YJ8 - How Does One Really Know
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
YJ8 - How Does One Really Know
My four aluminum wheels from my 1977 Coupe have interesting but not terribly revealing information in them. Each has a casting number "14018395" on the back. Each also has "FW" cast into the back and a number "1" cast back there as well. What I found today when I started to clean them up is a large stamped number "34" and a small but long stamped number "092698201".
Okay you wheel experts, can you point me in the direction of where I can learn more about these wheels. The internet has proven to be less than helpful here so I am turning to the experts, or at least you guys to start.
Hoping someone out there has some good information or sources for some.
Thanks for your help.
David
Okay you wheel experts, can you point me in the direction of where I can learn more about these wheels. The internet has proven to be less than helpful here so I am turning to the experts, or at least you guys to start.
Hoping someone out there has some good information or sources for some.
Thanks for your help.
David
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Sound like they could be original. Go here http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area and see if you can obtain a copy of the dealer invoice for your '77. The invoice will list the options the car was equipped with, including the aluminum wheels.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Thanks Easy Mike. I do have the delivery sheet on this car and it doesn't show the YJ8 option so it wasn't delivered with the Aluminum wheels. I am the third owner so somewhere between delivery and me it picked these up. I have taken them off the car now and removed the old old old tires. I am going to clean them up and put them back into service but in the mean time I have the after market version on them which look very good. I was just checking to see that they are original, and they appear to be, but not certain, hence my post.
Thanks for your help.
David
1977 Orange Corvette Delivery Sheet.pdf
Wheels on the Corvette.
Thanks for your help.
David
1977 Orange Corvette Delivery Sheet.pdf
Wheels on the Corvette.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I checked all four of them closely and they are all exactly alike and they appear to be a "set". My delivery sheet doesn't show them but I will check the purchase sheet to see if that lists them.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Original Owner Documentation
Well the original purchase sheet does not show YJ8 wheels but I found it interesting that in his documentation I found the attached sheet. Safety Sheet for Aluminum Wheels.pdf.pdf
Can't solve the mystery of when they were applied but will continue to try.
Wish me luck.
David
Can't solve the mystery of when they were applied but will continue to try.
Wish me luck.
David
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Dealer installed option? I worked at a Chrysler dealership some years back and we were forever playing "wheel roullette" for the sales force. I suspect someone liked the white (or red, etc) one yours was parked next to but wanted rallyes... Ta Da!!! instant wheel swap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
Dave,
If I may suggest...post your query up on the NCRS Tech board. I went through this several years ago, and unfortunately, I did not save this info. Since you are now certain that this was not an ordered option for your car, the issue becomes moot, other than date coding the set. JMO.
Stay in tune....
If I may suggest...post your query up on the NCRS Tech board. I went through this several years ago, and unfortunately, I did not save this info. Since you are now certain that this was not an ordered option for your car, the issue becomes moot, other than date coding the set. JMO.
Stay in tune....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,625
Likes: 3,097
From: Shamong, NJ
14018395 sounds like a GM part number, but it's not the number the Corvette parts book shows for aluminum wheels. My Corvette parts book shows 14009704 as the 76-79 aluminum wheel, 14002370 for the 79 Pace Car and 14022120 for 80-82s. I have an old set of 76-79 wheels here and can't find a part number on them anywhere. They do have Kelsey Hayes cast between the webbing on the back, and have a 1979 date stamped on them.
The wheels you have are the correct type wheel for a 76-79 Corvette. 76-79 wheels have the natural (unpolished) aluminum finish and the black paint in the flat around the lig nuts. 80-82 wheels are polished with a clear coat and have no black paint on the face of them.
The wheels you have are the correct type wheel for a 76-79 Corvette. 76-79 wheels have the natural (unpolished) aluminum finish and the black paint in the flat around the lig nuts. 80-82 wheels are polished with a clear coat and have no black paint on the face of them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
In addition, I just went back through the NCRS archives searching for my part numbers and info. The wheels would clearly read Kelsey Hayes on the back and the part number would be 363768 (1976).
Hope this helps.
Stay in tune....
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
It does help a lot guys, thank you.
I won't be putting this car through NCRS, too many issues, not enough energy to go through that effort, but thank you to all that have given me such good information.
Best regards,
David
I won't be putting this car through NCRS, too many issues, not enough energy to go through that effort, but thank you to all that have given me such good information.
Best regards,
David
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,625
Likes: 3,097
From: Shamong, NJ
My 76 book shows 363768 for 76 wheels, the 14009704 is the number by 79 book has for 76-79s. I don't have a 77 or 78 parts book.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 221
From: Beecher Illinois
If they're Kelsey-Hayes or Westerns they will say so on the back hub.
I've also run across a repro that simply said 'made in china', no name tho.
I've got a spare set off my 79 and a NOS one in the box, all Kelseys.
