Hello,
I have a 65 wagon, and have some questions and thoughts on wheels.
1) I can't help but think that there is a Mopar or Ford steel wheel out there that is 6 inches wide and will accept an original Volvo hubcap. And also has the correct backspacing. I like the original look of the stock wheels but would like them to be somewhat wider. Which leads me to my second question.
2) Does anyone have any experience with having stock wheels widened? Who is reputable on the east coast? I hear it's relatively expensive.
3) I have read here that a 7 inch wheels is considered too wide. How about a 6.5 inch wheel. There seem to be a lot more of those around than 6 inch wheels.
O.k, one more somewhat related question.
4) Do all 120 model steering boxes have the same ratio? Is there a quicker ratio box out there that will bolt up?

Thanks in advance
Jose

Hi,

I have a list of the most cars that have same bolt-pattern as the 120.
Gimme a word if you want it.

It hasn´t any backspacing info, but it´s a bit on the way...

Mine come in the parts car I used to rebuild my rojo ( http://groups.msn.com/ClubVolvodelPeru/volvo1211966.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=557 ).

Today the only source of new adapters and steering wheels I know is Grant, and the related volvo 122 adapter is available only for use with Grant Signature series steering wheels ( http://www.grantproducts.com/signature.html, select volvo 122 - on the kit selector at the footpage on the part number 710 - to see details about the kit).

Joaquin



--
Joaquin / Rojo 121 / Lima

I had my stock rims widened about 3 years ago.

The rims were widened to 6 inches (original inner rims, new 6 inch outer rims, +1 inch offset, powder-coated silver) for $85 each at Trudesign Wheels (303-422-5090) in Denver Colorado.

Paul

I have a 67 wagon and had a 71 1800E parts car available. I swapped the front wheel hubs and calipers and swapped in the 1800E rear axle. This requires some welding mods - but at ~$100.00 it's way cheaper than $155/wheel. This changes your bolt pattern and allows you to use ANY of the later wheels - all 240 740, and 940 alloy wheels, the later 1800 and 140 wheels too.

It requires that re-plumb your brakes too, but a dual-triangular brake system is a worthwhile upgrade.

I presently have 1800ES/140 Steel wheels on my 122S Hubcap choices are a bit limited (just two styles)...


Those are the 140 "saucer" style hubcaps. Still 100% volvo


My 220 is undergoing a paint job and it's partially disassembled, so please forgive its "unkempt" appearance. I only moved it out of the garage to turn it around.

I've posted a picture in the gallery of a 68 Amazon I use to own. The wheels are 15X7" steel wheels from a Dodge police interceptor. The hub caps are screwed onto the wheel. The beauty rim fit. Volvo hub caps seem to fit only Volvo wheels

Here's my solution...I had the originals modified. Stockton was very expensive, so I found a local wheel repair shop to do the work (they fix curbed alloy wheels). I purchased a set of 15X6 Chev truck rims, cut the centers out and replaced the centers with the Volvo ones...I kept the costs down by doing the prep work myself. Total cost $65 per wheel.




Cheers,
Craig

I had vintage 14 X 7 US Indy slotted mags on my 68 122 wagon - NO problems! I purchased them from someone who had them on his 65 Mustang. Cheers!

Here is that list of wheels they were speaking of:

91-up Crown Victoria
64-73 Mustang, Maverick
57-72, 79-96 Fullsize car (Crown Victoria, Custom, Galaxie, T-Bird, LTD, Etc.)
85-97 Aerostar van
82-90 Bronco II
90-up Explorer
81-up Ranger PU
68-84 1/2 ton Van
65-84 Ranchero
80-85 1/2 ton 2WD PU

Dodge:
77-up Fullsize (Coronet, Monaco, Polara)
87-90 Dakota PU
75-85 Ramcharger PU 2WD
49-85 1/2 ton trucks and vans

Jeep:
80-up Cherokee, Wrangler
80-93 Commanche, Cheif
93-98 Grand Cherokee

Mazda:
93-up B-2500, B-3000, B-4000
90-up Navajo

Nissan:
84-96 300ZX

Lexus:
95-up LS400, LS430
01-up GS430

Mercury:
78-79 Cougar
91-96 XR-7
68-78 Lynx
95-up Marauder, Marquis, Meteor

Toyota:
80-95 2WD PU

Lincoln:
68-72 Continental, Mark III
88-up LSC
84-92 Mark VII
82-up Town Car

There are definitely lots of Ford / Mopar / AMC wheels out there that will work fine, but none I know of that will take the stock Volvo hubcap.

