rim ID for an early 64

[Michael S.]

my car was built dec 6th 1963. vin 106505. the wheels i took off are not drilled in the spider section. pic 1. the spare was. pic 2. the 6th edition judging guide page 71 says: 1964 model wheels are "usually" drilled with a single hole in the spider area that is absent in 63 model wheels. my car has 37445 miles, was parked over 30 years. question for the pros: would you consider the wheels i took off to be the correct ones for my car? the date codes on the inside are too hard to read. pic 3.
comments please.

[Alan D.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Here is an original steel rim off my March 64 car, I only could check 2 out of 5 and neither had holes.

[Michael S.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

alan, thank you. but your car was built 4 months after mine. question: did the 63 wheels over lap into early 64? my car was built 12-6-63. would the wheels i took off past muster? i do not see them as being replaced. any judges out there want to chime in?

[Jimmy G.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

If memory serves me correct, you cant see that detail when they are on the car and the wheelcover is in place. Cant judge what you cant see !!

[David H.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

alan, thank you. but your car was built 4 months after mine. question: did the 63 wheels over lap into early 64? my car was built 12-6-63. would the wheels i took off past muster? i do not see them as being replaced. any judges out there want to chime in?

Michael

Short answer: Don't worry about it.

Long answer: Tires are judged via Standard Deduction Guideline #3, while wheels are evaluated by C.D.C.I.F.. i.e. Configuration, Date. Completeness, Installation, and Finish. Likely you have potentially two Originality issues - Configuration and Finish.

As you note, presence/lack of spider hole would be a Configuration issue. There are 25 Originality points associated with wheels on 1963-67 (5 points per wheel). Those 25 points are spread over "wheels, weights, valve stems & caps".

Configuration Worst case: Judge incorrectly disregards "weights, valve stems & caps" and assigns all points only to wheels. A configuration issue (spider holes) would generate a 20% deduction per wheel - thus generating a, in your case, 4 point Originality deduction - your spare has that spider hole. Judges are not going to disregard "weights, valve stems & caps" so 4 points is an overstatement.

Configuration Likely case: Judging Guide says "usually". As Alan Drake noted above, his later build car also does not have these spider holes. We expect Chevrolet did not scrap parts and used current inventory until exhausted, so likely judging (if you could even see those holes during judging) would be no Originality deduction.

Finish: If any evidence of original paint remains on a rim, then there would be no deduction for Originality. Deductions in that case, would be for Condition. If no evidence of paint remains on a rim, then an Originality deduction of 20% would be generated on that particular rim.

Restoration: Restoring wear, rust, and aging on parts, in this case your rims, will necessitate removing remnants of your original finish. Restoration will gain Condition points - quality of restoration will determine if any Originality points are lost.

4500 total judging points, spider holes/lack won't move that result much.

Dave

[Dan A.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

"6th edition judging guide page 71 says: 1964 model wheels are "usually" drilled with a single hole in the spider area" In spite of the judging manual the 1/8th inch hole in the spider is rarely seen on original '64 wheels.

[Michael S.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

thanks to all for your in put. i am not going to over think this. the 4 wheels with out holes came off the car. the spare is drilled. i have an extra wheel that is also drilled that i had out back for years. as you can see the wheels need to be sand blasted and painted. so the 4 best of the 6 will go on the car and the best of the 2 remaining will go as the spare.

[Harry S.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Michael, check the lug holes to ensure they are round and have not been made too large by over tightening. As I recall they should be torqued somewhere around 70 pounds. Since today's car wheels are around 100 pound, it's possible a prior owner did 100 pounds on the steel wheels and enlarged the holes.

If the holes are ok, media blast them and prime them. If you have a wheel restoration in your area, have them checked for run-out. The straighter they are, the less weight you will need to balance them. After their done, paint the outside with the enamel color you need.

If you are going to put on bias-ply tires and never drive on them, then don't worry about where you put the weights. Unless, you are having the car PV'd, then you need the weights installed properly to ensure the front end doesn't shimmy. If it shimmies, you will fail the PV.

[Dan A.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Michael for the benefit of all please photograph the dates on all the wheels following media blasting and post here. Posting your VIN to see if the dates relate well to the cars build date should be of interest since you suspect they are original to the car.

[Dan A.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Harry and anyone that may know. When the wheels have been over torqued affecting the holes adversely is there a reasonable repair.

[Harry S.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

This is what I did many years ago. I measured the size of a correct hole. When I located a hole that was larger, I took a ball peen hammer and set it on the hole (inside of wheel). I then used another hammer to hit the ball peen and close the hole. I measured till it was the correct size. I only use the wheels for judging. I drove the car 250 miles to the National in RI, no problems. I have bolt-on knock off's on one car and the reproduction 63/64 on the other.

[Dan A.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Thanks Harry. I'm sure you wore safety goggles to protect from any possible shrapnel.

[Jim L.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Harry and anyone that may know. When the wheels have been over torqued affecting the holes adversely is there a reasonable repair.

In addition to Harry Sadlock's clever solution, you could also purchase new lug nuts with a wider cone. That's what I did when I discovered the wheels on my '60 had lug nut holes which were becoming enlarged. The lug nuts I bought came from my local NAPA store.

FWIW, while over torquing lug nuts may be contributory to the holes enlarging, my money is on simple wear due to the wheels being removed and installed many times over the decades.

Jim

[David L.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

Michael,
Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's I had 6 or 7 original 63-64 Corvette (15 X 5 1/2 K) wheels in my collection that I bought at swap meets and one wheel at a salvage yard in Los Angeles when I was on vacation but there were 2 that were slightly different. One was N.O.S., a 63-64 Corvette service wheel with a white GM sticker on it, GM # 3839814, with a stamped date of "3 65" (March 1965) and the other was used that was dated "6 64" (or maybe "9 64"). Both of these 2 wheels has a small hole in one of the 5 "bumps" (about 1/8" diameter or so) as well as a slightly larger hub hole, 2 29/32" (2.91"). The diameter of the other 63-64 wheels was 2 25/32" (2.78") just like my original 65-66 Corvette (disc brake type)wheels.
My 1963 Chevrolet Parts Catalog lists the 63 Corvette wheel as GM # 3825686. According to Chevrolet Parts History (for service parts) GM # 3825686 was replaced (with the term "MIX") by GM # 3834127 in Jan. 1963 which was then replaced (with the term "USE") by GM # 3839814. I have been informed by some NCRS members that the 3839814 wheel was only a service wheel, not a late 64 production line wheel but I still have my doubts.
QUESTION:
Does the hub hole on the wheel (also with the very tiny hole) in your 2nd photo measure 2 25/32" (2.78") or a 2 29/32" (2.91')?
Dave
,

[Michael S.]

Re: rim ID for an early 64

@dave: i will measure the whole size when i get time.
@harry: i always check the lug hole's. i have also just ordered new lug nuts and valve stems.
@ dan: i will be happy to post pic's of what i do on the wheels when i get around to doing them. hopefully this week.
i did see two wheels with part tags on them. i am going to post some pic's. tell me what you think.
thanks all. mike.
ps. just starting my long road to restoring the car. have done some before for customers, but this one is mine.