1963 wheel rim number stampings

[Richard G.]

Everyone;

I just cleaned up my rims for my December 21st build 1963 Corvette.
These stamping were difficult to see until I bead blasted the rim.
I was going to have them sand blasted but I wanted to save the markings so I did them with glass beads instead.
Took almost an hour per wheel.
I am posting the picture as informational only.
I will get them powder coated next week and I suspect some of the stamps will be quite difficult to read after that.
The number 12 is month and the 62 (which is difficult to make out) the year.




For what it's worth I took the pictures with an Iphone7.

This being the end of the year, December, I can see where the year stamp Could be significantly more worn than the month stamp.

I have three of the four wheels that came on the car. They were all black, my only clue the car was delivered with white wall tires.

Also interesting they are dated the same month as the car build date, not much of a back log here. I was told the circle with the 8 in the middle is a wheel manufacturing association stamp. Is that true?

The picture makes the rusting look worse than it is. Anyone recommend filling the indentations with something before having them powder coated? Whatever is used would have to hold up to 400 deg F.
Thanks
Rick

[Steven S.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Powder coating will make it very hard to put the hubcaps on, much thicker than liquid paint.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Powder coating will make it very hard to put the hubcaps on, much thicker than liquid paint.

Never gave that enough thought (the thickness of the coating). I am considering other options. Any ideas? POR 15 gloss?

[Steven S.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

I had my wheels done many years ago, 3 powder coated and 2 liquid ( bought at different times). If I remember correctly, gloss was more 60 gloss. Check your 63 manual, should say there.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Rich a quick note, from what I have seen the inside of the original wheels were a satin or lower gloss black and the outside was Gloss black.

[Hugh G.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Not sure of the inside of a rim but I thought that if you ordered black walls the rim was painted the same color (at least the out facing side) as the car. I hope I'm right because I just went through a lot of work if it is not the case. Hugh

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Re-caping the input;
1) Powder coating may be too thick for the hubcaps to work correctly.
a) Anyone else have issues with the hubcap(s) installation after powder coating?
2) Possibly 100% gloss black isn't completely correct, a 60% gloss suggested.
3) Front of the wheel was black with white walls and Two different sheens of black were used.
4) Hubcap side of the wheel was painted body color without the white wall option.

I love the toughness of powder coat paint. It would be possible to powder coat the center and back of the wheel in semi-gloss and then use an enamel paint the front of the wheel. I could use a small amount of flatner in the enamel to reduce the gloss from 100%. If I didn't like it the paint color it could be blasted off and redone easily unlike 100% powder coated wheels.
Thanks to everyone. Stuff I would have never considered.
Rick

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Hugh, you are correct, with black walls painted the same color as car, outside only.

[Jaime G.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

Hugh, you are correct, with black walls painted the same color as car, outside only.

Correct, however, there should be evidence of the outside color dusted on the black on the backside of the wheels.
The process was: all wheels were painted black (backside less gloss). Cars with blackwalls wheels painted body color
and paint dust got on the backside thru the holes in the wheel. Whitewall tire cars wheels were painted a glossier black.
If you PC the wheels, not only will it be hard to install the hubcaps, every time you remove them, you will remove some coating.

[Dan A.]

Re: 1963 wheel rim number stampings

I believe if you search the archives you will find that John Hinckley states that these wheels were dipped the "satin" black primer spoken of here. When used with white walls the faces were painted gloss black enamel. Black walls, the faces were painted body color.