Rally Wheel identification

[Dale M.]

I have a set of 8 inch steel rally wheels that I need to determine their identification. The wheel is stamped Inside the rim with 15X8J1 (the 1 may be l or something else)
Outside by the hole for the value steam it is stamped with: K10 2 5 AZ

Does someone have a guide with these numbers to identify these wheels? I apreciate any help.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

I have a set of 8 inch steel rally wheels that I need to determine their identification. The wheel is stamped Inside the rim with 15X8J1 (the 1 may be l or something else)
Outside by the hole for the value steam it is stamped with: K10 2 5 AZ

Does someone have a guide with these numbers to identify these wheels? I apreciate any help.

Dale------


The "AZ" code identifies the wheel as a 1969-82 Corvette rally wheel. This wheel was not originally used for any other applications besides 1969-82 Corvette.

[Dale M.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Joe, thanks. I knew that this should be an easy question. These wheels were on my '64 which had been a SCAA race car back in the '70s. I now have the stock wheels and hubcaps back on the car. I also have some boxes and cards for American Racing Equipment part number 120-855-73, showing a size of 8 1/2X15 and a bolt circle of 5 - 4 3/4. This did not match my wheels but has me doing some research. Looking for a contact at American.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

K10 2 5 AZ: Specific application is K=Kelsey, 1=Chevrolet, 0=1970 model year, 2=February, 5=Fifth day, AZ=15 X 8 rally wheel as Joe described.

Your wheel set will be valuable to someone that needs dated wheels for an early 70 built after February 5, 1970.

[Dale M.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Thanks, that what I needed. Our chapter is having a swap meet and will put them there. I will check the others to be sure they are a match. Great Information. Dale

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Thanks, that what I needed. Our chapter is having a swap meet and will put them there. I will check the others to be sure they are a match. Great Information. Dale

If all the wheels are dated around February 5, they will be most valuable to a purist restoring a 70 built after February 5.

NCRS rules would qualify them if their date simply precedes the car's build date, but ideally, I would rather the wheels' dates precede the car by a week or two for authentic appearance. The bad news is that your prime market will be reduced due to low 70 production.

Since dates are not judged for wheels on the ground, the wheels should judge fine for any 69 or later C3 with trim rings. The spare wheel date WILL have to precede car build date for judging purposes.

[Peter G.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Dale..
1970 wheels normally have a "raised metal dot" on the outside of the wheel. This was used for balancing of the wheel.

[Dale M.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

I do see a very small raised metal area on 2 of my wheels, along the outside area where the bead would be on the inside. It almost looks line the end of a small welding rod. They are rough on the top. Any way, 2 of these wheels have them and 2 seems to be smooth. Great observations, I wonder how many of these get ground down to make a smooth finish when someone repainted their wheels?

[Terry M.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Dale,
We actually have a couple of sentences about this (the "BB" weld dot. As in Daisy BB. NOT big block.) in the early C3 judging manuals.

As I recall it signifies the high (or low) point of the wheel. I can't remember if it was mass or out of round, but the idea was to match up that point with a red dot on the original tires. That red dot was the complimentary point of the tire -- and placed there by the tire manufacturer.

We concluded that if the wheel was within certain specifications there was no dot placed on it and the mark on the tire didn't matter.

We never did find out if SERVICE wheels got the same mark, and it is now too late to do that kind of research -- unless someone comes up with the wheel prints. The pool of available wheels is too diluted to make surveying them a productive enterprise IMO.

If you want to dig into rally wheels of all years there have been several fine articles by Wendel Hans in The Restorer over the years, but they may provide more information than you wanted to know.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Dale,

I've attached a picture of the "BB" that Peter and Terry have discussed. This wheel was a YH wheel from a "Z28" but it's the same as those on my AZ wheels.

Thanks.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

...It almost looks line the end of a small welding rod. They are rough on the top...

I suspect the weld "BB" was made with an automatic wire feed welding machine. I've noted that some of my mine have a smooth "divot" or crater in the top of the "BB" where "undercut" would be when the wire feed tip was suddenly withdrawn.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Chuck,

I've attached a better (I hope) picture that shows the "divot".

Thanks.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Not much help, I'm afraid, Ken.

I don't know how some of these guys do it...they can post a picture that will fill up the whole page and force the right margin out so you have to use the cursor to see it all. I think it has to do with knowing how to properly manipulate the resolution and size of the file using photoshop software, which I don't have.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Chuck,

Try clicking on the attachment, and then when it opens in a separate window click on the picture in that window. It should open enough to see the dimple.

Thanks.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Wheel identification

Chuck,

Try clicking on the attachment, and then when it opens in a separate window click on the picture in that window. It should open enough to see the dimple.

Thanks.

Dohp!...I forgot to blow the child window up to full size. I'm guess I'm too used to being unable to see any detail in blown up thumbnails.