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The difference is color based, not whether it had a snap-on or bolt-on cover. There is an error in a current for sale ad where it is stated that it is because of how the center is attached, and this is not true.
SSIII's started in 72, at least, here is a section of the 72 specs. This was long before snap on covers.
Even the H/O in 72 called them SSIII in the brochure, I guess they figured they matched the gold decals.
since 1970 pace cars & Rallye 350s have body-color painted Super Stock wheels, wouldn't they be SSIIIs? *** although they were not an OPTION
& here's my former '71 442 convertible with SSIIIs (they were OPTIONAL in 1971 also)
Last edited by hurst68olds; Sep 18, 2022 at 01:33 AM.
SSIII's started in 72, at least, here is a section of the 72 specs.
1971, actually. That was the first time the factory offered the RPO N67 SSIII body-color wheels as a stand-alone option. Yes, the 1970 Y74 pace cars and W45 Rallye 350s were the first to use body-color SuperStock wheels, but there was no stand-alone RPO code that year.
I continue to read, & read, & read, & read about SSI, SSII, & SSIII wheels. The more I read...the more I assimilate what's been written by others. The delta for me is I cannot accommodate (at this point) what is the correct identification of the wheels which are on my 1971 CS. The four wheels mounted on the vehicle are 15"x7" all chrome (with lower body color); yet, they DO NOT have trim rings & they have snap-on center caps. The (what I consider to be OEM original) wheel mounted in the trunk is a 14"x7" all chrome (with lower body color) & it has no trim ring but a bolt-on center cap. What wheels are these (below)?
Wheels (x4) currently mounted on my '71 CS:
EDIT: This may or may not provide additional pertinent information about the wheels. (Obvious) stamping(s) on inside of each wheel:
Image Spacing Image Spacing Image Spacing
Last edited by Vintage Chief; Feb 8, 2023 at 06:23 PM.
Those chrome wheels with the snap in centers are 1980s. Someone painted them yellow. Your original has no trim ring because the spare did not. You were supposed to transfer the ring from the flat tire to the spare. Spare tires didn't come with wheelcovers on other cars.
Those chrome wheels with the snap in centers are 1980s. Someone painted them yellow. Your original has no trim ring because the spare did not. You were supposed to transfer the ring from the flat tire to the spare. Spare tires didn't come with wheelcovers on other cars.
Unfortunately, you didn't tell me what style. I assume they are SSIII? I can see the date (1982); yet, I "think" they're of the SSIII (style). Correct?
Flippin frickn wheels anyways....argh. Yes, I always suspected someone painted the wheels. The million $$ question for me has always been & remains what were/are these wheels called in terms of style - let's say they were NOT painted (yellow) lower body color?
Unfortunately, you didn't tell me what style. I assume they are SSIII? I can see the date (1982); yet, I "think" they're of the SSIII (style). Correct?
By the 1980s, Olds just called them "Super Stock" wheels. Those 15" chrome ones were first used on the 1983 H/O. Lesser cars got trim rings. 1985 was the first year that you could order the chrome plated wheels as a separate RPO. And again, the only difference between SSII and SSIII is paint color - argent vs body color.
Flippin frickn wheels anyways....argh. Yes, I always suspected someone painted the wheels. The million $$ question for me has always been & remains what were/are these wheels called in terms of style - let's say they were NOT painted (yellow) lower body color?
And as you'll note in the brochure page I posted, they came black on pedestrian Cutlii, silver painted on the 83/84 H/O, and gold on the 85-87 442s.
My wheels are not as identified in (C) above, since (C) above has trim rings - mine do not. I "think" you're suggesting (by the brochure) I have Super Stock (SS) chrome wheels which have no trim rings but my SS chrome wheels (no trim rings) were instead painted to give the appearance of SS wheels in body color [(C) above].
My wheels are not as identified in (C) above, since (C) above has trim rings - mine do not. I "think" you're suggesting (by the brochure) I have Super Stock (SS) chrome wheels which have no trim rings but my SS chrome wheels (no trim rings) were instead painted to give the appearance of SS wheels in body color [(C) above].
The wheels in D in the brochure are exactly the same as the ones on the 1985 442. They are just painted black instead of gold. Someone shot that with yellow when they put them on your car.
The wheels in D in the brochure are exactly the same as the ones on the 1985 442. They are just painted black instead of gold. Someone shot that with yellow when they put them on your car.
Yep. We were caught between postings and I deciphered as such. Thanks again, appreciate it.
