Kelsy Hayes Rim Date Question

[Ken C.]

I have what i thought was a 69 or 79 Rally Rim.
Around the valve stem hole is K-1-8 11-1 AZ so i figure nov. 1st 1968. For a 69 vette?
Between lug nugs has K-1-8
Took off the old tire F70 and found a yellow sticker
X-40317
Kelsy Products
KH 81982
Is rim from an 69 or 79?
Thanks in advance

[John H.]

Re: Kelsy Hayes Rim Date Question

I'd say it's a wheel bought from the Kelsey-Hayes retail aftermarket channel; those numbers are related to their retail product line. OEM wheels didn't have stickers on them - they arrived at the plant as oiled raw steel, and proceeded through the wheel paint process.

[David L.]

Re: Kelsy Hayes Rim Date Question

The wheel was not installed on the assembly line because of the yellow sticker. The stampings on the wheel are decoded as follows:
K = Kelsey-Hayes (or maybe just Kelsey)
1 = Chevrolet
8 = 1968 or 1978
11 = November
1 = 1st day of the month
AZ = Corvette Ralley wheel 15X8JJ

Back about 1980 I bought four 65-66 Corvette "over the counter" wheels and they were stamped "K 1 8" and "3 (valve hole) 16" or March 16, 1978.
My original 77 El Camino wheels were stamped "K 3 7" and "1 (valve hole)29 FN" or January 29, 1977. The "3'' = Oldsmobile where the "FN" wheel was originally used.

I guess I really did not answer your question. I believe the single digit year was used in the late 60's and all of the 70's. I remember seeing "over the counter" wheels at swap meets stamped "K 1 80" (1980 manufacture).