Running 14x6 Vectors on 1969 Charger

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I have some 14x6 vectors with 78-14 tires installed on my charger trying to get the old General Lee look .
Does anyone know if they used 14x6 wheels on the series if so what episode and what tire size did they use ?
Plus
Chrysler made 14x5.5 magnum  and rallye wheels but the tire decal by the drivers door lists the minimum tire size as 14x7.75 and 15x7.75 so hows that work out with the narrow factory wheels ?Thanks

[lukedukem]

i know they used 14 in the series but not sure the size... i have the dvd's but no info on sizes... i can watch all the episodes and try to spot a scene where they are clearly shown... might take awhile..

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I'd like to see a screen cap of the 14x6 wheels used on a early General Lee or a Real General Lee if possiable.
Looks like 14x7 was used for sure .I think that's what the Shelby wheels were???Not Sure about 14x6 and 14x8
I'll keep looking also to see if I can spot the 14x6 wheels .
Thanks

[Indygenerallee]

14x7's were used on all the closeup first unit cars all, from the start to the end of the series, second unit cars cars (stunt cars) used 15x7's on the front and 14x7's on rear.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I didn't know they used 15x7 front 14x7 rear on 2nd unit stunt cars.Thats interesting

15x10 wheels on back of the wheelstander General Lee.
15x8.5 on some of the reunion and movie cars.

When were 14x6 and 14x8 wheels used I would think at least once somewhere other then on replica cars.

[lukedukem]

thats what i thought also... like in the early, early days...

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I think there was some 14x8 wheels being used early on in the series they look about the same as a 14x7 don't they.

To me a 14x7 vector isn't very rare they seem to be the size that was mass produced so it would be neat to see a 14x6 or 14x8 vector used once in awhile.

[69charger2002]

i've never seen a 14x6 used in the series. they stand out from all the rest because if you look at a 14x6 from the side, the spokes almost sit flush with the center circle, which looks odd. 14x7 and 14x8 have a "deeper" look to them.

[Mike DC]

                                       
Anything between 14x7 and 15x8.5 appeared one time or another on that show.  I don't think 14x6s ever did though, sorry.

The show started out in Georgia using 14x7s.  They first started using larger sizes when they got some 15x8.5s for the off-roader GL episode in season #2.  After that, there weren't a lot of strict rules for a while.  By season#4 they had settled on 14x7s on the front and the larger wheels stayed on the back.  15x7s were also starting to appear by late season#4 too.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

Does anyone know for sure if the 14x6 wheels were ever used on the series? Or anyone have pics of someones general lee replica useing these I just want to see some more pictures of these 14x6 wheels if possiable they seem to be almost impossiable to find .Is this the first time someones posted pics of 14x6 vectors on a 1969 charger here on dc.com?
If there that rare of wheel I'll have to keep a set for sure .

[MaximRecoil]

I've read that Waylon Jennings' General Lee (given to him by Warner Bros.) had 14x6 Vectors, but I don't know if it is true or not (I can't always tell just from a picture).

In any event, if you paint the recesses of those wheels black like how most of the General Lee wheels were, they will look a lot more like the General Lee's wheels (the difference in appearance is striking), regardless of them being 14x6s:

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

That's a cool pic of Waylon Jennings General Lee. I've seen a article a while back in a Mopar magazine and on the North American General Lee fan club website under real general lees.
I'm not sure what size vectors those are it's harder to tell when there painted black.
If the space between the spokes is really tightly closed in they could be 14x6 I can't tell about the outer rim if it's narrow looking it could be 14x6 I don't know . If your close enough to a 14x6 wheel to get a good look at it you could tell the diffrence right away but most of the episodes of the Dukes they don't stop very long before they take off in the  General Lee.

I haven't painted my wheels black yet because I thought they were left unpainted early on in the show but I see the shelby 14x7 or 14x8 wheels are painted black between the spokes.
I've repainted a few vectors black and they look much more General Lee like painted black.
The picture of the 14x6 wheel blacked out looks a lot diffrent to me.For some reason the spokes seem to appear longer or stand out more when the wheels detailed with black paint.

[MaximRecoil]

I haven't painted my wheels black yet because I thought they were left unpainted early on in the show but I see the shelby 14x7 or 14x8 wheels are painted black between the spokes.

It varied from show to show; it wasn't an early or late thing. Most of the time they were painted black; sometimes they were unpainted, and sometimes it even looked like they were painted gray. My theory is that they just used the wheels as-is, and they were usually painted black from the factory. From the factory they were available in black, gray, gold, and unpainted (maybe other colors too, but those 4 are what I've seen).

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I thought All the early American Racing Vectors  were left unpainted when they were sold new?
The Vector special editon wheels were black or gray.
I don't know about Shelby wheels like what sizes they made or if they were painted or left natural finish when they were sold new.

I've had gold painted original vectors in 5 on 5 bolt pattern but I thought they were repainted to match someones vehicle?
I can't rember seeing any old sales ads for original vectors with the painted wheels but I've only seen a couple original vector ad pictures posted somewhere online with unpainted wheels.

[Brock Lee]

The first wheels they used were sold by Shelby and were painted at the factory between the spokes. I have a set of these and they are the one of 3 sets I have seen my whole life. They didn't last long, so the show switched to American Racing's version, which were not painted between the spokes.

I come across many 14x6's people think are 14x7's (they don't know how to measure wheels). Just last year I had a set sent to me and had to send them back at his expense. I wont even take them for scrap value. There are some weird sizes and configurations out there far rarer than these. But like anything else, rare doesn't always mean valuable, sometimes it just means limited interest.

