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SSI Wheels for Fullsize cars

Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:20 PM
  #1  
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SSI Wheels for Fullsize cars

Yes, It is possible, as you can see by the photos below.
Stay tuned for a "how to".
Oops, forgot photo. See next post.

Last edited by Charlie Jones; Oct 28, 2012 at 10:22 PM.
Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:26 PM
  #2  
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SSI wheels for F/S

Here they are.HPIM1651.jpg

HPIM1650.jpg
Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:28 PM
  #3  
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are those riviera rallies with olds caps?
Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:37 PM
  #4  
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You nailed it Bud! I'm gonna do a "how to" on how to put the two together soon.
Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:38 PM
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I always liked those wheels, almost put a set on my 88
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 06:48 AM
  #6  
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But those are not SSI wheels. They are spokes of course, but not even close to the SSI spokes. Here's a full size with real SS1s on it.
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Old Oct 29, 2012 | 06:54 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by wmachine
But those are not SSI wheels. They are spokes of course, but not even close to the SSI spokes. Here's a full size with real SS1s on it.
And of course, that only works on J88s and 1977-1985 D88s that have the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern. SSIs are simply Magnum 500 style wheels and those were only made with the 4.75" and 4.5" bolt circles, never the 5x5". There are aftermarket vendors selling billet versions of Magnum 500s (at great expense) so you might be able to get a custom set with 5x5, but no factory built Magnums ever came that way.

By the way, how did I know this thread was going to show Buick wheels?
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 07:26 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
And of course, that only works on J88s and 1977-1985 D88s that have the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern. SSIs are simply Magnum 500 style wheels and those were only made with the 4.75" and 4.5" bolt circles, never the 5x5". There are aftermarket vendors selling billet versions of Magnum 500s (at great expense) so you might be able to get a custom set with 5x5, but no factory built Magnums ever came that way.

By the way, how did I know this thread was going to show Buick wheels?
Ya had to spoil my fun, didn't ya, Joe?

Each to his own, but to me, no matter what the center caps are, Buick wheels on an Olds still look like Buick wheels on an Olds.
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 09:00 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by wmachine
Ya had to spoil my fun, didn't ya, Joe?

Each to his own, but to me, no matter what the center caps are, Buick wheels on an Olds still look like Buick wheels on an Olds.
True, but it's the best I can afford to do. Anyway, the average Joe ain't gonna know.
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 10:44 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by Charlie Jones
True, but it's the best I can afford to do. Anyway, the average Joe ain't gonna know.
The average joe doesn't even know what an Oldsmobile is...
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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I can vouch for that last statement.

A gent standing at the rear of my 1959 98 coupe said:
"An what sort of Chev is this"?

Yes, that 3 inch high O.L.D.S.M.O.B.I.L.E. lettering going right accross the whole rear end of the car is really hard to see!.
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 08:48 PM
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Wasn't there a 5x5 rally-style wheel available on the '77-'85 B-body? Had a larger center cap...???
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 12:53 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by lsutigers93
Wasn't there a 5x5 rally-style wheel available on the '77-'85 B-body? Had a larger center cap...???
If it's this one you're thinking of :





That was still a 5x4.75 AFAIK.

There was a chromed steel wheel however which I believe was only available in 5x5.
(D - bottom LH corner)


Attached Images
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File Type: jpg
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Old Oct 30, 2012 | 01:42 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by lsutigers93
Wasn't there a 5x5 rally-style wheel available on the '77-'85 B-body? Had a larger center cap...???
You apparently missed this earlier post:

Originally Posted by joe_padavano
And of course, that only works on J88s and 1977-1985 D88s that have the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern.
The 1977-85 D88s came with the smaller bolt pattern unless ordered with the HD suspension and brakes. The SSII/III wheels were ONLY made in the 5 x 4.75" bolt circle.

Of course, this is unrelated to this thread, which covers SSI wheels...
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 03:52 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by 5998DownUnder
I can vouch for that last statement.

A gent standing at the rear of my 1959 98 coupe said:
"An what sort of Chev is this"?

