Drum brake or disc wheels

[Daniel R.]

In model year 1965, for a drum brake car, were drum brake wheels used or were disc brake wheels only used? Was there a carryover using drum brake wheels from model year 1964?

[James W.]

Re: Drum brake or disc wheels

In model year 1965, for a drum brake car, were drum brake wheels used or were disc brake wheels only used? Was there a carryover using drum brake wheels from model year 1964?

Dan,

I would think that if the car was equipped with the drum brake substitution that it would have the steel wheels with the correct offset and configuration for the brake drums. I know that the drum brake steel wheels will not fit on a disc brake equipped Corvette but a disc brake steel wheel will fit in a car equipped with drum brakes with no operational problems.

My father bought a '65 coupe back in the late 70's with the drum brake substitution. The car was equipped with some nice options such as P/S, P/B, A/C, telescopic steering wheel, electric windows, leather seats, L75 engine w/powerglide transmission and steel wheels and caps. Why the original owner ordered it with drum brakes makes no sense except for the $63.15 credited when substituting with drum brakes. My mother like driving the car since it has an automatic transmission and wasn't happy with him when he sold it to buy a '66 big block. It would be kind of a rare car in a way since there were only 316 ordered this way.


Best Regards,

James West

[John H.]

Re: Drum brake or disc wheels

The J-61 sheet in the '65 Assembly Manual doesn't call out a unique wheel, and only one wheel is called out in UPC 10; that would indicate that the standard (disc brake) wheel was used on all units.