442 - SSII style Rims and Colors

[BigBertha442]

I am wanting to match the exact look of factory style
SSII Rims - I know inside the front should match the
factory paint on the car but not sure what colors the back side was or the inside of the rim colors?

[442much]

Originally Posted by BigBertha442

I am wanting to match the exact look of factory style
SSII Rims - I know inside the front should match the
factory paint on the car but not sure what colors the back side was or the inside of the rim colors?

If you want SSII then there is only one colour on the outside, Argent Silver. Some will also say Cast Gray.

SSIII is body colour on the outside. The backside is black. Not gloss but not flat either, a mixture of both...semi-gloss?

[skryla]

what is the difference between the SSII and the SSIII rim?

[442much]

Originally Posted by skryla

what is the difference between the SSII and the SSIII rim?

Option code, part no. and colour. The SSII came out in 1968. The SSIII came out in 1973.

SSII = Cast Gray
SSIII= Body Colour

1968 SSII p/n 400422-14"
1969 SSII p/n 400422-14"
1970 SSII p/n 409937-14"
1971 SSII p/n 406069-14"
1972 SSII p/n 409937-14"
1973 SSII type 1 p/n 409937-SSII type 2 p/n 413087 (extruded hub)14"
1973 SSIII type 1 p/n 409937-SSIII type 2 p/n 413087 (extruded hub)14"
1974 SSII p/n 409937 -14" / 417796 -15"
1974 SSIII p/n 409937 -14" / 417796 -15"
1975 SSII & SSIII p/n 417796 -15"
1976 SSII & SSIII p/n 417796 -15"

[2blu442]

442much I'm not an expert with wheels but I have several 14X7 bolt on center caps that are body colored. I don't believe they are argent silver underneath the body color paint. I thought, and I could be wrong, that they began painting them body colored in 1969. John

[BigBertha442]

The SSIII wheel is very similar to the Super Stock II wheel, and in fact used the same 14" x 7" wheel (original part #406069) but is painted the lower body color instead of the standard dark gray. Center caps, chrome bezels, lug nuts, and trim rings are all the same as the 1970-72 Super Stock II wheel. The SSIII wheel first was available in 1971 as option code N67 and continued through 1972.

[skryla]

if this is the case, then as I understand it the only difference between the SSII and the SSIII is the color?

also, does this mean that the body colored wheels on my 72 442 are correct?

I am a Chevelle guy and this Olds stuff is all new to me.

[442much]

Originally Posted by skryla

if this is the case, then as I understand it the only difference between the SSII and the SSIII is the color?

also, does this mean that the body colored wheels on my 72 442 are correct?

I am a Chevelle guy and this Olds stuff is all new to me.

Skryla, the only difference is the colour. As for the body colour being correct on a 72, it's incorrect according to the literature I have however it may be correct for your car. The information I have says SSIII became available in 1973, however anything is possible. Let me explain.

I have a 1976 L82 4 spd Stingray. Total corvette production for 1976 was 46,558. The last Stingray had, according to the factory, the VIN 1Z37L6S446558 (an "X" replaces the "L" if it is an L82) . This is what is printed on all factory documentation. However, it has been documented that a 1976 Corvette was found with the VIN 1Z37L6S446567 - nine more than is published. So 46,558 is not the last Stingray even though all the documentation says it is. Never say never.

The factory's information is not always correct. Perhaps the worker on the assembly line was out of SSII wheels, saw the SSIII wheels for the 1973 cars and instead of stopping the assembly line, grabbed the coloured wheels that matched your car and kept the line moving.

That was the problem with the Olds diesels in the late 70's. They were 350 blocks but the assembly line workers, when they ran out of manifold bolts for the Diesel 350's, grabbed the gas 350 bolts and they failed within months as the bolts made for an 8:1 compression engine couldn't handle a 22:1 compression Diesel. They were not well trained to know the difference. Later, after the workers were told, the Diesels ran great but the reputation of the early models was public and that killed it off. My recommendation? Don't sweat it. You have a great looking car in any event. Enjoy it.

Ken

[442much]

Originally Posted by 2blu442

442much I'm not an expert with wheels but I have several 14X7 bolt on center caps that are body colored. I don't believe they are argent silver underneath the body color paint. I thought, and I could be wrong, that they began painting them body colored in 1969. John

Hi John,

The 69 wheels were painted. But I'm talking about the outside. Here is a picture of my SSII wheel. Below that is the SSIII wheel. The back of the wheel is not the same colour as the outside you see here - it's semi-gloss black on both.

[amh555]

Go to Texas442.com and click on the wheels link on the left, nice line up for comparison.

http://www.texas442.com/

Allan

[Allan R]

Ok, here's my 2 bits. Kinda surprised that no one else mentioned this.

SS11 and SS111 are NOT the same wheel. Yes, you are correct that SS11 are argent color and do not match the body color.

BUT, the BIGGEST DIFFERENCE is that the SS11 uses BOLT ON center caps, not the clip ons. This is really easy to spot when the wheel is bare and has no hardware mounted on it. Also, the SS11 wheels have a raised bevel around the 5 cutouts where the reveal trim pieces go.

Allan R

[dan1s]

Here's some info on the rims. Hope this can help.

This is a great artical about the rims. Click this link.

http://www.oldsmobility.com/superstock.htm

Super Stock II
The SS II wheels were used first in 1968, with a size of 14 x 6 (option code N71). For 1968, all SS IIs for the Cutlass/442 were painted grey, or what some call argent. There were no tin or chrome bezels around the holes in the wheels; the raised area was painted silver. This was for 1968 only. They used the same centers as later SS II and SS III wheels with the bolt on center cap.

There are NO SSII/III wheels with a 5" on 5 pattern.

The 14 x 7's were only used from 1970 to 1972. This, of course, excludes the 1969 H/O which had 15x7s and the 1973(?) and later 15x7 wheels. There was also a 13" wheel offered as option code N66. Don't know what years.

These will work with disc brakes.



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Super Stock III
The Super Stock III wheels are exactly the same, 14 x 7, as the 1970-72 SS II wheels, except that they were painted the same color as the lower part of the car (option code N67 - chrome). Option N73 was the 13" variation in lower body color.

Both SS II and SS III came with chrome bezels around the five holes, and a 14" trim ring. They also have a hub center cap in the center of the wheel that has the Olds rocket symbol.

A chromed version of the Super Stock III wheels was offered from 1983-1988 and came in two sizes, 14 x 6 and 15 x 7. The 14" option code was N66 and N83 was the 15" option code. The N66 wheels were available on any RWD Cutlass from 1984-1988, except for the Hurst/Olds and 442. They had black painted insets and no pinstripe around the edge of the wheel. Center caps show a black background with the red rocket symbol in the middle. The N83 wheels came only with the high-performance Cutlasses (H/O, 442) from 1983-1987. The Hurst/Olds wheels had argent painted insets and a red pinstripe, whereas the 442 versions had gold painted insets and gold pinstripes. Also distinguishing the 442 wheels are the center caps, which read '442'. All wheels were of a two-piece design. They were chromed as separate pieces and then assembled by Motor Wheel; therefore, re-chroming of the wheels wouldn't be very practical.

There are NO SSII/III wheels with a 5" on 5 pattern.