Can I put 15" wheels on a 37 LaSalle to get it loaded on the trailer?

[Rod Dahlgren #19496]

all the tires are rotten and flat-- Will my 15" 5 on 5 wheels fit so I can get this BARN FIND out of the barn and onto my trailer?? I have NOT seen the car other that photos-- AND cant quite tell what I am going to have to deal with when I get there..... I think I am OK-- Just want some backup from all you guys....

[Paul Phillips]

Rod
Hoping this helps a bit - on my 41, I tried to do the same thing - what I found there is the center hole on the wheel needed to be a bit larger than a generic 5 on 5 lug wheel.  If your 15's are of the era, probably ok, but if they are 60-70's the center may be too small.

Paul

[Quentin Hall]

And don't overtightened the front wheel nuts . . . or perhaps use several thick washers to shim the drum and the hub. My 39 had a interference . Otherwise a warped drum can result .

[Rod Dahlgren #19496]

OK--- got it-- I'll take the wheels with the largest center holes--- and washers----  I am also thinking the LaSalle has lug BOLTS not studs--- am I correct?

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Rod,
I think Steve P needs to chime in. 37 wheels ARE oddball & it has to do with the center hole. I seem to remember they're lug bols also.
HTH, Bob

[Steve Passmore]

It is true the 37 is one year only but from a point of view of just moving it to a trailer you could make other wheels fit somehow. As said already don't tighten them too much. The 37 wheel centre is 4 1/4" whereas the 41 wheels are only about 3".  Rear will not be a problem but the front hub protrudes quite a bit and may not clear a later wheel..

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

I think you will find there's no other wheel that even comes close to that hole OD! Find 2ea.  5 on 5 disc wheels & hog them out to 4 1/2" to be safe.
HTH, Bob

[Jim Stamper]

     1937 LaSalle and Cadillac 60 wheels are actually 5 1/4" from the center of one lug hole to the center of either lug hole across the center hole. 39 at least and probably 38s, though I have never owned a 38, are 4 3/4" from lug hole center to lug hole center measuring across the center hole.

     If yours are 5" using this measuring method they won't work unless you want to sacrifice your 5" to the trailer gods by putting ovals outward in them with a rotary grinder. I wouldn't recommend that, but sometimes necessity rules.

     I know the present tires on the car don't look at all useful to you but I wouldn't count them out until I had tried to air them up. For that you will need a portable compressor or a portable air tank and a place to refill it several times. If they will hold air long enough to get the car loaded that is all you really need and is by far the easiest option. The 5" just won't do I am sure.

     If you can get some 5 1/4"s and the center holes won't quite do the washer method to space them out should work OK, but I would take along some axle grease to stick the washers to the hubs as getting them to stay on the bolts while you shift the wheels into place is going to be a frustration. With studs, no problem, but these are bolts, and the centers of the drums and axles sticking out are not going to allow sneaking the washers in that way as you go.

     I think I would try the air, I have aired up some horrible looking tires and they held well enough. I would get out the Club Directory and look around for a member with a 37 and plea for help as a possible way out. I hope this helps some.    Jim Stamper CLC#13470

[TMoore - NTCLC]

Agree with Jim - take an air source with you and give those flat rotted tires a chance - I recently dealt with several cars that had been sitting in fields for decades, and most all of the tires ended up holding air long enough for me to get them towed up to a driveway for loading.  Those tires will likely have tubes in them that will have been protected by the tires, so you might get lucky.

[TJ Hopland]

Aftermarket aluminum wheels may be an option.   They often have larger than usual center holes and multiple holes or slotted holes to fit different patterns.   Didn't the Ford and Dodge 4x4's use a 5.5 on 5?   Maybe there is a universal wheel that fit Ford, Dodge, and Chev trucks?   

Aluminum is also much easier to modify if needed.    I had a recent similar project and found a miss matched 'set' on craigs list for $75 with tires that held air.   It looked like they were supposed to have special nuts but a little work with a cordless drill made em fit well enough to roll the thing onto the trailer.   

[Rod Dahlgren #19496]

All this happened today... I am 900 miles away fro it all soo I am just telling my guy what to expect to get the job done. YES, I asked him to be sure the tires would hold air before trying to change them. THEY Held air! (I have a 54 coupe I dragged home that has three of the original tires on it-- THEY took air after 45 years sitting outside) So yes, the 37 tires did hold air just fine. And it rolled onto the trailer with no problem.
Car looks great. BUT the entire convertible top frame is missing also the two pillars that go between the front and rear door windows. The side mount tire covers are not there and a few other parts. WE hope to get access to the house to see if these parts are inside.

I am trying to post a picture. If there is one that shows up, it is NOT the LaSalle, it is the 36 Cadillac series 75 convertible sedan with Imperial division window that Gene Daly owned. This is a very close body style to the LaSalle. The LaSalle is a series 50 of course and does have the 322 V8

[Steve Passmore]

I presume this is the model your referring to Rod?    I have 37 side-mount covers should you not find them.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Rod,
I'm confused. It sounded like you bought that car & now there's another guy selling it. Please advise.
Bob

[Steve Passmore]

I though the same Bob unless there's two of them found at the same time which would be a huge coincidence