Norm, the wheels you have are what I tried to buy for my '71 back when I switched from the 14's. I found a set but they had rust pits. So I settled for the trim ring ones- thus my painting fiasco. Take good care or those wheels I think they are the best for a driven car. Looks nice!
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Norm, the wheels you have are what I tried to buy for my '71 back when I switched from the 14's. I found a set but they had rust pits. So I settled for the trim ring ones- thus my painting fiasco. Take good care or those wheels I think they are the best for a driven car. Looks nice!
So, you want to know some info on some 80s Superstock wheels...
There were 3 different "N" wheels for superstock choices for G-bodies in the 80s. You can have the N67 which was the painted 14x6 with trim rings and sharper cornered hole bezels, standard on some models, with the snap on Olds rocket cap. Then the N66 which was the 14x6 chrome wheel without trim rings/bezels black inlay (except on Autumn Red Firemist [color code 74] 1984 Supreme Special Edition models (RPO WJ3, $355 package price) - they had autumn red firemist inlays if you chose the N66 optional wheels at no cost over the SE included wire wheel covers, but they're kind of considered one-offs). They also had the snap on rocket caps. There was the Medium Sand Gray Firemist [color code 87] ones. You could get N66 there as well, but they painted the inlays black on those. Finally, there was the N83 15x7 chrome superstock wheel. It wasn't a stand-alone option per se, it was an included wheel available only on the H/O or 442.
To note: The Firemist colors were normally ONLY available on 98 Regency or Toronado Brougham models in 1984, with the Cutlass Supreme SE the only excpetion. Again, rare does not necessarily mean valuable. It was more a sales gimmick to give the Supreme a little upscale feel to it. Special interior fabric, pinstripes, special edition emblems, body side moldings, special paint and wire wheels were the WJ3 package.
1980s RPO N83 - The H/O wheels had the 3/16" red pinstripes along the wheel lip perimeter, and the 85-87 442 had gold perimeter stripes, both in vinyl. No trim ring, nor bezel rings. All had snap on caps. 442 was the only caps that didn't feature a rocket emblem. They had the gold 442 on black cap emblem.
83/84 H/O wheels had a clearcoat on them from the factory. Depending on how well they were cared for sometimes the clearcoat chipped and got cloudy and stripping down to the chrome was the only thing that cleared that up. 85-87 did not have the clearcoat.
As stated, all the chrome superstock 80s wheels had paint in the inlays. 99.9% came with black, silver, or gold from the factory. Reason the paint was done was because chrome didn't take too well to the lug nut areas. Hard to smooth and polish those areas, so...paint. Mainly for asthetic reasons.
It appears your 15 x 7 JJ Canada wheels began life as 83 H/O wheels (based on the 82 date) where someone stripped the clearcoat and repainted the inlays to match the car. That's where I'd put my money.
There was a body colored superstock for the RWD 80s Delta 88s, 15x7, but they had big *** trim rings and a huge snap on cap that also covered the lugnuts. (RPO 72). These don't even fit into the equation here.
It appears your 15 x 7 JJ Canada wheels began life as 83 H/O wheels (based on the 82 date) where someone stripped the clearcoat and repainted the inlays to match the car. That's where I'd put my money.
Thanks for additional input. I purchased the vehicle in 2018 from a very, very small 10-15 used car automotive dealer lot in my town of 3600 residents. Dealer owner purchased vehicle from auction in Greensboro, NC, the vehicle was never titled outside the state of Georgia (until my ownership). I addressed my wheels in another CO thread a couple years ago and recall no one could address my main question which was: What could be the reason I'm finding a clear coat on all four wheels (mounted on the car) and the clear coast is located ONLY on the chrome (not on the painted lower body color). No one knew (I'll try to find the thread).
It took me a week of Sundays to remove all the clear coat from the chrome on each of the wheels. The chrome revealed underneath was absolutely spotless - no scratches, no blemishes, no pitting, no rust - nada, nothing, none - the wheels were and remain a brilliant chrome. My own suspicion has always been whomever painted the yellow body color (1st) masked off the area(s) where the yellow lower body color was going to be sprayed; next (2nd) they sprayed/applied a clear coat to all the chrome on each wheel; and finally, (3rd) they sprayed the yellow body color and left the clear coat covering the chrome in place (not removing the clear coat). Note: The yellow lower body color is the same color as the car - the car has been repainted. The yellow lower body color areas (I call each area a "reveal") have no polyurethane clear coat top finish of any type [IMO, a failure or the painter(s)]. The yellow lower body color paint contained in the reveals easily becomes discolored, easily mars, and easily soils (as the result of no polyurethane top coat finish).