Yes, that 3 inch high O.L.D.S.M.O.B.I.L.E. lettering going right accross the whole rear end of the car is really hard to see!.
Yes.....if I only had a dollar for everytime I've been asked "what year is your Chevelle?"
Old Oct 31, 2012 | 06:56 AM
  #16  
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me too am asked what year is ur Monty
Old Nov 6, 2012 | 10:31 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
You apparently missed this earlier post:



The 1977-85 D88s came with the smaller bolt pattern unless ordered with the HD suspension and brakes. The SSII/III wheels were ONLY made in the 5 x 4.75" bolt circle.

Of course, this is unrelated to this thread, which covers SSI wheels...
Nope...hoping against hope...guess if I want SSII/IIIs on my '64s I will have to do the disc brake conversions and go down to the 5x4.75 BC...

The big cars were part of the subject so I didn't consider it to be a threadjack...
Old Nov 6, 2012 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ThePackRat
If it's this one you're thinking of :





That was still a 5x4.75 AFAIK.

There was a chromed steel wheel however which I believe was only available in 5x5.
(D - bottom LH corner)


Yep that was it...back to the drawing board.
Old Nov 7, 2012 | 05:07 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by lsutigers93
Wasn't there a 5x5 rally-style wheel available on the '77-'85 B-body? Had a larger center cap...???
Originally Posted by lsutigers93
Nope...hoping against hope...guess if I want SSII/IIIs on my '64s I will have to do the disc brake conversions and go down to the 5x4.75 BC...

The big cars were part of the subject so I didn't consider it to be a threadjack...
Interesting footnote that Olds *did* plan a SSII wheel for the big cars in 1968.
It was apparently a "last minute" attempt as the brochures did not show it. It was option P05 (like the A-body ones) and was part no 400904. An August bulletin said there were delays bringing them into production (just like the A-body ones) and they expected to have them in November. A 12/19/67 bulletin postponed them indefinitely, and a 1/15/68 revision to the Assembly Manual officially removed them from availability.
Old Feb 12, 2013 | 08:03 PM
  #20  
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5x5 SSI wheels How To

I finally got around to finishing my "how to" on SSI wheels.

The center caps are sport steering wheel horn buttons from a 70 to 75 Cutlass. Fusick sells them new for about $75 each

The center spring portion of the Buick cap must be removed to use with the Olds cap. The diecast studs that hold this part to the rest of the cap are simply flattened over on the end. If you center punch and drill these studs off then the spring center can be pried off.

The Oldsmobile center caps are actually center caps from a 70 to 75 Cutlass sport steering wheel. These are available from Fusick Automotive new for $75 or on E-bay or swap meets for less.

Once the back of the horn buttons are drilled and tapped for small screws. Then they can be attached to the Buick centers.
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HPIM1716.jpg (47.9 KB, 48 views)
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HPIM1713.jpg (51.2 KB, 48 views)
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HPIM1714.jpg (41.8 KB, 45 views)
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HPIM1715.jpg (28.2 KB, 65 views)

Last edited by Charlie Jones; Sep 15, 2014 at 05:38 PM.
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 11:51 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Charlie Jones
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 11:53 AM
  #22  
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Nice wheels! What is your “I’m selling these today price?

Originally Posted by Charlie Jones
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 01:00 PM
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You do realize this thread is a decade old, right?
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
You do realize this thread is a decade old, right?
It went back....to the future.
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 08:27 PM
  #25  
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Sorry, I'm not selling them for any price.
Old Oct 23, 2023 | 09:06 PM
  #26  
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They're hard to see, but this 1967 pre-production photo shows the Delta Custom Holiday Sedan wearing what I think are Kelsey-Hayes MagStar wheels. And they wake that big beast up right smartly, especially given the racy styling of the 67-68 GM B four-door hardtops.


MagStar:


Yup. The same MagStar Carroll Shelby selected for the Shelby Mustang, and Mercury used on Marauder X100s.

I once read that Oldsmobile purposely styled their cars to emphasize wheel styling. My own thoughts on that are that Oldsmobile wheel treatments are either flat-out gorgeous or so plain as to look cheap.

Last edited by rocketraider; Oct 23, 2023 at 09:09 PM.
Old Oct 25, 2023 | 09:29 PM
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Olds WAS planning on offering SSII wheels on the 1968 full size cars but pulled the plug at the last minute.



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