Terraplane Wheels and Tires

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
It is time to get new tires for "Gertrude," my '37 Terraplane series 71 brougham. I plan to repaint or powdercoat the wheels, and install radials. One thousand miles will be a busy year for this car.



I would appreciate omments or advice on each of these items:

1. The car was originally light gray, with red pinstripes. Would the wheels have been body color or a contrasting color? If contrasting, what would have been the color?

2. Repaint vs. powdercoat?

3. I have seen Forum discussions about using radials on step-downs, but I don't recall anything about radials on the earlier models. Has anyone any comments on this?

4. If I go to radials, I will probably install Diamondbacks.

5. If I use bias-ply, I would appreciate advice, pro or con, about dealers and brands.



Thanks for your help.

BN

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    No question if you are going to drive this car a lot...radials are the only way to go.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Bought the Diamondbacks for my '53 Coupe, and sure have no regrets in that department !!



    However, I elected to have my wheels painted in a bodyshop, rather than have them powdercoated, because the bodyshop told me that if you get a little ding or scratch in a powdercoat, you can't fix it, and will have to do the whole wheel again !!



    When I got the bill from the bodyshop for over eight hundred bucks for five wheels, I knew I'd beeen had !! Powdercoat would have cost me fifty bucks a wheel, and probably been far more durable.



    Live and learn I guess, but that's one bodyshop that'll never see me or my Hudsons again. Good thing I didn't give them a whole car !!



    silverone.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Bill,



    I put 16 x 6.50 radials on my 37 tPlane coupe and the difference was amazing - I will never run with bias-ply again.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I assume the body color with the same contrasting pinstripe, would have carried through to the wheels, though in some cases the wheels were red, I think.



    As to tires, I believe you are going to have to use wider wheels in order to use radial tires, but I'm sure someone will jump in here to clarify this. You might call Robbie Williams (he's in the H-E-T Roster), who is the clearinghouse for all '37 information. He will surely know exactly what wheel to use for this purpose. I believe 7.00 x 15 tires were optional in 1937 so you'd be technically original with them.



    If you elect to stick with bias-plies, consider moving up one size to 6:50 x 16, a fatter tire. This will give you slightly more contact area with the ground. I mounted them on my existing Terraplane 600 x 16 wheels, maybe 5 years ago, with no problems. Some of the bias-ply tires look more period-authentic, too. I used the Goodyear diamond-tread wide whites on mine.
  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    Have fitted radials to my 1942 Brougham, would never go back to rag tyres ever, the difference is amazing, had the rims powder coated on my Rambler cost $100.00 for 5 rims, these were done at mates rates, but would advise that is the way only to go. Radials fitted to the '42 were 650x16 wide whites by Coker, some of our guys here in Aust have fitted Diamond backs, we are all VERY happy with the result.

    Les. P. Down Under
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    My '37 TP is Peacock Green, which is a blueish-green (not turquoise!). I had the wheels painted a light khaki tan, which, with the wide whites, really looks great! I almost don't want to put the trim rings on it!
  • Jay_G
    Jay_G Expert Adviser
    I had the rims on my 46 truck powdercoated and no problems. Powdercoating is much thicker than paint and can cover some imperfections. I have often wondered if it caused problems with tubeless tires and sealing around the rim? don't know. I am using bias with tubes on 16" rims and have had no trouble and drives great. I have tubless radials on the 53 but with the engine in pieces it may be a while before I see what it does.



    Jay
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Hi B N Hudson Dave here . Diamond Back Classic Radials are the only way to go . I have them on both my 46 Hudson P/U and my 46 4 DR . I have been running and selling them for nine years . If I can answer any questions about anything just let me know . Hudson Dave [url]www.FatWhiteWalls.com:D[/url] HET Member 352-564-4284 Cell 352 -586 -8427
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I have a 39 series 91 that has the original body color on the wheels , if this is helpful. The car was painted in 1973, but the wheels were not painted, nor the door posts, so the wheels and body were the same color on that car.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Had a factory original 37 "T" back in 52, wheels were same as body. To help prevent little chips you might want to consider Dupont Imron paint. Hard stuff. Gonna haul it to shows and have EVERYTHING orig,use the bias. Gonna drive it use the radials hands down.
  • tigermoth
    tigermoth Expert Adviser
    since you asked, i have the '35 to experience what it was like to drive a '35...sooo i will never run anything but bias. if i wanted a car to drive like a new nissan i would buy a new nissan. just my 2 cents..everyone has their own reasons for having the cars they have and having them the way they want them. regards, tom
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Good point Tom, reckon our cars are like wives and girl friends, what one guy loves the next would'nt drag to a cat fight
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    oldpatt wrote:
    I have a 39 series 91 that has the original body color on the wheels , if this is helpful. The car was painted in 1973, but the wheels were not painted, nor the door posts, so the wheels and body were the same color on that car.



    I would love to see some photos of your car. Can you post some on this forum? or email me at; lexieg@xtra.co.nz

    Thanks. Paul Dunningham.
  • 35 Terraplane
    35 Terraplane Senior Contributor
    I have a 1935 Terraplane that has been in my family since my great uncle bought it new. It has the original gray paint. The wheels are also gray with red pin stripping.

    Tom in NY
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    edited November 2013
    Powdercoating is much more durable and cheaper than paint. Also, a good powdercoat supplier will also sell matching touch up paint to fill in nicks and chips. I have bought touch up paint from our powdercoater a few times (for industrial purposes). Going rate seems to be about $50 per wheel.

    You should be ble to leave the hubcap retaining clips on the wheel for powdercoating. The wheels will be media blasted prior to coating, and a good powdercoater will clean out all of the media prior to coating.

    Powdercoat is typically very thin coats, so it may show more inperfections than paint. If you have a lot of pitting to hide, that can be filled prior to coating with metal or high-temp fiberglass filler. I have used the fiberglass on aluminum with good results.

    I run radials on my stepdown, I think they are the only way to go for a car that is driven.

    Matt
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