I have 4 14" steelies here. The only stamping I can find on 3 them says "ELECTROFU"

The 4th one reads Kelsey Hayes Canada JK on the inner portion. stamped to the left of the valve stem reads K2 with a #9 underneath. then 2 .

Right side of the valve stem reads 14 and 55.

Any ideas on either?

 

The only thing I could find was in a corvette restoration book.

The wheel example in the book read: K12 4 and other side of stem read: 13 AZ

K=Kelsey-hayes
1=Chevrolet division ?
2=1972
4=April
13=April 13
AZ= 15" x 8 " Corvette application.


Judging by this example, my wheel is,
K= K.H.
2= ??? motor division
9= 1969
2= Feb.
14=feb 14
55= Wheel code for ???

 

I wish I could help decode those wheels. What bolt pattern are they? Post pics if you can. Hopefully someone knows what they are.

 

2 should signify Pontiac. Henry

 

I discovered the "electrofu" wheels were 1965-1967 mopar wheels from big block cars, And were made by Motor Wheel.

Motor Wheel Electrofuse.


I found the pic on Classicchambered.com. They have a ton of wheels for sale on there.

 

Henry, I believe 4 is Olds, but I am unable to verify it. Kelsey Hayes codes for Chevy are out there, but I can't find a source that decodes them "all".

"Electrofuse" was the term MotorWheel coined for their manufacturing process. It is not exclusive to those Mopar wheels. I have MotorWheel Olds steel wheels with "ELECTROFUSE" stamped inside.

 

My guess stems from the GM ID system where first number of a chevrolet vin is 1, pontiac is 2, Olds is 3 and buick is 4.??????????????

Henry

 

[QUOTE=66400;617457]That certainly makes sense. I'm sure there is more info available about those codes, I just haven't found it.

 

Thanks for the insight, Kurt.

I have also heard that the second number in the sequence isn't a division code at all, but a plant code.

1 could be Romulus, MI instead of Chevrolet division for example.

I don't know for certain, just trying to learn a thing or 2.

 

Now that you mention it, you are right! (Presuming the Chevy guys are right)

I'd like to find more of what I've attached here.

The spare in my very late build '68 442 is:
left (of hole), K481 5
right, 13 TW

 

So, judging by the paperwork,
k=kelsey
4=plant code
8= 1968
1= January

5=? I have no clue what this renegade number is. Possibly 14x5?

13=Jan 13th
TW= Wheel code


So......that kind of defeats the logic of standard division numbers with your olds wheel being a 4. Most likely plant code.

 

Interesting...

All 5 of the rims on my 68 442 read:
K1
7. 11. Hole. 27 HF



With 4 piston calipers...corvette rims?
Car assembled in Oshawa first week in Jan 1968

 

So your wheels would be 11-27-1967 That's pretty Hopefully your wheels aren't lopsided because of being made 1st thing Monday morning haha.


So, Kelsey plant #4 calls 442 wheels TW and at plant #1 they call them HF. I find that to be pretty random.

Now the new question is.....Why does 1 68 442 have HF codes and another have TW? I'm beginning to think that this "correct letter code" thing is a sham, and doesn't matter too much. Hard road to enlightenment here.

 

And if kurt's wheel was truly made on Jan, 13th like I'm theorizing .....That day was a saturday, and mucks things up even more.

So, in summary, I'm about as clear as mud on this matter.

 

K= Kelsey Hayes
1= plant code(Romulus MI) that apparently made mostly Chev rims...
7=date,(1967)

1=month(Jan)
1= Day of month(1)
...these wheels were made New Years Day?

27 HF...shift???

More research......

 

that's what I've heard K is Kelsey Hayes, the 2 is a plant code, next number is year of manufacture. then the month and date and the 2 letter wheel code

 

no, what J had is right. 11/27/67 and HF is the application code. HF is a 68 model year wheel code and your date backs this up. Since your car/body was built the first week of Jan 68, the rims predating that by 5 weeks makes perfect sense. btw, dual piston disc brakes where an option on your 68 442

 

Sammy's right. More research needed.
1. The plant code won't tell us much, I've also found "1=Romulus, MI, 2=Windsor, ON, 3=Philadelphia, PA" and the plants could have made wheel for many makes.
2. The "application" code may be a code for the spec of the wheel (size, baclspace, etc)
I'm contacting Jim Larson as he has done a lot of research of wheels.

 

I was thinking that the application code could be related to the car coming with the dual piston brakes, specifically in 1968.
Kurt, does your car have them?

Also, really to know the rims from the car are prob original...but as J says, what's up with the different application codes?

