More 62 Wheel Woes

[Deb]

Can someone out there clear up which wheel is correct for my 62. I do have the full wheel covers. According to Noland's 53-62 Technical Guide, both 3723561 (riveted) and 3714744 (welded)were used in 58-62. According to the NCRS 61-62 Judging Manual, the only correct wheel is welded (I'm assuming 3714744), if I am reading this right. Both Noland and the Judging Manual agree with RPO 276 (3748348).

The current wheels I have on my car are riveted 15 x 5. Since the Judging Manual says the only 15 x 5 is welded, are these wheels correct or not?

I just want to thank you all for responding to my previous '62 questions in the past. Unfortunately for you all, I'm sure there will be many more to come.

Your assistance, as always, is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Deb

[Loren L.]

Re: More 62 Wheel Woes

No, you bought a car with 55-56 passenger car wheels - or in better terms, you bought a wheel with wheel otion 276 centers - maybe.

[dale pearman]

Re: More 62 Wheel Woes

Noland Adams' book incorrectly states that both riveted and welded wheels were used in 58-62 production (15x5). Riveted wheels were used for RPO 276 in these years (15x5.5). The BIG misunderstanding in the hobby is a result of TWO versions of welded 15x5 wheels, passenger car and corvette. The corvette wheels were made by Kelsey Hayes in Romulus Michigan while the passenger car wheels were made at Kelsey Hayes in Detroit. They are distinctly different.

Riveted 15x5 wheels were used on earlier corvettes until tubeless tires came out in 1956. With tubless tires, a large number of failures occured due to air leaking past the rivets hence the design change to welded.

As Loren Lundberg states, you probably have some early 15x5 wheels since they are riveted. If you wire-brush INSIDE the rim near the valve stem hole, (which should be 5/8 ths rather than 1/2) you will find the Kelsey trademark, proofmark, and a date code.

Hope this info helps.

Sincerely, Dale Pearman (varooom) NCRS 8889

[Richard T.]

Re: More 62 Wheel Woes

Deb, Unless you have the 15X5 1/2" wide wheels the standard should be welded. Also they should be what's referred to as spot welded. That is the area where the spider (center section) attaches to the rim in 4 spots is smooth with no kidney shaped cut outs and shows evidence of 2 large round spot welds as viewed from the inside. The wheels should also be dated in side . Rich #2276

[Dan 80]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

Dale can you tell us how to differentiate between the Detroit passenger car 15x5 and the Romulus Corvette 15x5 wheels?

Weren't full size passenger car wheels 14" from '57 until many years later?

[dale pearman]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

Dan:

See the Rich Thomas reply. Kidney shaped cut-outs in the four spider flanges, where the welds are, identify the wheel as a passenger car unit. I'm talking 15 inch wheels here. Sure, passenger car wheels were also 14 inches on a lot of cars.The "spot" welds were actually RESISTANCE welds. A spot weld is confined to a spot or point. The resistance welds are distributed over a greater area and show as an ellipse pattern on the wheels in question. Usually two patterns appear on each flange but I've seen three on several occasions. Check out the prices on these wheels! For mint condition units try $75.00 for passenger car, $195.00 for real 58-62 wheels! $50.00 for 5" rivited and $1000.00 for RPO 276! (That's PER WHEEL)! Gasp! Aren't you glad you aren't doing four RPO 276 cars? That would cost you $20,000.00 for wheels alone! But guess what? I can't find these 15x51/2 puppies anywhere and I need twenty! There is an answer to the problem however, Excellent reproduction wheels can be fabricated if you have correct look-alike components.

Hope I've helped, Dale Pearman (varooom) NCRS 8889

[Jimmy G.]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

You may be and probably are correct for 62. 58 Corvette wheels did have he kidney shaped cut outs however. Therefoer a kidney shaped cutoud does not instantly imply passenger car wheels. Especially ones dated after passenger cars went to 14 inch in 57.

[Richard T.]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

Jim, I don't believe Kelsey Hayes began dating the wheels until 61 or 62. I have a set of 4 and they are marked KH 2-62 inside the rim portion close to the valve stem hole.I was always under the impression that 56 to early 60 welded wheels had the cutouts and later were solid and dated but I've heard others who believe all years were solid. I thought I knew but now I'm not sure. Rich

[Richard E.]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

Hi Dale - Could I trouble you for one more question. Isn't there also a slight difference between pax cars and Vettes in the area of the outside of the main hub where the ridge just outside the bolt holes (for the small hubcaps) flares out to the main spider housing? Seems like the pax car 15" abruptly meets the main spider. But I've read where the Vette wheel has a second ridge or shelf where the small hub meets the main spider. I think this is shown in Noland's book a lot better than I can explain it. Any thoughts? Thanx, Dick

[Dan 80]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed

I've had riveted 55-6 15x5 passenger car wheels with dates inside.

Also had a set of riveted 15x5's I justed traded for '63's that were a very clean set of 4 with no dates that I could find.

[Deb]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed (Dale)

Dale, You must forgave my ignorance but I'm having a hard time identifying or locating the kidney shaped cut-out area you speak of. Are you refering to the area, looking from the back of the wheel between each of the flanges, which are welded or riveted to the outer wheel. Also if you are looking from the front you can see light through this area of the wheel, am I close. If so this area to me resembles a half moon not kidney. I hope I'm not being to mythodical but I really would like to understand the differences between pass. and vette wheels before I set out to buy new ones for my 62. Maybe I'm not looking in the right area, let me know. Well at least I know my wheels should be WELDED, right?

Thanks so much.

Deb

[Richard T.]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed (Dale)

Deb, The area that your referring to is viewed from the rear (inside) and it's where your wheels are rivited together. On a welded wheel there are no rivits and the area where they would be is either flat with 2 or 3 spot welds or a couple of kidney shaped cutouts maybe 1" long. Does that help ? Rich

[Deb]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed (Dale)

Dale,Rich,anyone,

First off should I be doing this with the tire off the wheel? With the tire on the wheel I am looking at the flange, it has two welds on each flange about the size of a fifty cent piece, maybe a little smaller, ofcourse not complety round. The flange is otherwise flat, even the welds are smooth. Is this where the cut-outs are located and what purpose do the serve. I do appreciate everyones patience.

Thanks.

Deb

[dale pearman]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed (Dale)

Hi Deb:

If you can't find dog-bone cut outs, thats good. Yeah, welded. We are talking about the spider (wheel center) flanges (four) where they are welded to the rim.

Varoom 8889

[dale pearman]

Re: More 62 Wheel informatiom needed (Dale)

You are finally dialed in. This is the right place. You see no dog- bone cut outs and that says "corvette wheel", The cut-outs serve no function and are probably tooling aids. Your RESISTANCE welds are TFP typical factory production. Wanna sell them?

Varooom NCRS 8889