Also 2 Westerns hanging on my shop wall.
I'll look at the numbers and see if anything looks familiar.
But let us know if yours have the manufacturers name.
I will add, for what it's worth, the wheels on your orange Vette in your pics do look like Kelseys. The slots in the Westerns are a little different.
I've also run across a repro that simply said 'made in china', no name tho.
I've got a spare set off my 79 and a NOS one in the box, all Kelseys.
Also 2 Westerns hanging on my shop wall.
I'll look at the numbers and see if anything looks familiar.
But let us know if yours have the manufacturers name.
I will add, for what it's worth, the wheels on your orange Vette in your pics do look like Kelseys. The slots in the Westerns are a little different.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I Think The Mystery Continues
Well, decided to keep this going because thus far no one has solved it.
There is no Kelsey-Hayes on the back that I can find.
There is no Wester Wheel on the back that I can find.
There is no Made In China wording on the back that I can find.
So what is there?
Molded "FW" in one location.
Molded "15 X 8.00" in another location.
Molded "14018395" in another location.
Stamped "092698201" on the rim with molded "1" in another location.
Stamped "LT" near the stem hole of each wheel. You can clearly see the grooves in the wheels here, just like the originals.
And stamped near the "092698201" number is large numbers stamped "34"
So, mystery solving helpers, what the heck is going on here?
I will attach a front picture next, just to show you what these look like up close and personal from the front too.
David
There is no Kelsey-Hayes on the back that I can find.
There is no Wester Wheel on the back that I can find.
There is no Made In China wording on the back that I can find.
So what is there?
Molded "FW" in one location.
Molded "15 X 8.00" in another location.
Molded "14018395" in another location.
Stamped "092698201" on the rim with molded "1" in another location.
Stamped "LT" near the stem hole of each wheel. You can clearly see the grooves in the wheels here, just like the originals.
And stamped near the "092698201" number is large numbers stamped "34"
So, mystery solving helpers, what the heck is going on here?
I will attach a front picture next, just to show you what these look like up close and personal from the front too.
David
Last edited by AllC34Me; Apr 1, 2010 at 09:43 AM.
what anyone can find.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 221
From: Beecher Illinois
Definitely not Kelseys. One of the backside pics shows a bit of the webbing, similar to the Westerns.
The slots on Kelseys show some depth, like tunnel vision. Westerns are flared back a bit so you mainly see just the slot, nothing beyond.
I'd bet they're someone's repros. They look to be in very nice condition, maybe a more recent purchase.
Post a pic of the back side of the hub.
I also find it odd that the valve stem holes are in different locations.
The slots on Kelseys show some depth, like tunnel vision. Westerns are flared back a bit so you mainly see just the slot, nothing beyond.
I'd bet they're someone's repros. They look to be in very nice condition, maybe a more recent purchase.
Post a pic of the back side of the hub.
I also find it odd that the valve stem holes are in different locations.
Last edited by KapsSA; Apr 1, 2010 at 02:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I noticed that as well. There are two in one location, two in another location, and all four are adjacent to the five hole pattern, but at differing location to the openings.
Here are pictures of the back of the hubs.
Hey, maybe these are the original Duntov pair from 1973.
Whoever made them they signed them, we just can't seem to decipher the signature, which I believe is what the "FW" represents.
We already figured out they are not Kelsey-Hayes, but who would go to such effort to knock these off and they are very old, been on the car since about 1979 according to the original owners daughter.
And if anyone has a picture of the back of an original Kelsey-Hayes version, and an original Western Wheel version of the YJ8 could you post them, I'd like to see the difference.
Appreciate the help.
David
Here are pictures of the back of the hubs.
Hey, maybe these are the original Duntov pair from 1973.
Whoever made them they signed them, we just can't seem to decipher the signature, which I believe is what the "FW" represents.
We already figured out they are not Kelsey-Hayes, but who would go to such effort to knock these off and they are very old, been on the car since about 1979 according to the original owners daughter.
And if anyone has a picture of the back of an original Kelsey-Hayes version, and an original Western Wheel version of the YJ8 could you post them, I'd like to see the difference.
Appreciate the help.
David
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
David,
Here is the back side of my NEW repro's. I always black out the slots for contrast. So, this shot was in progess. You can clearly make out all the numbers. Good luck to you, trying to prove out a "China Made" part.
I would have thought that in your line of business, you would have known the obvious.
We all get a little smarter everyday....when we try!
Stay in tune...
Here is the back side of my NEW repro's. I always black out the slots for contrast. So, this shot was in progess. You can clearly make out all the numbers. Good luck to you, trying to prove out a "China Made" part.
I would have thought that in your line of business, you would have known the obvious.
We all get a little smarter everyday....when we try!
Stay in tune...
Last edited by GREGG-73; Apr 1, 2010 at 05:59 PM.