 

HF code wheels should be for disc brakes which your car has. An identical 68 without disc brakes may have received the same size wheel but a different code because of the drum brakes. The factory assembly manuals have a page showing all wheel codes and applications.

As far as wheel codes go:

Example: K 1____7(valve)26 _____LZ
_________9
K1 w/9 below is Kelsey Hayes, plant 1 as was said above, year 1969
7=July
26=July 26th
LZ=specific wheel code this one being for the 70-72 SSI

Motor Wheel Corp. did the same thing but had an M where the K is above.

 

I have some 1969 dated Corvette 8" rallys that have an extra #, K195 with 5 being an extra digit and not 100% percent sure what it means, if anything. One source said that some late build wheels got this extra number sometimes and my buddies very late build 69 Corvette did have the same K195 stamp that my wheels had. Yours has an extra number as well. Is this how yours lays out:

K481 _____5(valve)13 _______TW

If so, the are dated May 13, 1968. The 1 next to the 8 looks to be just like the 5 in my Vette wheels above.

 

Just noticed this Kurt. As far as a chevy wheel is concerned the stamping of the manufacture, plant, yr, then the month, then the day, followed by the code started some time after Dec of 1967 as that is the latest rim I have personally seen with the old style stamp of just the code.

The code indicated the particular application of the rim. For example a single "R" stamp by the valve stem would be a early 68, a 67, orr earlier olds 442. A single "6" to the right of a valve stem would be a early 66 chevelle SS or an early GTO. Kelsey Hayes used three different stampings for 66 chevelles, depending on when the rims were manufactured.

For chevys there were at least three company manufacturing rims, Kelsey Hayes (4 plants), Motor Wheel (later bought in the 70's by KH), Norris Technologies (out in CA) . I have seen 442 rims coded R made by KH and Motor Wheel; but would think NT also made them.

Depending upon the manufacture there were some different style of stamping on the tire side of the rim and on the center section. And in the case of Motor Wheel the design of the outer rim and center section was a little different than say KH for the "R" coded rims.

I think the original poster is reading the code incorrectly. It should be a two letter code. Maybe he will repost with a correction or photo.
Kelsey Hayes, Plant 2, 1969, Feb 14, 55 (incorrectly read).

For Sammys rims Kelsey Hayes, Plant 1 Romulus, 1967, November 27, code HF (standard steel disc brake rim with 1.00 offset).

For Orange 442, KH, Plant 4, 1968, May 13, code TW.

Chevy started using the same style rim for disc and drum brakes sometime in the late 60's.

 

Another of my quests, Sorry for poor quality, some info compiled from Chebby sites, obviously, but the pattern shows basic layout. Hope this is useful.

 

sorry I missed this thread .....


Motor Wheel Corp. plant #1 is Lansing & plant #5 is in CANADA somewhere?


I usually type the stampings as: M1/8 6 -o- 17 LS


M1 = Motor Wheel Corp. plant #1 Lansing, MI
8 = 1968
-o- = valve stem
6 = June
17 = 17th of month (Monday, June 17, 1968)
LS = application (on a '68 14x6.0" SSII)


Some of the Mopar (& other?) wheels have 6.0, 5.0 or 5.5 (wheel width) instead of an application code.

 

happy new year, i was just wondering while you are talking about rims, did they not change bolt patterns every three years or so? and wouldn't at least any of numbers pertain to that or no? just wondering. i have a 64 and mine came with mags on it and 15 inch rims and know it should be 14teens, i am going to shitcan the mags and get originals steel rims. so reading these posts have helped. thanks

 

I'm trying to catch up on this wheel thread.
I have 4 people here saying that Sammy's HF is a disc brake code. I must be blind in one eye and can't see out of the other, because my PIM says it should be HB, not HF. I don't see a HF code for '68.
Where are you getting the HF information from?







Yes that is exactly the layout.

I have drum brakes. But I have no reason to believe the spare is original, it may or may not be. I'm supposed to be getting what are possibly the 4 original wheels that were on the car. But I don't have my hands on them yet.
I also have a number of wheels to get pics of and numbers off of, so stay tuned!

 

Here is another code from a rim that fits the disc break option on my 68 442, M29_____12__VALVE__12XE. The rims were on a 1970 Cutlass.....

 

Sammy, I think the XE code is for a 68 or 69 chevelle SS standard steel disc brake wheel, maybe 70-72 SS chevelles. It also might be for other cars. It is just like the HF coded rims except the offset is 0.88 and the HF offset is 1.00. I also have two other rims in my garage, 100% like the XE rims with a 0.88 offset; but a different code, MN I think, that might have been for different gm cars.

