65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

[Duke W.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

Kelsey Hayes made the wheels for GM. I bought a set of the early Western repros circa 1979 from Michaelis when he had a retail store in Burbank, CA or therabouts.

These early Western repros were supposedly built with the original K-H tooling, but they didn't have the K-H markings, so they are easily distinguishable from originals.

They are the pin drive type with bolt-on adapter and three-bar nut.

Duke

[Patrick H.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

I would love to see MIKE ANTONICK as a guest speaker at a major Corvette event where he shares with us all where he has received all of his facts over the years.

Just because a number or factoid is in his Black Book does not mean it's true.
I've corrected him on a couple of items.

[Philip C.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

I haven't read all of the posts on this but here's what I think might have happened. There are quite a few somewhat documented cars that seem to have been equipped with KO wheels from the assy plant. Most are early production.
The GM info in the Noland Adams book seems to show that no jobs with the P48 KO wheel option were built. However, at start of 63 production, there was no such orderable option as P48 because it was to be included with the Z06 package. It was later supposed to be available separately.
If that's the case, and it was, would early production cars with Z06 automatically include the wheels under the Z06 package but not be counted as a separate option?
If so, the first actual count total of P48 would have started after the option became available separately.

I have a stack of GM engineering NPC's that release and cancel the P48 option several times during the 63 model year. There are spaces between the release and stop orders that would certainly allow for a few cars to be assembled with the KO wheels.

I'm not taking sides on this because I have KO's on either of my 63's. I really don't care for the look of the wheels on 63's, and especially on coupes.

Hi Micheal Thanks for jumping in, I wish you would read all the posts about this, some of it is good reading. I would love to get copies of your engineering paper work if possible. If not could you PLEASE note the release and stop order dates. I believe I am getting some of what you have. Thanks. I agree with your facts and have been saying that the wheels could have been available when engineering did release them. Phil 8063

[John H.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

The Kelsey-Hayes drawing of the "gear-drive" wheel (K-H #D-48656, Chevrolet #3825688), started on 2-6-62, and was released on 9-29-62, after change #41. Change #57 on 1-11-63 cancelled the drawing and indicated it was superseded by Kelsey-Hayes wheel #D-49986, with casting #D-49985, which was the "pin-drive" wheel.

[Philip C.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

The Kelsey-Hayes drawing of the "gear-drive" wheel (K-H #D-48656, Chevrolet #3825688), started on 2-6-62, and was released on 9-29-62, after change #41. Change #57 on 1-11-63 cancelled the drawing and indicated it was superseded by Kelsey-Hayes wheel #D-49986, with casting #D-49985, which was the "pin-drive" wheel.

Thanks John, most people know you were a engineer for GM and designed a bunch. Could you explain what this drawing tell us. Thanks Phil 8063

[John H.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

Thanks John, most people know you were a engineer for GM and designed a bunch. Could you explain what this drawing tell us. Thanks Phil 8063

Phil -

It says that the gear-drive wheel program stopped on 1-11-63 (most likely due to the settlement of the patent infringement issue between Kelsey/GM and Dayton Wheel), and the pin-drive wheel program replaced it. The title and revision blocks on the Kelsey-Hayes drawing of the pin-drive wheel would confirm when that wheel design started and when it was released for tooling.

[Michael H.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

Philip,

I looked for the paperwork on the wheels and the release/stop orders but they must still be in Illinois. About 25 years ago, I made copies and sent to Bob Jorjorian. I just emailed Bob and asked if he could dig it out for us.

There were at least two or three major design changes on the gear drive wheels/adapters before the new pin drive design was released.

[Philip C.]

Re: 65 Coupe w/ 64 knock-offs

Philip,

I looked for the paperwork on the wheels and the release/stop orders but they must still be in Illinois. About 25 years ago, I made copies and sent to Bob Jorjorian. I just emailed Bob and asked if he could dig it out for us.

There were at least two or three major design changes on the gear drive wheels/adapters before the new pin drive design was released.

Thanks Mike I am still waitin for mine to come in the mail. Phil 8063