74' wheel options
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
74' wheel options
Does anyone have a good photo from a 74' showing OEM wheels ?
Were several types available ? What was the basic color?
Any info or pics will be helpful .
Any suggestions where to by replacements?
thank you
Were several types available ? What was the basic color?
Any info or pics will be helpful .
Any suggestions where to by replacements?
thank you
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: Chicago IL
Well of course the 1974 Corvette had a standard 15 inch wheel with 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern and a 4in backspacing. 8" wide slotted steel wheel. They all came standard with the rally type wheel. It doesn’t appear there was another option for wheels, but you could get two different types of tires however. RPO QRM White stripe nylon steel-belted radial tires GR70 x 15 ($32). RPO QRZ GR70 x 15 raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($45). These wheels were of course steel with a chrome rig and chrome center cap.
Ecklers has a 4 wheels set you could get.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...3&dept_id=1419
Ecklers has a 4 wheels set you could get.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...3&dept_id=1419
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
The color on the steel Rallye wheels is Argent Silver.
I have read that Cast aluminum wheels were offered (in '73 at least) but I don't know if any ever made it to the end consumer. I don't recall the specific reasons.
Hope this helps.
I have read that Cast aluminum wheels were offered (in '73 at least) but I don't know if any ever made it to the end consumer. I don't recall the specific reasons.
Hope this helps.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 665
Likes: 0
From: wilmington nc
I read that cast alum. wheels were offered in 74 also but no one didn"t order them and none were sold ! Doesen"t surprise me, my original owner didn"t even splurge for the passenger door mirrow option 
Here"s the original ralleys on my 74 someone had painted them black
Here"s the original ralleys on my 74 someone had painted them black
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
I don't think there ever was a passenger door mirror option on a '74 Corvette or any of the earlier Corvettes until they started using the painted mirror housings on the later year C-3's
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
According to this sheet
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/S_OPTIONS.htm
the mirror was an option (extra cost item) in '73 but they also list the shoulder belts optional for verts only.
I have read that of all 73's (both coupes and verts) only 777 were equipped with the shoulder belts
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
Who knows
According to this sheet
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/S_OPTIONS.htm
the mirror was an option (extra cost item) in '73 but they also list the shoulder belts optional for verts only.
I have read that of all 73's (both coupes and verts) only 777 were equipped with the shoulder belts
According to this sheet
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/S_OPTIONS.htm
the mirror was an option (extra cost item) in '73 but they also list the shoulder belts optional for verts only.
I have read that of all 73's (both coupes and verts) only 777 were equipped with the shoulder belts
My car must be one of the 777 since my Coupe has shoulder belts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Optional aluminum wheels (big wheels) were to have been introduced for the 1973 model year. They did not make production and were recalled due to porosity problems. None were sold to the public in 1973. The big wheels eventually showed up for the 1976 model year.
All 74s and 75s had ralley wheels (73s too, for that matter) since there was no optional wheel available.
All 74s and 75s had ralley wheels (73s too, for that matter) since there was no optional wheel available.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
Here's a picture of my '73 Coupe with a set of '82 Corvette Wheels and Tires. Back in late '82 I purchase the whole set from a fellow who didn't want them on his new 1982 Corvette at the time. He wanted a wire type of aftermarket wheel instead so he sold me all 4 wheels, lugs nuts and tires back then for around $650 if I remember correctly. They were just taken off the car as new as they came from the factory. As you can see in the pictures they are still on my car since this is a recent digital picture taken being I don't drive the car much as it only has 25k miles on it. When I purchased this car from a friend of mine the original owner back in early '82 the car only had a little over 17k miles on the odometer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
I have one and use it all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,327
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
Right side mirrors were a dealer installed option on all 1968 to 1976 Corvettes. In 1977 the new sport mirrors were offered as a factory option. Also some early 1974 Corvettes you could get the PO2 hub caps.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 6
From: New Port Richey FL
I picked up my "set" of rally’s at a show last year. The wheels are repo, powder coated gray/silver, Chinese trim rings and vintage caps. By far one of the most economical ways to have the stock look. I liked the fact that the wheels were brand new, and therefore I didn't have to worry about if a vintage, date coded steel wheel had been bent in the last 35 years. Powder coating is great and I don't have to worry about rust. The foreign trim rings have a clip all the way around, are cheap and look great. The vintage center caps are easy to clean up. I hit mine with some spray paint for the black recesses and am very happy with the results. Good Luck. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hey guys, new to the forums!
Anyways, I had a question that was regarding wheels too. I didn't want to make a new thread, and spam the place up so here it is.
I have a 68 with stock rims on it right now and wanted to put 17x9 1/2" on it, or the back at least. Problem is I don't really know what back spacing to use. I've been told 5 1/2" (by two places now) but I know that's wayyyyyy to far. The rims right now have 275/50 tires on them (way to big I know :/ ) and there is a 1/4" spacer back there, witch should make the total backspacing 4 3/4". Now would that back spacing be fine for the new rims considering the tire that's going to go on them will be the same width?
Thanks in advance! And sorry if I hi-jack the thread.
Anyways, I had a question that was regarding wheels too. I didn't want to make a new thread, and spam the place up so here it is.
I have a 68 with stock rims on it right now and wanted to put 17x9 1/2" on it, or the back at least. Problem is I don't really know what back spacing to use. I've been told 5 1/2" (by two places now) but I know that's wayyyyyy to far. The rims right now have 275/50 tires on them (way to big I know :/ ) and there is a 1/4" spacer back there, witch should make the total backspacing 4 3/4". Now would that back spacing be fine for the new rims considering the tire that's going to go on them will be the same width?
Thanks in advance! And sorry if I hi-jack the thread.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
Who knows
According to this sheet
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/S_OPTIONS.htm
the mirror was an option (extra cost item) in '73 but they also list the shoulder belts optional for verts only.
I have read that of all 73's (both coupes and verts) only 777 were equipped with the shoulder belts
According to this sheet
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/S_OPTIONS.htm
the mirror was an option (extra cost item) in '73 but they also list the shoulder belts optional for verts only.
I have read that of all 73's (both coupes and verts) only 777 were equipped with the shoulder belts
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 1
From: Jupiter, Florida
1973 yj8 wheels
I own a set of 1973 yj8 wheels part number 329381. The mirror was dealer installed in 1973. I have one on my car.
Last edited by 1973yj8owner; Aug 1, 2007 at 09:27 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 1
From: Jupiter, Florida
1973 yj8's
Optional aluminum wheels (big wheels) were to have been introduced for the 1973 model year. They did not make production and were recalled due to porosity problems. None were sold to the public in 1973. The big wheels eventually showed up for the 1976 model year.
All 74s and 75s had ralley wheels (73s too, for that matter) since there was no optional wheel available.
All 74s and 75s had ralley wheels (73s too, for that matter) since there was no optional wheel available.
Last edited by 1973yj8owner; Aug 1, 2007 at 10:19 PM.