I'm going to address painting and applying a polyurethane top coat to the reveals most likely in a couple months.
BTW/FWIW - I'll change the terms of the words I was using to what appears to be the correct (at least same for this thread) - e.g. bezel rings & inlays (better terms).
IIRC the chrome SS's on the non performance were 14x7.? And the were the same units on the 88's but were 15" on a different bolt pattern.
Pat
14x6 was the 14" N66 chrome wheel from the 80s. The big difference was the rim, or hoop. Center sections of the wheel were all the same between 14" and 15" superstock wheels for the particular model.
Found out a bit more about the bigger girls. There was an N83 wheel (15x7 chrome SS) for the last of the RWD B-bodies, but I believe you're right, it may have been on a 5x5 instead of a 4-3/4". It didn't have a trim ring and it had black inlays, and had a normal-sized cap.
They still used 7/16" lugs through 85 on the B body, best I can gather. Not as fluent in the big cars as I am with the G-body. By 82 the G-bodies were all metric lugs.
Internet pic, so take it with a grain of salt, but if it's 5x5, it's the only Olds 15x7 all chrome SS wheel they put on these things that I'm aware of.
Here's an 83 Delta 88 with the N72 15x7 with trim rings and monster caps that cover the lugs. Kinda neat looking, but I like the smaller cap myself.
They still used 7/16" lugs through 85 on the B body, best I can gather.
It depends on the brakes. Standard brakes were 11" front rotors and 9.5"x2" rear drums. These came with the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern and used the 7/16" lugs. Cars with HD brakes and suspension (usually taxi/police applications and wagons) got the 12" rotors and 11" x 2" drums and the 5 x 5" bolt pattern with 1/2" lugs.
It depends on the brakes. Standard brakes were 11" front rotors and 9.5"x2" rear drums. These came with the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern and used the 7/16" lugs. Cars with HD brakes and suspension (usually taxi/police applications and wagons) got the 12" rotors and 11" x 2" drums and the 5 x 5" bolt pattern with 1/2" lugs.
According to 1985 ordering information guide I have (normal flow through ordering, not fleet sales), you couldn't just order HD brakes on any Delta but F41 Firm Ride and Handling Package could be added (standard on B wagon). N83 was not available if you had the U89 wiring harness for trailering on all the B-bodies in 85 and N72 was not available on 84 cars with U89 trailer harness. This required N99 (HD wheels, again, standard on B wagon). So the N83s did not apply with trailering equipment. There was nothing magical about trailering equipment that mandated HD brakes or any of that. The don't even discuss brake equipment in the trailering selection section in the back of the guide. So I'm wondering what, besides say a fleet order specifying the big brakes...what triggered that? Ima Cutsomer couldn't just walk in and order big brakes on their Delta out of the regular ordering guide. Scary thing I learned is if you do any heavy trailering with an 85 Delta, GM didn't want you to do it with a Diesel. Recommended <1000 pound trailer load and 200 tongue weight for diesel or V6. Dang. Anything more than that, get the 5.0L gas V8.
According to parts information, the B-body N83 wheel uses 7/16" lugnuts so N83 likely wouldn't be available with HD brakes, either. So it makes sense that the Cruiser didn't have an N83 option. Thus, it can be deduced the 4.75" bolt pattern for the 15x7 chrome SS N83 wheels.
83/84 H/O wheels were code stamped NY. 85-87 442 wheels were code stamped MAD. The B-body N83 was code stamped LAT.
The N99 HD wheel, p/n 9590607, was a 15x7 wheel, stamped with either AE, FN, TJ, or LAM. There was an 82-83 N99 wheel 9590609 that was a 15x6. These are supposedly the trailering package wheel that was required on Deltas when the U89 trailer wiring was ordered. I don't know what the exact difference is to a non-HD wheel.
1971, actually. That was the first time the factory offered the RPO N67 SSIII body-color wheels as a stand-alone option. Yes, the 1970 Y74 pace cars and W45 Rallye 350s were the first to use body-color SuperStock wheels, but there was no stand-alone RPO code that year.
SS. I have a restored 1970 W-30,and the gentlemen that restored it to factory specs assures me that late in the production year they color matched the wheels to the paint,they didn't do very many,he said he wouldn't of won the Olds Nationals two years in a row with painted rally red wheels,I believe won 98&99 years.
