Wheels-what do I have?

[Edward B.]

Re: Wheels-what do I have?

If you have a REAL YA wheel, it should look like this (see attached). YA wheels were only used in production in 1969 and 1970, so because of your date, you either have an over the counter service replacement from 1971, 1981, etc..., or a reproduction wheel. Repops are being made in 14x7, 15x7 and even 15x8, so if your wheel looks like the one in my picture and really is a 15" wheel, it has to be a reproduction. Of course, this all depends on if your wheel looks like the one I've attached.

Ed

[Bob H.]

Re: Wheels-what do I have?

Well, I guess we'll go with it being a replacement wheel. They were on the front of the Corvette when I bought it. They are without a doubt 15" by 5.5 which I believe would have been the correct size for 65.. They are now replaced with repro ko's. I put my old goldlines on them and will just put them away for now. If there is something odd out there, I always get it.

[David L.]

Re: Wheels-what do I have?

It MIGHT be a GM # 3838080 wheel. Back in the late 1980's I bought a replacement 15" X 5 1/2" wheel (GM # 3838080) from my local Chevrolet dealer for my 1963 Split Window Coupe. Attached is a drawing that I made comparing it to a 1965-1966 Corvette 15" X 5 1/2" wheel.
The offset of the 65-66 Corvette wheel (GM # 3869156) and the 3838080 wheel is 7/16" according to my 1967 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (April 1967). I measured 7/16" which checks out. I believe that the 3838080 wheel is original equipment for 1966 Chevrolet POLICE cars and I definitely know the wheel is a replacement wheel for 1957-1964 Corvettes. The 3838080 wheel was not available for sale over the counter in October 1965 but was available in October 1966.
Dave