1965 Ford galaxie

[Galaxie352]

Here is a picture of the guy i bought the galaxie from. The mustang is a 2 owner car (He is number 2). 289 and four on the flour. The first car he bought and the last one he would sell.

[jayb]

Only thing that annoys me is the steering wheel. I have the original but it have some cracks in it =/

Robin Norway

I actually kind of like the steering wheel.  Back in the 1970s when you bought a car like that, adding a custom steering wheel was one of the first modifications people would make.  I can understand the desire to keep the car stock, but that steering wheel looks good in there 

[Galaxie352]

I am acutally wondering to do a 28 fred lorenzen clone But it is something with those stock steering wheel that i like. Maybe there are some other stock steering wheel out there that will fit ? The 7l in 66 had a wood steering wheel ? Looked allot like the mustang steering wheel ?

Robin
Norway

[65er]

... Only thing that annoys me is the steering wheel. I have the original but it have some cracks in it =/

Robin Norway

If you don't like that wheel, here's one suggestion for you.  Put a period correct cover on that factory wheel.  I'd say that's about the best of both worlds.  Not to mention I really like the feel of this one.   Pay no attention to the leftover column shifter.  I'm going to pull the column and fix the that one of these days...

[Heo]

[/quote]

I actually kind of like the steering wheel.  Back in the 1970s when you bought a car like that, adding a custom steering wheel was one of the first modifications people would make.  I can understand the desire to keep the car stock, but that steering wheel looks good in there 
[/quote]
Yes a good old Superior 500 first thing you  bought and mounted
then some Slotmags or Cragar SS
If you had lived closer we could have swaped steering Wheels
beacuse i Think i have a stock one from a 65 i had
You can fix the cracks.
If you have Another old Wheel grind of some of it and
mix it with epoxi glue and fill in the cracks and after it dried
you can sand it smooth and paint the Wheel in the desired
colour

[Galaxie352]

65er: What do you call that kind of cover in the us ? That is exactly the same type of cover my brother had on the steering wheel when he owned the car. One of the owner after him have removed it

Heo: Thanks for the advise. It seems to me that these steering wheel should have some chrome wrap around rings around the wheel. Do not know have to got those details right. I guess i will find out one way ore other

Robin
Norway

[ScotiaFE]

It's just a vintage leather wrap. Should be able to find one with some spider web searching.
They are actually fairly comfortable. I've had one on the Lane's wheel for years.

[65er]

65er: What do you call that kind of cover in the us ? That is exactly the same type of cover my brother had on the steering wheel when he owned the car. One of the owner after him have removed it

Heo: Thanks for the advise. It seems to me that these steering wheel should have some chrome wrap around rings around the wheel. Do not know have to got those details right. I guess i will find out one way ore other

Robin
Norway

The one I have is just like this, except change the "B" to and "R" at the end of the part number. 
http://www.amazon.com/Superior-58-0450B-Sport-Grip-Black/dp/B00029KA5O

If you get it, make sure to buy the "500" that says it's for wheels up to 16.5".  I had to really work at getting this one on the wheel and was afraid it might snap, but I guess it's pretty tough plastic.  I don't think I'd have been able to use a smaller one.   I'm sure there are others including leather ones but this was the one that took me back in time when I saw the box.

[machoneman]

Brings back old memories. Always hated those super thin OEM steering wheels. As previously stated, many got dumped on Day 1 for (usually) a Grant thick rimmed wheel. 

[Heo]

  ;DAt the bus station there was a
  Baja   arcade game with a Wheel like
that that a guy stole and mounted it on his
dune buggy same Wheel but it read Atari 500
 

[Galaxie352]

Thanks for the link 65er. Does anyone have any wheels experience on these galaxies ? I am looking at these wheels from summit http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/wvi-62-5812044/overview/ But not shure how it will fit. Any thoughts ?

[MRadke]

There is a very good calculator here http://rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

On my 66,  I have 15 x 7 with 3.75 backspace on the front and ran into clearance issues with a 245/60R15 tire.  15 x 8 x 4 also rubbed the outer fenders on the rear with 275/60R15 rubber.  I am getting by with my rims by running the 245's on the back and the original 215/70R15's on the front.
I am confident that the 275's would fit the back with no troubl if I had a little more backspace.

You might be ok with the 4.25 backspace, but check it with the calculator, along with the tire sizes that you intend to run.

[Heo]

I had crome reverse 15x6 with 215 tires no rubbing
dont remember the backspace..... maby 2 inch

[65er]

Thanks for the link 65er. Does anyone have any wheels experience on these galaxies ? I am looking at these wheels from summit http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/wvi-62-5812044/overview/ But not shure how it will fit. Any thoughts ?

Probably great on the front with up to a 245/60-15 tire.  On the rear though the backspacing is a bit shallow.  You might be able to run 245 series all around but would probably be safer with 235 series on those wheels.

I used to have (as shown in the engine swap pic) 255/60-15 tires all around on Wheel Vintiques Magnum 500's with 4.50 Backspacing.  The rears were tight on the outsides of the tires and the fronts were tight on the insides.  In fact, one of them rubbed the ball joint and I had to make 1/4" spacers for my front wheels.  I think my car would ideally like 8" wheels to have 4.25 backspace on the front and 4.75 on the rear.  Mmmm... Maybe even 5" in the rear... now I'm going to have to go measure some stuff...

I'll get back to you tomorrow with some more solid info.

[Galaxie352]

Did you find out anything 65er ? I was thinking about these tires http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/cok-62450/overview/  But i am afraid they get to expensive to me. So i guess i go for the radial tire.