII are rare to find. I have seen only one set and in fact did not know they existed until the 1997 Centennial Swap Meet. If I hadn't been with a retired Zone Service manager who corroborated them and rattled off p/n and ordering codes, I'd still have doubted. They were apparently made for the 1977 Pace Cars.

[dyscookn]

Bought a new Monte Carlo in 1973 that had these wheels on it. Trim rings and center caps were a bear to keep on , especialy in the hot S.C. summer when the wheels would get hot. The coating would get soft and the rings and caps might pass you going down the road. Chevrolet dealer started putting a couple of screws in the edge of the beauty rings and just a prayer on the center caps.Neither worked very well! Pretty good car?? This was my first new car . After about 4yrs. (END OF PAYMENTS ) it just started to ugly away. I think this is what 2blu442 has.

[Olds64]

They were apparently made for the 1977 Pace Cars.

As I recall one of the sets of SS wheels Oldsguy and I have came off of a 77 or 78 Holiday 88. I remember the car because Oldsguy and I removed the center console and installed it in his 69 Delta 88.