There's an outfit in California that widens wheels, but I don't know about back east, sorry.

7" wheels can fit, depending on the backspacing. They have to clear the trailing arms in the rear. What you want to be careful of is the weight of the wheels and tires, which can go up pretty quickly with size. More weight means slower acceleration and longer braking distances.

All the steering boxes have the same ratio, but it's the huge steering wheel that makes it feel slow.

There is a 15x7" Mopar wheel, that looks totally at home and does in fact take the OEM hubcap. there's a picture somewhere in the gallery of a 220 wearing them I think. The only outward difference is that it has more ovals, and the ovals are smaller. Not an easy find, they were a police interceptor wheel; are super heavy -over 21 lbs- and the only guy I met who has run them got rid of them in a big hurry. They rubbed with 205/60?55?/15s. I'm sorry, don't know what their backspace is.

Quiant, but there's better, lighter, cheaper options if you need to run 205s.

There is a list of agreeable rims floating around, but no backspacing info that I'm aware of. A lot of folks are happy with ford ranger wheels.

Stockton Wheel in CA is all I know of. And yes, p-r-i-c-e-y.

late 444s/544s have interchangeable boxes, 444 having the quicker ratio, but I don't think there's anything to be done for the 122s. However, someone here has fit a VW bug box to theirs, maybe it will come up on a search.
--
'64 PV544, '66 122s, '70 142s... Blue is Beautiful

I've been in contact with Stockton Wheel, and they quoted me a price of $155 per wheel a few months back, for widening my stock wheels to 6", with the same offset as the 123 GT wheels. I'm going to send a pair of wheels off to them next week.

I considered something along the lines of the Minilite replicas IPD sells, but I want something less conspicuous that doesn't scream "Steal Me!". I think steel wheels will be more durable too.

I plan on equipping the car with 185's

Bill

Hi Bill,

Have a look at my post above...$155 a wheel is crazy. I'm pretty pleased with my local shop, you may have to prod a little, but they have the equipment to do the job correctly.

Craig

Bill,

Maybe hold out for some 123GT or later wagon wheels: they're 4.5" (or 5?) wide, and should hold 185s.

Heck, people put 195s on the 4". I had 185s for a long time on 4.5" rims on a 142.

Superlite/Minilite are kind of flashy, especially for my cars... but they are reasonably vintage-appropriate and every once in a while show up for FAR less than what IPD sells them for in the 544/122/pre-4whl disc 1800 bolt pattern. Maybe don't clean them often.

I like Craig's solution though. How much did they end up weighing?
--
64 544 - 66 122 - 70 142 - 74 142 - Blue is broken is beautiful

I had a set stretched to 7" with a 3/4" negative offset.205-60's fit fine, but will rub slightly on the fender lip when cranked all the way.
Cost $50 per at Willamete wheel in Portland,Or 15 years ago

When I got my 68 home yesterday, I realized that the right front wheel looked kinda large. The rubber was bad all the way around, so I installed the 165-R15 Kumhos off my 67 wagon (the wagon has 1971 1800 wheels now so I had a set of mounted spare wheels in the garage).

Anyway, after removal I found that the left front wheel was a 220-70-15. It fits but looks pretty crazy - especially on the front. It might look kinda cool if you put a pair on the rear, but I'd bet that they would be be trouble on the front.

The 6" wheels are no more heavy than the stock wheels. They are by no means light - but at this point I'm not too worried about weight.

Craig