C1: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

[Gene #39090]

Anybody know of original or repo 15X5.5" wheels for sale or rent? I am in the NCCC Corvette 50th Anniversary show in Nashville and would like to have them on my 62 Vette at the show. I have the small hubcaps but threw the orig wheels away 30 years ago.
Thanks for any help.
fuelie1962@aol.com

[Gene #39090]

Re: C2: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

Are the C2 1963/1965 15.5" steel wheels the same as the C1 1962 that need the three nubs to hold the small hubcaps on and same offset?
Gene
fuelie1962@aol.com

[Mike M.]

Re: C2: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

Gene: back when the dinosoures roamed, i was in need of 15 x 5 1/2 wheels for my 57 FI as i believe blackwalls and dog dish caps project a better image. I wasn't about to spend 500 per wheel in l990(guess i should have given the 2000 per wheel prices of today). I got 5 GM over the counter wheels for a 63-64 vet, mig welded the backside of the wheels where the nubs were located on either side of the valve stem, then ground off the nubs. As i recall i also enlarged the hole for the valve stem to accept the large style valve stem.Judges didn't pick up on my "transformation" act back l3 years ago but AM SURE that my wheels wouldn't cut the mustard on todays's judging field due to the offset and some other morphology differences. But if all you're gonna do is drive the old girl, my approach is a lot easier on the pocket book.good luck , mike

[John H.]

Re: C2: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

No, they're not; they're dimensionally similar (offset), but the center hole is .030" smaller on the '63 wheel, and the rim flange sections are different; the rim flange sections are also different from '63 to '64 and '65 (three different SAE designs - "J" for '63, "K" for '64, and "JR" for '65), and the I.D. of the rim (at the drop-section where the spider is welded) on the '65 wheel is 1/2" larger than on the previous wheels (for caliper clearance).

[Tom P.]

Re: C2: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

Here is what I have on my 56, AND HEY ARE DIRT CHEAP!!!!!!!
The 73-77 GM mid size cars (Malibu, Cutlass, Lemans, etc) with the stock, steel wheels/hubcaps came with 15x6 and the correct size center hole and a 4 3/4 bolt pattern----------------same as Vettes. The 15x6 wheels were on the sedans/coupes, BUT, the mid size wagons came with 15x7 wheels! These wheels have 4, rather than 3, bumps to retain the small center caps, thus, better retention of the small hubcaps!!!! I have the 15x6 on the front of my 56 and 15x7 on the rear with a set of small 56 center caps. The wheels I have just described are/have been available by the THOUSANDS all over the place. AND THEY ARE CHEAP!!!! The 15x6 wheels make an excellent choice for your needs. These wheels with 75 series radials make a perfect combo.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C2: 15 X 5.5" steel wheels

The Real wide wheels recently retail for up to $1500/$2000 each. Keep in mind, this is for a $25 wheel. However, fact is, they are very hard to find. AND, real ones are even much harder to find. I have made a real effort and collected 21 of these wheels over a long period of time. To date, I've not seen a repro I could not detect, but there have been few players out there. If you'd like to chat about this issue, email or whatever. If you are a 56/57 serious wide wheel player, you are probably way beyond my knowledge level...