midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

[Lynn H.]

Hello fellow NCRS members! This is my first time on the NEW discussion board, and I am looking for some information on the 63-66 15 x 5 1/2" steel wheels. First- Does anyonoe know if someon is reproducing these wheels? I just purchased on ebay (yea, I know) a set of five what were represented as original 64 wheels with 4 hubcaps. I believe one of the whhels to be original, but the other four have me very perplexed, as they have some markings on them I have never encountered. I have checked Colvin's books only to find more conflicting information. The Corvette BTN book says 65 and 66 wheels were 15 x 5 (I believe this to be incorrect). The Chevrolet BTN 65-69 book states 65 and 66 were 15 x 5 1/2 as in 63 and 64 (I do believ this to be correct). On the wheels I have, nowhere do they have GM stamped on them. Stamped in a radial pattern on the back outside of the wheels is: 15 x 5.5 K DOT T K 193 8 16 H 14 D. On the spider of the wheel (these are not flat in this area, as some reproductions) is K1 93 in one spot, and 8 and 16 on two other of the raised areas. With the valve stem hole at 12:00 to the left it has K193 8, and the number 17 to the right. These are all of the markings I can find on the wheels and they are VERY clean. Nothing inside the tire area of the rim. I have spoke with the folks at Wheel Vintique and at Long Island and both told me NO ONE reproduces the 15 x 5 1/2 wheel. Does any of this strike a chord with anyone? Any information I can get would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help I can get on this!!
Lynn

[Tracy C.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

A correct OEM 63/4 is configured like the picture. I suspect you've got some GM service wheels. The originals didn't have all those stampings. Pay particular attention to the inset pic defining the tapered slope on the back side of the rim. The 8080 service wheels are curved in this area.

Sounds like you need to request a return to the seller.

tc






The 8080 service wheel is on top and the original 63/4 wheel is on the bottom.

[Lynn H.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

Thank you for the reply, The one wheel I believe to be original is as in the picture in your reply. Also, it is dated 7 63 and has the Kelsey Hayes logo inside the tire area of the rim. The four which I am questioning have none of this. I have a 63 with a five origianl wheels, and a 65 with all the correct wheels, so I do have some wheels for comparison. Like I stated earlier, I have never encountered stampings like this. I was suspecting a service replacement wheel, but my question to that would be: Do they have any value?? If no one is reproducing the wheels for these cars, I would think these still are not easy to come by (although not anywhere near what original wheels would bring). Seller has offered a refund, I am just trying to make sure that I do not want them before sending them back.
Lynn

[William C.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

Also note that the pictured rim has the "nubs" for retaining a dog-dish hubcap. These were not present on the 65-66 wheels. Easy way to do a quick ID is to look for the (lack of) that feature, before looking any further.

[Lynn H.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

These wheels have the "nubs" for the dog dish hubcaps, and the profile is just like the 8080 service replacement picture supplied by Tracy Crisler (thanks for that). I am starting to think maybe a service replacement that was for all four years? Thanks for the help!!
Lynn

[Tracy C.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

The 8080 service wheel will not clear disk brakes. There is a different service wheel for the 65/66 that is just like the original 65/66 wheels except for more stamped numbers.

As far as value of the 8080 wheel, who knows. From a NCRS standpoint, they aren't correct and will recieve a deduct. From an enthusiast standpoint, most people go with fancy aftermarket wheels rather than steelies. If you gave more than $100 each for them, I'd take the refund.

Good Luck either way,
tc

[Timothy B.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

The replacement wheels I have on my 63 are rivited and they have the clearance in the back like 65/66 wheels. There are bumps by the valve stem hole but they do not have the nubs for hub caps so I assume they are the 65/66 replacement wheels. I always thought these were 8080. Everytime we start talking about wheels I get confused.

[Lynn H.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

It is all VERY confusing, but great learning experience for myself. I am going to try the wheels I have today on a 65 to see if they clear the calipers. I think this will confirm if what I have is the 8080 service replacement for 63 and 64. I will let you know what I find out.
Thanks!!!

[Edward M.]

Re: midyear 15x5.5 steel wheels

The replacement wheels I have on my 63 are rivited and they have the clearance in the back like 65/66 wheels. There are bumps by the valve stem hole but they do not have the nubs for hub caps so I assume they are the 65/66 replacement wheels. I always thought these were 8080. Everytime we start talking about wheels I get confused.

I have a pair of 65-66 replacement wheels that are riveted construction. Both wheels have the part number tags on the inside that matches to 65-66 Corvette. The presence of the part number tag tells us that they are replacement wheels.

As best I can determine, no originally installed 65-66 wheels were riveted, all were welded.

These are not the same as 8080 wheels.