65 steel wheels

[Edward M.]

I while back there was a thread about 65 Corvette steel wheels. I just checked a pair of wheels that I have. These wheels have the GM part number tag on them that corresponds to 65-66 Corvette steel wheels. Ther are stamped 15x5 1/2 JK. They have the Kelsey Hayes logo in a circle, and they have that funny symbol. They have two dimples next to the valve stem hole, and they are stamped GM on one of the "spokes". They are both dated 8 64. In other words, they completely match the description of original 65 Corvette wheels.

They are riveted construction, not welded.

Thoughts about whether these wheels could have come originally on a 65 Corvette. What about a drum brake 65?

[Tracy C.]

Re: 65 steel wheels

Curious indeed Ed....

Are there 3 bumps on the center spyder that would retain a dog dish hubcap?

tc

[Edward M.]

Re: 65 steel wheels

No bumps to retain a dog dish hubcap.

[Tracy C.]

I'm stumped... (again)... *NM*

[Wayne M.]

Pic of Welded 8_64

Ed -- am curious as to the part #s on the tags. The '63-64 Corvette wheel was 3839814 (replaced in service by 5-66 with 3838080). The 1965-66 wheel was 3869156 (still avail in service in Jan 1970).

Sorry I don't have a better shot, but this was taken 14 years ago; now the rim has a tire mounted. This is definitely a welded wheel (I just double-checked).

I would assume that Chev would have run a big batch of the '65 wheels in August, in preparation for SOP.

[Edward M.]

Re: Pic of Welded 8_64

Part number on both wheels is 3869156, dated 8 64. The stamps on my wheels look identical to yours, even the way the 8 in the date code lays on its side. Most that I have seen are welded, the riveted wheels appear to be pretty rare. I have only ever seen one other pair of riveted wheels.

[Joe L.]

Re: Pic of Welded 8_64

Wayne and Ed-----

The wheel INITIALLY specified for 1965 Corvettes was the GM #3839814. This is the same wheel used for 1964 Corvettes and of riveted construction. Whether this wheel was ever actually used in PRODUCTION for 1965 Corvettes, I do not know. The GM #3838080 wheel did replace the 3839814 for SERVICE as noted. The 3838080 is also a riveted construction wheel.

The wheel later specified (and, perhaps, the only one ever actually used in PRODUCTION) was the GM #3869156. This wheel is of welded construction and is suitable for use with both tube and tubeless tires.

[Joe L.]

Re: Pic of Welded 8_64

Ed-----

The GM spec for the 3869156 says it's a welded wheel. It's hard to imagine that they would have used the same spec and part number for both a riveted and welded wheel. In other words, I just can't see a revision to the drawing in which the design was changed from riveted to welded or vice-versa. My guess would be that the wheels you have were mis-identified when the SERVICE parts labels were applied. Often, these labels are applied at GMSPO and not the manufacturing source.

[Edward M.]

Re: Pic of Welded 8_64

Joe;

How do you tell the difference between a 64 and a 65 wheel? It is certainly possible that a wheel with a date code of 8 64 could be a service replacement for an earlier wheel. The part number tag still puzzles me, especially since BOTH wheels have this part number tag.

I'm confused (which is my normal state).

[Joe L.]

Re: Pic of Welded 8_64

Ed-----

The fact that the wheels have part tags on them definitely indicates that these were SERVICE wheels. However, the part number on the tags is, as you have described, GM #3869156. That's where the problem comes in because, as far as I know, the 3869156 was a welded wheel. I don't see how that part number could be a riveted wheel. The fact that both wheels have the same part number on them does not really have a lot of significance. If it were a case of the wrong part number being applied to them, it's very possible that it was applied to a batch of wheels. If the wheels were purchased at the same time, it's very likely they would both have come from the same batch.

I can find no indication that the GM #3869156 wheel replaced any earlier wheel part number.