15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

[Mark P.]

I am trying to determine which wheels were standard for a late 1960 and have read lots of inconclusive info on this TDB and other sources.

Here are my questions:
1. in the Winter 1999 article by Rolf Krueger "Wheel Speak Decoded" it shows a table of all part numbers for the various years and states the standard 5X15 1960 wheel was rivited and was part number 3834956 (with 3714202 and 7714744 as alternate numbers). Is this still believed to be correct or is it now believed they were all welded instead ?

2. were all 1960 wheels made by Kelsey Hayes and stamped Kelsey Hayes with the numeric month and year as in the attached photo (which I got off the TDB) of an April 1961 wheel ?

3. since the judging manual is silent on rivited vs welded, are both OK ?

4. did later 1960 wheels NOT have the dogbone cut-outs ?

5. what is a fair price to pay for a good condition 1960 welded Kelsey Hayes wheel ? The rivited versions seem to be going for $80 or so.

Thanks,

Mark

[Mark P.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Here is the picture I mentioned for an April 1961 wheel.

[Gary C.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Mark, expect to see that KH logo on '60 wheels. 60 wheels should be welded not riveted. Riveted wheels basically weren't used after '56 except for the 5 1/2 inch wheels. Not sure if the welds were only spot welds or dog bone slot welds or both. Check with the 58-60 Tim Mickey to be sure. Gary....

[Ian G.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

So does that mean the info in Noland Adams' book about riveted wheels being optional for 58-60 is incorrect? or just that the "optional" riveted wheels were the 5 1/2" wheels...

[Gary C.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Ian, optional wheels were the 5 1/2 inch wide rims and they were riveted. Gary....

[Mark P.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

I heard from Tim Mickey who stated "To pass NCRS judging on a 60 you need the dog bone type welded wheel."

He also stated he believes Chevy used two wheel suppliers but it has not yet been proven.

[Gary C.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Mark, according to past GM engineers and Plant Managers I'm acquainted with - GM/Chevy usually had 3 suppliers for most parts. For what it's worth, on all the wheels I've looked at over the years that had visible logos, they were always KH. From '57 on, since Corvette was the only car line (I think?) to use those wheels and the volume was low, it would not have been unusual to have single source supplier such as KH. JMTCW, Gary....

[Dan A.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

I have a 1960 wheel that is fuse welded. I don't recall it having dog bones. It has the Kelsy hayes stamp and is dated. I will post a photo if I can find the wheel .

[John H.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Mark, according to past GM engineers and Plant Managers I'm acquainted with - GM/Chevy usually had 3 suppliers for most parts. For what it's worth, on all the wheels I've looked at over the years that had visible logos, they were always KH. From '57 on, since Corvette was the only car line (I think?) to use those wheels and the volume was low, it would not have been unusual to have single source supplier such as KH. JMTCW, Gary....

I've never seen a steel Corvette wheel made by anyone other than Kelsey-Hayes; the other major OEM wheel supplier in that era was Motor Wheel Corp. (Lansing, Michigan), but they primarily supplied Olds and Buick.

[Jack H.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

"He also stated he believes Chevy used two wheel suppliers but it has not yet been proven."

Amen! It was VIRTUALLY impossible to get a sole-sourced part into the GM system (been there, tried that)...

If memory serves, the Detroit based Budd Company also manufactured and supplied wheels to the auto industry as did Brighton based Kelsey Hayes. Plus, once you have a system with multiple suppliers, it DOESN'T WORK if you don't feed the secondary suppliers 'some' orders from time to time!

Now, whether or not the St. Louis production plant sourced wheels from Budd as well as from Kelsey, is something we're not going to know unless we find an insider who can shed light.

[Cecil L.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

For general reference:

http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/catalogs/MotorWheels1964/MotorWheelsCatalog19491964

[Chris H.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Responding to an old message but I have put together a chart of 5" wheels for 53-62.

Per it the 60 wheel most likely should be p/n 3723561(off drawing which I have), spot welded(per drawing), large valve hole, no dogbones (but early 60 wheels MAY have dogbones), double hump, rim nubs.

[Dan A.]

Re: 15 X 5 Wheels for a 1960

Here is the photo of the 1960 wheel I said I’d post a picture of the first time this post came up. Couldn’t find the wheel then. Turns out it was where I thought I put it and right in front of me all the time.

So I’m glad this post has revived. I found the wheel and this has been an opportunity to try the macro setting on the camera. I don’t think I have that figured out yet. But this photo will suffice for now.

Wheel is dated 4 60 just below the stamping 15x5 missing the K. The Kelsey Hayes and the Tire and Rim Association stamps are visible. The rim is fuse welded and DOES NOT have dog bones. The outer rim is the correct K configuration sloping form the rear towards the center spyder. It has the large valve stem hole and large center hub hole, 4 nubs and GM stamped on one of the rises between the lug stud holes. It also has the double hump Chris refers to around the circumference of the lug area.

If you look back in the archives several years Dale Pearman expressed his opinion regarding dog bones from his research.