1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

[David L.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Dave you wouldn't have had an NOS '64 wheel for trade for a specified date '66 wheel at Carlisle quite a few years back would you? Also ran an ad in the Driveline for same?

Dan

Dan,
I once owned a NOS 64 wheel (GM #3839814) 15" X 5 1/2" K dated "3 65" (2 29/32" hub hole and small drilled hole in "bump") that I eventually sold to someone that owned a 64 Corvette in northern Vermont. He complained that it did not match the wheels on his very originial 64 Corvette but he never asked to return it after I sent him a copy of the page in my 1964 (Oct. 63) Chev. parts catalog showing him the part number. I bought the wheel in Rhinebeck in May 1992 so I probably had it for sale (or to trade for a 66 wheel) in the mid-90's at Corvette Carlisle.
Dave

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

I'm a novice at this and my knowledge is confined to '63s. The above replies may reflect the "scattered" information I was referring to that I encountered in current forum posts and in the archives.

Someone said, and I tend to believe "everything I read" because I tend to believe everyone is more experienced than I, that the solid axle wide wheel option (RPO 276?) was the rarest of all Corvette steel wheels.

And when researching the '63 wheels, there were comments/debate about 1964 wheels having a hole drilled in a "spider leg."

That's all I know, but I'm trying to learn...

Bob

Bob, very nice pictures! You take EXCELLENT pics.
Your wheel pictured looks to be in outstanding condition. By chance on the rear side is there a paint puddle of different colors?
Michael Hanson told me about those puddles,where to look and how they were formed 30 years ago. I'm sure he'll chime in if he sees the post or your reply.
Bob

[Perry M.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

I want to thank you guys for posting about 63 wheels. It got me off my a$$ and motivated me to climb up in the attic and retrieve the original wheels that came on my 63. I have had original knock offs on my car since 1980 something and I stored my original wheels never to be seen again until tonight. They look identical to the ones pictured. However, I am a little confused about the date on my wheels. They are dated 63 9. The "9" is kinda laying on its back. All 4 wheels are exactly the same. Does this make sense? I will post pics if it will help.

On second thought, it is probably a 6 laying on its back - June of 63 perhaps? They are from a 176xx serial number car.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

I'm guessing that it is a 6 rather than a 9. I'm also guessing that you have a late production 63. 9 would be too late for a 63--that would be an early 64 wheel. There was no alignment at all between the month code and the year code.
Regards,
Mike

[Bob M.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Bob, very nice pictures! You take EXCELLENT pics.

Your wheel pictured looks to be in outstanding condition. By chance on the rear side is there a paint puddle of different colors? Michael Hanson told me about those puddles,where to look and how they were formed 30 years ago. I'm sure he'll chime in if he sees the post or your reply.

Bob

[Perry M.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

I'm guessing that it is a 6 rather than a 9. I'm also guessing that you have a late production 63. 9 would be too late for a 63--that would be an early 64 wheel. There was no alignment at all between the month code and the year code.
Regards,
Mike

I agree it has to be a ''6'' on its back but was curious as to why the year, 63, is stamped prior to the month because in the picture it is month then year not year then month.

[Terry G.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Great Pictures. So can anyone tell me what would be the earliest acceptable date code for my car Ser#13592 I have a March 4 build date.
Thanks ,
Terry L. Giuliani

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Great Pictures. So can anyone tell me what would be the earliest acceptable date code for my car Ser#13592 I have a March 4 build date.
Thanks ,
Terry L. Giuliani

Terry !

I'd think the NCRS 6 month rule would apply to wheels, if you are looking for the EARLIEST date accepted.

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

To Bob and those who commented on the pictures, thanks!

Bob, your picture shows exactly what I'm talking about.
I've included a few pics to show more with the various colored paint daubs .These pics came from a set of whitewall wheels (black) with 12-62 dates
.
If Michael Hanson doesn't post I'll try to explain it tonight.

I also have a wheel that I'd like to hear your input on.Bob

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Bob, your picture shows exactly what I'm talking about.
I've included a few pics to show more with the various colored paint daubs .These pics came from a set of whitewall wheels (black) with 12-62 dates
.
If Michael Hanson doesn't post I'll try to explain it tonight.

I also have a wheel that I'd like to hear your input on.Bob

Yup, Bob is exactly right. I have some pic's of 63 wheels that have similar "factory" paint splotches/blobs on the back side that are very similar to the ones in your pictures.
Of interest is the fact that the various different colors of paint seen are the vary same as the available body colors used for the 63 model year.
As previously mentioned, a 63 ordered with blackwall tires would have had body color wheels. The face side of the wheels were painted at the St Louis assembly plant.
I'm not sure what kind of fixture was used to hold the wheel in position during the paint process but it must have been covered with all the different available 63 colors used and often dripped on the back side of the wheel as it was being installed/removed from fixture.
The most visible color in these blobs would most likely be the last used on a previously painted wheel. The blob on the wheel in the pic below is a mix of saddle tan and silver blue with the majority of it being silver blue.
Others that I have seen have various other colors.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Yup, Bob is exactly right. I have some pic's of 63 wheels that have similar "factory" paint splotches/blobs on the back side that are very similar to the ones in your pictures.
Of interest is the fact that the various different colors of paint seen are the vary same as the available body colors used for the 63 model year.
As previously mentioned, a 63 ordered with blackwall tires would have had body color wheels. The face side of the wheels were painted at the St Louis assembly plant.
I'm not sure what kind of fixture was used to hold the wheel in position during the paint process but it must have been covered with all the different available 63 colors used and often dripped on the back side of the wheel as it was being installed/removed from fixture.
The most visible color in these blobs would most likely be the last used on a previously painted wheel. The blob on the wheel in the pic below is a mix of saddle tan and silver blue with the majority of it being silver blue.
Others that I have seen have various other colors.

Mr. H. Your blob is the best color and shape of all. More seriously, were the wheels painted same time and place as the car?

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

I'm the other Mr. H., but the wheels were painted in their own separate paint system, with enamel (after being dip-primed or flow-coated black); each car set of primed wheels was placed on a rack suspended from an overhead conveyor. The rack had five rotating spindles mounted so the wheels tilted back at about a 20* angle from vertical, and each spindle had a center pilot that went through the pilot hole in the wheel and the base of each spindle was roughly the same diameter as the wheel's bolt circle.

When the rack moved into the sprayer's station, he spun each wheel manually and sprayed the face with the required color of gloss wheel enamel while the wheel was spinning. The conveyor took the wheels through a bake oven, and continued to the wheel/tire mount/balance area, where the wheels were removed, and the conveyor returned to the primed wheel load area just ahead of the color spray stations.

A lot of enamel built up on the racks, and they were removed from the conveyor and cleaned in a caustic tank about once a month on a weekend.

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Mr H (either one ) ,
do you know the significance of the white painted slashes on this 2-63 wheel?
In my wheel shed I have a few 63 wheels of various dates that have these marks but never knew what exactly they meant.
Thanks,Bob

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Mr H (either one ) ,
do you know the significance of the white painted slashes on this 2-63 wheel?
In my wheel shed I have a few 63 wheels of various dates that have these marks but never knew what exactly they meant.
Thanks,Bob

Bob -

Probably glove-prints of the guy who spun and sprayed the face of the wheels.

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 Steel Wheel Identification Detailed Photos

Bob -

Probably glove-prints of the guy who spun and sprayed the face of the wheels.

Can I quote you on that?