Wheel Date Code

[Todd L.]

As posted earlier I have found a set of 5 original wheels/tires. I have received the date code on the wheels: k-1-3 12 5 A Z
is this a date code from 1973 5 July, 1973?

My 73 - 74 JG gives an example similar but they have it listed as:

K-1-0 10 Hole for valve stem 16 AZ
They go on to explain, K = Kelsey
1 = Chevrolet
third digit is the year
16AZ =July 16, 1974

I would have read it as October 16, 1970

Anyone else with a 73 - 74 JG can take a look, page 55. What if anything am I doing wrong.
My car has a build date of 11 Nov, 73. Looks like I am off by a month.

Thanks

Todd

[Grant W.]

Re: Wheel Date Code

Hi Todd
I would say you have a 73 for year. Dec for the number 12 and 5th day for the number 5.

1973 rims dated Dec 5th.

Thanks, grant

[Terry M.]

Re: Wheel Date Code

I don't have a 1973-74 manual, so I can not verify your quote.

The 1973-74 judging team copied that from the 1970-72 team. We have since learned the number 1 = the plant which produced the wheels. Most, if not all, Corvette Steel wheels were produced in the Kelsey-Hayes plant in Romulus Michigan.

I don't know how they got the date you cite, but the numbers given should be for October 16, 1970.

One of the situations that sometimes occurs is that restorers use versions of the manual that are not current, and they miss corrections and revisions. I don't know if that is the situation here, but you might check the date your manual was printed. It can be found on the inside of the front cover.

Grant has given you the proper date for the wheel you have.

[David L.]

Re: Wheel Date Code

I agree with Terry.
The "0" in "K-1-0" is for the year 1970.
The wheel is dated Oct. 16, 1970, no question about it.

[Peter G.]

Re: Wheel Date Code

If I remember correctly..doesn't a '70 wheel have a welded dot on the outside lip of the wheel and the '73 does not.

[Terry M.]

Re: Wheel Date Code

Yes Peter that is correct. Most 1970 wheels have the weld dot, but there are some that were measured close enough to round that they got no dot -- or they unintentional by-passed that part of the process. During MY 1972 that process was eliminated.