Oh, and Waylon's car was built elsewhere. Maybe commissioned by WB, maybe not.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

Do you happen to have any pictures of your Shelby wheels or can you help explain the diffreances between between Shelby and American Racing wheels? Thanks

[MaximRecoil]

The first wheels they used were sold by Shelby and were painted at the factory between the spokes. I have a set of these and they are the one of 3 sets I have seen my whole life. They didn't last long, so the show switched to American Racing's version, which were not painted between the spokes.

I come across many 14x6's people think are 14x7's (they don't know how to measure wheels). Just last year I had a set sent to me and had to send them back at his expense. I wont even take them for scrap value. There are some weird sizes and configurations out there far rarer than these. But like anything else, rare doesn't always mean valuable, sometimes it just means limited interest.

Oh, and Waylon's car was built elsewhere. Maybe commissioned by WB, maybe not.

I'd take some 14x6s for cheap if you know where there are some.

[Brock Lee]

The only difference between the Shelby and the American Racing is the Shelby came all painted and with the Shelby center cap graphics. The paint between the spokes is a mottled kind of finish that is black with little silver speckles in it. If you look at the early Lee's, you will see the paint is not straight black, there is a sort of gray/silver highlight. It is those speckles that create that effect.

FWIW, AR was Shelby's OEM, so we are not talking a different manufacture wheel. It was the same wheel, made in the same mold, but Shelby's shop finished them up so they were a shiny, clean wheel ready to install. The boxes he used were made by the same company AR used, the displays were the same as the ones AR used, I am sure AR made most of his wheels at that time. He also had only offered a limited range of size and bolt spacing options compared to AR.

I don't keep track of where the 14x6's are. Just look around I know there was a set in Ohio for sale for a year at $200. I saw the ad not terribly long ago.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

That's great info on the Shelby wheels thanks for shareing it.
I heard the back of Shelby wheels are cast with CSI ? Carrol Shelby International
and that American Racing Equipment wheels used to be cast in Portland Oregon but I'm not sure if either is correct.

The price varies on vectors based on bolt patterns and condition the direct fit wheels bring top dollar when repolished even non charger bolt patterns check out ebay if you haven't checked prices in a while there really up there for any vector thats repolished .

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

Aren't their more diffreances between Shelby and American Racing vectors?
like shelby centercaps fit front of wheel and American Racing fit back of wheel so the center hubs are diffrent aren't they?Or do shelby caps just snap into place on front with plastic tabs?

So if that's the case aren't the wheel molds/castings  a little bit diffrent?
Thanks

[Brock Lee]

The caps are usually the same on both of the 14" size. The variance people see, and possibly attribute to being a "maker" difference is that the wheels were cast in a mold then taken out and several areas were machined to a final spec.The center cap opening was not a consistent diameter on any of the wheels. There were also several different diameter caps sold simultaneously at AR. It is possible when they ran out of a size, to fill orders they milled wheels to accommodate what was in stock rather than place a backorder.

It is possible they inserted a special Shelby marking in the mold on some, but I never seen it. Some American Racing wheels have "American Racing" cast into the backside. But I only seen it on some smaller oddball smaller ones with a 4 lug pattern.

[Indygenerallee]

There is a difference between a "American Racing" Vector and a "Knock off" There is differences in the casting as I had a set of 14x7's and 2 were AR's and 2 were no name knock offs the AR's clearly had the better "structure" or ribbing on the backside of the wheel.

[Brock Lee]

The knockoffs will ofcourse have differences as they made their own molds. A really common (but not a surefire method of ID) is many knockoffs have a flat lug area rather than have the lug nut recesses. The webbing also varies within AR depending on size. As an example, there are significant wall thickness and webbing differences between a AR 14x7, 15x7, and 15x8.5. The 15x8.5 having the thickest walls, 14x7's the thinnest with prominent "webbing" for stength.

However, AR did OEM Vectors to a couple other brands. Ansen was possibly the most common alternate brand name you see AR made Vectors sold under.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

I had a Real " American Racing Equipment " wheel I think it was a 15x8.5 I sold it years ago but it had the full name "American Racing Equipment" cast in their 1970's or 80's script like you see on the center caps and ad advertiseing material.

Some of the truley flat hub knock off wheels are made by western wheels or IMCO.

As far as I know you can use the old vector center caps and se vector center caps on any direct fit 5 on 4 1/2 vector from 14x6,14x7 (don't know about 14x8) 15x7 ,15x8.5 and 15x10.
I don't have any 15x10 wheels anymore but from what I rember the caps fit .
American racing made vector center caps to fit 4 lug wheels and I've been told 6 lug and 8 lug vector had center caps available too back then.
5 1/2 vectors accept the larger bore push threw large vector centercaps .

I think there is a lot diffrent molds used for direct fit 5 on 4 1/2 mopar vectors .  If you look at the back of the wheels.
Heres what I've noticed

14x6 basicly the same on the back but theres slight casting info specs placement diffrances
14x7 two diffrent molds one has ribbing and one mold doesn't
15x7 two diffrent molds can't rember the diffrances now
15x8.5   diffrent spec info casting placement  at least 2 diffrent molds must have been used
the way I figure it American racing Equipment, and Mercedes emblem

I don't know about Ansen making or selling vector wheels ???I've never heard of that before .
What's Ansen's casting emblem look like ?

Is there a good website with more wheel info or does anyone know if the Hollander parts interchange book lists all the diffrent vector American Racing shelby wheel options?
It's hard to find any of the old vector advertiseing info anywhere .