Aftermarket wheels for 1950 Champion

[Mike70gtx]

Just got a 1950 2 door Champion. I want to get some cragers or some sort of after market wheels until I get ready to restore. I'm going to leave the aged paint and do a sort of rat rod look until I get the finances to do it right. Is it the ford and mopar wheels that fit these? If so how wide and what kind of back space?

1950 Studebaker Champion 2dr
1987 Buick Grand National

[StudeRich]

On the '51 and on Champions and Commanders, yes they would be Chrysler/ Ford 5 on 4 1/2 in. pattern 15X5 in. wheels up to 1957, 14 in. in '58, 15X4 1/2 in. on '59 and on.

However, on your 1950 Champion IF IT HAS the correct 1950 Drums, the wheels are 4 lug and there is no known modern cross reference wheel that I have ever heard of, only on older cars than yours!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[wolfie]

Maybe someone can identify the wheels on the rusty business coupe currently on E-bay.It is still 4 lug and I think the guy said it was a VW wheel on it.I know it was some kind of foreign car wheel on it.Steve

[Mike70gtx]

The wheels are 4 bolt and has 15 inch rims. Any way to switch out hubs to a five bolt?

1950 Studebaker Champion 2dr
1987 Buick Grand National

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by wolfie

Maybe someone can identify the wheels on the rusty business coupe currently on E-bay.It is still 4 lug and I think the guy said it was a VW wheel on it.I know it was some kind of foreign car wheel on it.Steve

Most VW wheels are 4 on 100mm. Close, but only good enough to get the car on a trailer. I wouldn't drive one or dolly tow one with those wheels.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Mike70gtx]

I guess I'll just leave them the gray that someone painted them or go red and put on some big white wall tires.

1950 Studebaker Champion 2dr
1987 Buick Grand National

[wolfie]

Dont know if there is an easier or cheaper way but I have seen a couple bullet noses with a disc brake 5 lug set-up so one is available.I would check with Turner as they seem to have a lot of stude kits.Seems like a later brake setup with the 5 lug drums should be adaptable fairly easily but I have never tried it personally.I believe the axles will interchange with a 5 lug setup without changing the whole rearend,or if you are not concerned with originality I have been told an S-10 rear is almost a bolt in on these cars.Someone will offer up more expirienced advice I'm sure and theirs should outweigh mine as I have not tried either.Steve

[Mike70gtx]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try do do as much as I can with sweat equity instead of spending a bunch of money. At least for now.

1950 Studebaker Champion 2dr
1987 Buick Grand National

[65cruiser]

I once looked at a 1950 Champion roller that was sitting on Vega rims. They looked like these:



Mark Anderson
Member SDC and FMCA
Keeper of the Studebaker Cruiser Registry

https://www.65cruiser.com