Stepdown Wheel Trivia

SuperDave

There was a discussion a while back about stepdown wheel differences. For those that like to do some forensics...This post addresses the standard stepdown wheel. I did not look at the optional convertible/Hollywoods.

I have been assembling a collection of wheels to use on my 49 Two Door "resurrection". I now have five useable wheels.. I had them sand blasted yesterday in preparation for painting. I found some interesting differences in them. I seem to have three different models. All are interchangeable, but have some different features. I will attempt to attach pictures to illustrate.

Two wheels have three "nubs". One just below the valve stem hole and one on each side of the hole. These appear to be 54 since there are distinct grooves worn into the rim from the use of the full wheel covers.
Two other wheels only have one "nub" just below the valve stem hole. Early 54?. All of these four wheels are welded and have Stampings "Made By Motor Wheel etc." Also one had an extra stamps in a circle that signifies that it is electro-welded.

The single wheel is, no doubt, much earlier. Does not have a "nub" to retain a hub cap, is riveted and no manufacturers stamping that I could find. The hub cap clips are different. The other difference is that the center hole has no raised flange and the valve stem hole is not opposite a hub cap clip.

I also checked three rims on a 50 pacemaker that I believe to be OEM. They are riveted but the valve stem holes are opposite a hub cap clip like the later model ones. The clips also match the later model wheels. The 1950 wheels did not have the "nubs".
The "nubs" I speak of are pressed in from the back side. Confused yet? ^#(^

hudsontech

Could be as simple as a matter of wheel supplier. Hudson no doubt used more than one supplier which would account for the differences.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

53jetman

The rivited wheel is most likely early step-down ('48-'49). The wheels with one nub are most likely very late '51 thru early '53. The 3 nub wheels are mid '53 thru '54

SuperDave

Jerry, That's pretty much what I figured about the "nubs on the later wheels. .

RL Chilton

Dave-

I am pretty sure that the "nubs" are there to keep the full wheel covers from rotational "creeping". I did a post about the phenomenon not too long ago on this forum and others. That nub actually fit in-between two of the "fingers" on the back of the hubcaps and kept it from rotating.

I had been told that Motor Wheel made all of the wheels before, but as we all know, that rarely turns out to be the case. Hudson (like other manufacturers) would get their supply where and when they could in order to meet demand.

bob ward

There are 2 styles of full face step down hubcap (neglecting the centre emblems), one picks up the single nub next to the valve stem, the other picks up the 2 outer nubs. I've been told, I don't know how accurately, that the 2 nub wheels and caps were introduced for the Jets.

[Deleted User]

To make it even more confusing, there is a raised ridge near the center hole on some rims. On others it is missing. ???

SuperDave

Lance,Yes, the middle picture on top is one of those. It looks like there was a series of product improvements throughout production. Some brought on by the wheel disc changes. The one in the picture was slightly bent at the center, which might not have happened if it had that rolled edge like the later ones. There would be much more resistance to bending. The reason for difference in the hub cap clips escapes me. Other than the early ones were probably a little more difficult to make with the slots in them. Dave Sollen gave me a set of the clips to repair one wheel I had that had them all broken. The replacement clips were just like all the other late ones. I was also lucky enough to have a drawer full of assorted rivets so had 5 of the same size.
I must have too much time on my hands...

[Deleted User]

Dave too much time is NEVER a bad thing LOL.

Chris Smith

Bill Albright told me that 54 wheels had the one "nub" at the valve stem. He said hudson had them added to stop the full size wheel covers from walking on the rim and falling off.

RL Chilton

It won't keep them from falling off, but will keep them from rotating, which is their purpose.

Glowplug

Chris... agree that the "nub" is to do with walking on the rim... BUT the reason was the FULL SIZE caps which were introduced in 1952 were cutting off the valve stems. Took several years to get the wheels with the nub... needed to keep them from rotating (as RL says) and cutting off the valve stems.

RL Chilton

Here is a thread I did about the "nub" (and about not losing your hubcaps) back in Sept.:

http://www.classiccar.com/forum/discussion/164338/#Item_16

SuperDave

I have what I think is a Jet wheel. It was a spare in a Stepdown I got. Narrower but otherwise like a stepdown. It is riveted..? I would have thought they would have been welded by then. No nub. What do you think Jerry?