1963-64 Steel Wheels

[Sydney G.]

Hello,
My '63 Coupe is missing one of it's original steel wheels, actually two if you count the spare. The two wheels that are incorrect look very old but I have no idea their proper application.

Anyway, I bought one wheel a couple of years ago with the understanding that it was correct for 63-64. This wheel has the 2 raised dots by the valve stem and is stamped with the kelsey logo and the year 1963.
When comparing this wheel to the three (presumed to be vintage) wheels on my car, there is a noticible difference in that it has three ears on the inner metal round of the outer face of the wheel. The three correct wheels on my car do not have these ears but do have the 2 raised dots.

There is an auction on eBay ending tomorrow with what appears to be the same wheel as the one I bought a couple of years ago. In the picture, you can clearly see the 3 ears that I am talking about.
Does auction number 110074207135 GM 63-64 corvette wheel look correct to you guys?
I'm guessing that other cars of that era also had similar wheels with the raised dots or that this is another running change for 1963.
Sorry, I'm still trying to figure out how to post this directly. Perhaps someone can post the auction with the pictures.

Thanks!
Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963-64 Steel Wheels

Here's the link Sid. Hope it works.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Fcgiurl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcgi.ebay.com%252Fws%252F%26fkr%3D1%26from%3DR8%26satitle%3D110074207135%26category0%3D%26submi

[Wayne M.]

eBay rim looks good to me

Syd --- I'm not an expert on '63-64 rims, but the eBay auction you posted looks like a factory wheel to me. IMO, the originals DID have the 3 nubs for the dog-dish hubcaps. The inside stamping is correct 15x5-1/2K and the inner rim profile is sloped as it should. Might want to ask if there is also a stamping "GM" on one of the spider ribs (between the front bolt holes).

So I'm not sure about the other 3 rims on your car. Can they be '65-66 (no 3 nubs ?)

But my gosh ! The price is astronomical. I haven't bought anything on eBay for over 7 months. I still look and occasionally bid, but the prices end up 4 times what I would have been willing to pay [and what the same items were selling for a year ago].

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963-64 Steel Wheels

Thanks Michael!

OK, does this wheel look correct for 63-64?
How do I describe it, look at the picture of the front of the wheel. The 3 ears on the surround part of the center are visible.

This wheel looks identicle to the one I purchased several years ago.
The 3 original wheels on my car do not have these ears but are round in the center portion.
Hope I explained this right!
Thanks again,
Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963-64 Steel Wheels

Sid,

Wish I could give you accurate info but it's been so long since I've messed with these that I thought it best to let others that are current give us the details.

[Sydney G.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Hi Wayne,
The wheel looks good to me also as does the one that I bought years ago. They look to be one in the same.

What do you mean by 3 nubs? I think there are supposed to be 2 nubs by the valve stem hole.

The 3 rims (thought to be correct) on my car have both the 2 nubs and the GM stamping. However, they are ROUND with no visible ears on the inner part of the face side of the wheel.

Very strange. Anyone have the same?
Syd

[John M.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

If you look at the wheel where it is stamped you will notice how it slopes in and down, 1965 1966 go straight in to clear the calipers...Its a 63-4 wheel........John

[Sydney G.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Hi John,
I also beleive it to be a 63-4 wheel.
However, the 3 on my car also have the nubs and the GM marking. From memory, about 5 years ago at a regional meet, someone felt inside my wheels and told me that they were correct for '63 as they could feel the slope.

Did the 65-66 wheels also have the 2 nubs by the valve stem hole? I don't think so. I'm at a loss to explain why my 3 remaining, thought to be correct, wheels are rounded in the center around the bolt holes without the ear protrusions.
Syd

[Tracy C.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Syd,

The 3 other wheels you have sound like 65 / 66 wheels. They do not have the ears on the center spyder required to hold a dog dish hubcap while 63 / 64 wheels do. 65 / 66 wheels also have the 2 nubs at the valve core hole like the 63 / 64 style.

One needs to be careful when buying 63 /64 wheels however because the service replacment 8080 wheel looks exactly the same on the face of the 63 / 64 wheel, but it has a configuration similar to the 65 / 66 style wheel on the back side.

I've seen some big money thrown at 8080 wheels on eBay because they are listed as 63 / 64 wheels.

Good luck on finding the other 4 you need. I searched along time to find mine.

tc

[Tracy C.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

In case anyone else is out there looking for correct 63 64 wheels, here are a few things to know about what you are looking for. They will measure 5 1/2 inch wide between the beads and will have the features noted on the picture.

I was educated one cold frosty evening by one of my favorites here on the TDB. Good ole Mikie #14

thanks again Mike.

tc

[Kevin M.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Are the three bumps important to 63-64? I updated the image if so.

Kevin

[Tracy C.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Thanks Kevin,

These 3 bumps are in just about all GM wheels from the early 50's through the early 70's. (except for 65 / 66 Corvette and 67 $ up rally wheels) At some point thereafter, they went to 4 bumps.

tc

[John D.]

Re: 1963-64 Steel Wheels

Syd and Michael and others, I was under the impression that the 64 wheel had one minor difference that the 63 wheel. 12-63 is a 64 wheel. The difference is an extra hole that would not show when the wheel cover is installed. But if you put it on as a spare a good judge would pick it up as being a SR for a 63.
Dave Cardina if you are reading this please jump in. Remember on your 64 we talked about the wheels having an extra hole compared to my little white car-63. Course it wouldn't take much to fill the hole in but....

Now I am open of course for criticism as wheels are not my forte. Go for it. John

[Sydney G.]

Re: eBay rim looks good to me

Thanks guys!
The "3 bumps" you refer to are not present on my wheels. They are round in this area.
It looks like I will be searching even harder for these wheels.
I guess that the ones I have now are for 65-6?
Thanks again,
Syd

[Robert Jorjorian]

Re: 1963-64 Steel Wheels

JD not all 64 wheels had the extra hole,Robert