Trying to get my '61 98 4dr HT ready for Billetproof in CA in a couple of weeks and I'm not going to be able to get in with my current Kohmo/Weld Star combo. Can some one tell me what was original size furnished by factory. I'm going to be using a set of skirts and I want to make sure the wheels/tires are going to clear them. Thanks!!

 

14x6, 5x5 bolt circle. You'll be hard pressed to find a readily available 14" tire big enough for that Ninety Eight; 215/75-14 is about as big as it gets, and that is just too small. The other option is expensive 8.50-14 reproduction tires, though you CAN get those with the right early-61 wide whitewall.

Use a later 15" 5x5 BC wheel with a set of 1961 Olds dogbowl caps, or paint the outer edge red and go for 57 Plymouth or 60 Ford full wheelcovers- the "cone" style. That way you can at least find some suitable tires without breaking the bank on repop tires. Besides, I think I'm right Billetproof is for low-tech or oldschool rods and customs? My kinda show in other words- I can't stand billet stuff. The very word grates on me.

So what happened here? The nephew turn it over to you, or is he still involved with it too?

 

So the stock tire would have been something like a G78-14? I've got some stock 14" rims with the dogbowls. I also have a set of decent 235/75-15 tires and access to some 15x7 steelies but I'm thinking those might a bit on the big side, especially with the car being lowered and wanting to use the skirts. This set up would only be used for these types of shows where they frown on billet wheels. The Weld Stars would be used normally.

My nephew isn't very motivated to do much of anything any more. His Mom and I (and my 15 year old future hot/rat rodder son) do most of the work, he just stands around and watches most of the time. I'm not so sure his Mom's going to let him have it when he gets his license. My son and I enjoy working on it when we're not working on our '52 Desoto mordoor "sled".