Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

[William H.]

Could you help me identify the year and use of this wheel. It came off a 1965 disc brake Corvette but the number stampings are throwing me off. The stamps as pictured are as follows: K 181 8 and 26 at Valve Stem. Also, K1 and 31 and a 14 inside front hub. On back side, 15 x 5 1/2 with JK. 8 27 and K181. Thanks for any insights.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

William, you have a GM service replacement wheel that is correct in all attributes for a 65/66 Corvette....except for those pesky spamping at the valve core and on the spider bump between the lug holes. Some one will pipe in with a part number soon.

tc

[David L.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

The GM part number is 3869156. The stamping near the valve hole, "K 1 81 8(valve hole)28" is decoded as follows:
K = Kelsey-Hayes
1 = Romulus, MI
81 = the year 1981
8 = August
28 = 28th day of the month
August 28, 1981

I have both original as well as over the counter 65-66 Corvette wheels and they appear identical except for the stampings. Original 65-66 wheel do not have any stampings near the valve hole. The date code on original 65-66 wheels is on the "inside" that you can not see unless the tire is removed. The stampings near the valve hole started in 1967.

Dave

[Wayne M.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

Here's another example: outside edge; K184_7 (valve) 23 [stamp bounced]
center outside (clockwise): 14; K1 (over 84); and G; each on the elevated spider between bolt holes.
inside: 15x5_1/2JK; 7; 23; 08 (or 80 ?); K184.
GM sticker: 3869156

Following Dave's description, this wheel is Kelsey Hayes, Romulus MI, 1984, 7th month (valve) 23rd of 7th month (July).

Center: 14 (day ?); again supplier and year [K1 over 84] (G=GM ?, as production JK's have GM stamped there; or is it a 6 for June ?)
Inside air chamber: July 23rd; again repeat supplier and year K184; not sure what the 08 (or 80) means.

[William H.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

Thanks guys. I am selling a few '65 wheels on eBay if anyone needs some. It's time to clean out the garage and the knock offs are staying on the '65.

[David L.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes JK Wheel ID????

Wayne,

The 3869156 wheels that I bought in March 1980 had white labels with black text (see scan below) which I removed.

The wheels are stamped "K 1 8 3(valve hole)16". Since I bought the wheels in 1980 I have always assumed that the stamped date code on the wheels was March 16, 1978 but maybe they are dated March 16, 1968.

I also once owned an over the counter 3869156 wheel with the same white label but it did not have any date code stamped near the valve hole nor did it have a date code stamped "inside" near the stamped Kelsey-Hayes logo.

Didn't the blue/white GM labels first appear in the 1970's?

Dave