Lil Red' Western Wheels on Sweptline ?

[moporridge]

Anyone have pictures of a 61-71 with Lil' Red Express "Western Wheel" chrome slot rims ?
I'm going to put a set on my 61 and I can't wait to see them on my truck.
I did some research in my huge collection of old magazines and from what I can tell , these Western chrome slot rims came out in 1965. They don't appear in any earlier magazines. I wanted to keep the truck 60's period which would mean either Cragars, Americans, or these Western wheels which were available in 65. I want to go with the Westerns since they were a DODGE rim on the Lil' Reds.
I like them much in the same way I like those old "Fireball 500" dune buggy steering wheels and side pipes.
the Lil Red embraced all of these things with the Tuff steering wheel, Side Pipes, and those WESTERN WHEELS !

I found a set that needs chromed .
Hope someone has a picture of a sweptline with these wheels, if so please reply.

[soopernaut]

I have a picture of a 69 with those wheels. I don't have access to it now but will attempt it later if I remember.

[moporridge]

Cool , I'd like to see the 69.

[soopernaut]

Well that was a hassle. My picture was too large so I had to find a photo hosting site. Then I had to guess as to which picture it was out of 27. After a few tries I found it.

[moporridge]

Thanks for all the hassle Soopernaut, westerns look good on that old gal .
Looks like they belong on there , original looking.
Its set in stone now, westerns will be on my 61 soon.

[JetSet96]

I just put those wheels on my 68. They are off of a 79 red express. I used 275/60-15 tires.

[Hobcobble]

I just put those wheels on my 68. They are off of a 79 red express. I used 275/60-15 tires.

Nice looking '68!
John

[moporridge]

Awesome 68, I can't wait to put them on my 61.

[moporridge]

Well I've found a little more info on these chrome slotted mags, Not only did Western make these but so did Astro & Keystone. The versions seen on the mid sixties gassers and rods would have been the Astro brand. Then in the later sixties Keystone made them and finally in the 70's Western made them. The Astro and Keystone versions that I have seen so far are all of the 14 inch variety. Anyhow I'm supposedly trading some stuff this weekend for a set of Westerns.

[motomatt383]

I luv chrome slots! i think they look great on any vehicles from the '60's!

the 68 looks great also, especially with the wheels.

matt

[Cageman]

I am pretty sure the only steel ones were the lil red ones, all those old 14's were aluminum, or magnesium. lil red wheels have a chrysler stamp in them, and are 15"

[moporridge]

I was not refering to any of the aluminum or magnesium rims. The 14 inch & 15 inch I am talking about are steel , chrome plated made by Astro, Keystone & Western.

[moporridge]

Lil Red Wheels were made by Western and were not limited to Lil Reds. You could buy these Western steel rims at speed shops in the 70's. Sears & JC Penny had them too, in fact JC Penny sold quite a few performance parts back then, including cheater slicks and front runner drag tires . The store bought ones of coarse did not have a chrysler logo. The chrome steel slot rim goes back to 1965. Astros were first, then Keystone, then Westerns.....

[moporridge]

Here are a set of 14 inch Astro rims from 1965. Chrome plated steel . They were on a 55 chevy gasser. 4 3/4 bolt pattern

Gasser slotted mags..jpg (1.6 KiB) Viewed 1920 times

[Rodger]

Sir

I have attached a page from a 1978 Dodge Dealers
Truck Brochure.

The very true statement of "they came on every
version of vehicle", was very true.


Rodger & Gabby
COS

[moporridge]

Never got the Lil Red Wheels......I slapped some SS Cragars and glasspacks on it for awhile. 50's on 10's in the back which worked out quite well with the slightly narrower a-100 van rear axle I'm running.

[moparman64]

just picked up a set of appliance wheels like the western type here. craigs list for 20 bucks. but they are wierd, they use lockrings to hold them on. the ones i have are for a larger 4 lug pattern. but the wheels have patterns for pretty much any pattern. now tryin to find the right lock rings is gonna be a pain.

[moporridge]

Well its been awhile since I last checked this post.....Yeah MoparMan64 I have seen the rims you are describing. Good luck finding the centers....I did see some on ebay a long time ago......keep an eye peeled there for them.
I think the Cragars are going to stay on the truck...it just looks too right to change...but I'm still looking for a nice set of Lil' Red wheels to put on my 68 Charger.....I've got Magnum 500's on it now.......but everyone runs Magnums on Chargers....I think the wide chrome slots will look real vintage Nascar on the Charger. Just dropped a tweaked 440 magnum down into the originally 383 powered charger . Those wide 8 inch Western Lil' red wheels will help put the power to the pavement.