14 inch Steel Wheel Date & Letter Codes

[gizmo428]

Does anyone know of a site where I could check the letter codes for early Chevy steel wheels? The ones I have are 14" and have GM and a V stamped in them. They are on a 1963 Impala SS I recently purchased.

[Tom Kochtanek]

A few years ago there was a magazine article that explained all the variations in GM wheels (I think it was in Chevy Times?) that might provide the info you need. Not sure of a website that has the details. Next Monday I'll probably be looking for Easter eggs I hid on Sunday (translation: I can't find a thing these days), but maybe someone else will remember the article :).

Good luck!
TomK

[bobs409]

Looking in "Chevrolet by the numbers", they say codes were not stamped on wheels until 1965. They mention that only single letter codes were used up to 1966. I don't see any listings for "V" though or even a double letter that has a "V". I checked 1965-1975.

Is this "V" next to the tire stem hole?

[chevy_belair63]

Bob i dont think the chevrolet by the numbers book is correct i found 2 things in the book i got that arent correct. first off my rims have letter codes on them its a - then a letter but its not near the valve stem base its on the outpart of the rim where it has the two raised up areas where the valve stem is inline at, and the engine codes dont match up going by the way he says they are to be decoded i sent a email to him and havent gotten a response back to what the deal is.

[gizmo428]

THanks for the replys guys. After looking closer and cleaning up the other rims the V is actually a 2. Poor stamping on two of them -only the lower portion of the 2 is stamped in. The 2 and GM are stamped on the humps next to the bolt holes. There is also a 65 stamped on the hump on two rims. There is a small circle a couple inches from the valve stem possibly for Kelsey Hayes. Are these just plan old basic riims?

[gizmo428]

Looking in "Chevrolet by the numbers", they say codes were not stamped on wheels until 1965. They mention that only single letter codes were used up to 1966. I don't see any listings for "V" though or even a double letter that has a "V". I checked 1965-1975.

Is this "V" next to the tire stem hole?


Bob, the V is actually a 2. Two of the rims are poorly stamped-only the lower portion of the 2 is stamped in on two of the rims.. The 2 and GM stampings are on the humps next to the bolt holes. Two of them have a 65 stamped on one of the humps. There is a small stamped circle close to the valve stem - possibly Kelsey Hayes? When you have time could you check your codes to see if there's a 2 code? FYI: Jefferson, WI car show/swap meet is April 23,24 . Again thanks for the help.

[chevy_belair63]

hey Gizmo same problem here on my 63, one rim has clearly a A stamping and all the others have a bad stamping that can either be a P or a B.

but mine is has a dash one one side of the divided projection for the mounting of the valve stem and on the other side is the letter and all 4 rims have a P or a B stamping one in the trunk im using as a spair has a P or a B also just a bad stamping and the one up ont he driverside front that was spin balanced and didnt get no weight and when i asked them about it they said it was a perfect balance but that tire is a A code.

[stuch]

There is a Late Great Chevys or as they call it Chevy Times from December 2000 with all the information you will ever need .They do sell old cpoies call {407}886-1963 or {407}880-1956. Latr Great Chevys P.O, Box 607824 Orlando,Fl. 32860