Wheel search

[starliner62]

I am looking for a set of alloy wheels to put on Christine. I would love to find a set off a later model Crown Vic, 16x7. If anyone is scrounging around a salvage yard and come across any, please let me know. Used ones seem to be unobtainium around here and the price of new ones are ridiculous. Thanks in advance for any leads.

[StudeRich]

This one has a Mercury Grand Marquis cap on it, which may mean, that is what the wheel is from, the question is: is it different than a Ford Crown Vic? And you or the "searcher" would need to know the year model.

[1954khardtop]

A buddy of mine is scrapping cars now while the price is up. Those wheels are worth about $25.00 each for scrap aluminum. I can see what he's got, but the cost of shipping to you may be prohibitive.

[Bamajak]

Shipping is no problem for Starliner62.............

[StudeDave57]

Good luck getting those in your wheel wells!!! Unless they have a whole lotta offset, that is. I tried a set of 15x7s on Baby, and they didn't fit with 215/70-15s installed. I ended up with 15x5s instead~



The 15x7s now live on Sweet Pea~





But a new (different) set will soon go on in their place, and the first set is going on Ruby.

[starliner62]

My fault. The wheels were also used on Grand Marquis models from about 1992-1998. Bamajack was correct stating shipping would not be a problem, I work for a shipping company. I tried one of my 16x7 Lincoln wheels on the 58 and it fits nicely. I am running 16x7's on my Lark with no issues. Ter seems to be more offset with these wheels than normal. I know the later Ford/Mercury rims will not fit. (2002-up).
Thanks again.

[Corvanti]

hi jamie, these guys are in raleigh - set of four:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/16-Ford-Crown-Victoria-Sport-Style-Wheels-Brand-New-/190412048635?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c557148fb

hope this helps.
kerry

[JimC]

Has anyone engineered that little center snap-in cap with a Studebaker logo on it? That would finish those rims nicely.

[jimmijim8]

15 x 6 1/2 with a 4.20 inch backspacing. These type are a perfect fit for any Hawk or c-k type. Frequenty available on e bay for 100. to 250.00 a set. jimmijim

[jimmijim8]

There is a set of the Mercury Marquis type on e bay right now for 169.99 +80.00 shipping.

15 x 6 1/2 with a 4.20 inch backspacing. These type are a perfect fit for any Hawk or c-k type. Frequenty available on e bay for 100. to 250.00 a set. jimmijim

[starliner62]

Kerry,
I have called the people in Raleigh and they will not sell out of their warehouses. They have to ship them and they are less than 5 miles from where I work. I have also talked to the local pick-a-part lots here and they have my name on file to call when some come in. The manager of one says he gets very few of the 16 inch rims. Most of them get sold for scrap when 22,24 or bigger inch wheels are put on these cars around here, and there are lots of them.

Jimmijim,

The only rims I found in a set were 15 inch. They have a large center cap on them that would be difficult to adapt to look like something Studebaker. The 16 inch rims have a small center cap that can be easily transformed and the lug nuts are exposed. I think Christine wants to show off her nuts!!!

[jimmijim8]

If you can settle for 15 inch, you are mistaken in thinking that the Lincoln center is not appropriate and an easy change that would not look anything but proper. If you would like to see a photo of the complete assembly mounted on my car shoot me a message at jimmijim8@yahoo.com

[PlainBrownR2]

As an aside, I should add that we have a 95 Crown Vic and we had a 99 Lincoln Towncar. The Crown Vic took 15 inch rims and the Towncar took 16 inch rims. The rims would not interchange between the vehicles despite both being full size cars and coming from the same manufacturer. The offset and the rim size were wildly different from each other, so if they were switched in an emergency, the wouldn't work since it was an interference fit. I don't know if this is applicable on the Studebakers, but it's something to consider with Towncar rims.
Also be sure to grab rims that are all the same design, because Ford put out half a dozen to a dozen different styles of that rim in limited quantities, and finding an exact replacement is something of a pain in the rear if one of the rims gets busted. I know because we had to replace one on the Lincoln after it lost a fight with a pothole at the wrong speed.

[starliner62]

I'm a 23 year Ford veteran. I worked for three dealers during those years. Ford was notorious for changing things mid-year(sounds familiar). What I should have done was take advantage of the cheap deals Ford had on the torque thrust type wheels when they got ready to change them for the umpteenth time. $123.00 per wheel, including lug nuts and center caps. I may just bite the bullet and order a set of repops off of e-bay. At this point, I'll take all of the used ones I can find. They look good on Avantis too!

[jimmijim8]

I believe Town car went to 16 inch wheels in 98. The 16 inch wheels are I think too wide for Stude. 15 x 6 1/2 4.20 backspace and 4.5 inch bolt pattern Crown Vic ,Marquis, Town Car 93-97 spot on. jimmijim