I think the HF rims were used on late 60's to early 70's GTO's disc brake rim, standard steel. Maybe others.

Kurt, do you have any HF coded rims? If so, what is the offset?

 

I have not had time yet to go though my wheels since we picked up this discussion, but I still plan to.
I have the same info as you that the XE code is '68-'69 Chevy.

Are those codes exclusive to a make?

BTW, I'm still looking for an answers to my #26 post:
"I have 4 people here saying that Sammy's HF is a disc brake code. I must be blind in one eye and can't see out of the other, because my PIM says it should be HB, not HF. I don't see a HF code for '68.
Where are you getting the HF information from?"

 

On a 66-7 chevelle the rim code is contained on the broadcast sheets or build sheets depending upon the assembly plant. The code for the standard 14x6 JK rim is a Large 6; however there were different type of stamp like a 6, 6 A. 6 A3 depending upon plant and time of manufacture. Confusing, you bet, I have personally seen all these different stamps. The part # in the AIM is the same a a GTO pontiac AIM part # and pontiac owners have told me the correct code for a 65-67 got is a Large 6. It seem the Chevelle SS and GTO used the same codes for 66-7; don't know about other years.

It appears this same rim was used on some 442's in the 65-67 era with a code of R and made by KH and NT; however, Motor Wheel also made a rim coded R for 442's of this era coded R with a slightly different center section (cut out area) and a different outer hoop.

I have been told by quite a few sources that the HF is the code for 68-72 pontiac GTO'S 14x6 disc brakes, Maybe chevelle ss also. I have personally had numerous HF rim and they were made by Motor Wheel, NT, and KH. Depending upon the year and the manufacture there was a minor difference in the cutout areas. A flat looking cutout as opposed to a curved cutout. See the photos, both rims made by Motor wheel in 1970. Only difference is the offset, 1.00 and 0.88 respectively

What is you PIM? Is it the same as a Chevelles AIM or assembly instruction manual? Or is it like a Chevelle build sheet. I have no reason to think the 68 olds code is a HF other than the previous posts. Awaiting what you have to report after looking at you other rims.

 

I parted out a 67 Tempest wagon with factory dual piston calipher disc brakes and still have the spare wheel and it has HB code by valve stem.
Henry

 

Henry, do you have a photo or two of the rim, what is the offset or backspacing? thanks

 

Lots of good info there Jim. I'll respond to what I can here briefly. Yes, the PIM is aka the Assembly Manual. For Olds they are the "Product Information Manual" up until something like 1976 when Olds started calling them PDMs, "Product Description Manual".
I've attached the wheel code page for 1968. Note that '68 was the last year for the R code for Olds, and also note the HB disc brake wheel code. These codes are also what show up on the Olds build sheets in the wheel code box.

It is important that we realize that these are "application" codes used to identify what wheels go on what cars in the manufacturing process. It is not a code to identify all of the wheel detail. Meaning there *may* be differences in wheels with the same code. Of course if there is, it would theoretically be minor and insignificant to the manufactures engineering dept.
I know that is a "fine line" of difference, but it is important when we get down to this level of detail. Plus we are working with a *lot* of second hand information.

 

from a couple '67 Oldsmobile build sheets

February 1967 Fremont built Cutlass Supreme w/442 convertible:
BOX 45 WHEELS “R”
BOX 108 TIRE DESCR “F70x14 N/R,S 2
BOX 109 “N81 F70x14 2PL 4PR”, “N95 SIM WIRE WHLS” & “P12 HD WHEELS”

February 1967 Fremont built Cutlass Supreme Holiday coupe:
BOX 45 WHEELS “A”
BOX 108 TIRE DESCR “775x14 R/W/W 2
BOX 109 “P01 WHEEL DISC” & “P26 STD WSW TIRES”

 

XE is also correct for 70 Pontiac A body, GTO/Tempest/LeMans

 

Your speck sheet Kurt was dated Aug 1967 and was first used in 1968. I assume that would be starting for the 68 model in Sept of 1967.
Is it possible that the Oshawa plant was using up inventory?
I cannot see it being coincidence that the car has all 5 coded steel rims, whose manufacture date were 5 weeks before the car was assembled.
Another interesting item is the XE rims came from an all drum brake 1970 Cutlass, and it also had all five the same code/manufacture dates....

 

That really isn't a spec sheet, it is an engineering document. One of the "blueprints" they use through the year. Original issue of August (which is very late for the original issue), but notice in the revision ledger that the last revision E is dated 3/1/68 (3/4 of the way through the model year). So the information is current to that date.
That said, there are changes that were made during the year, and the revision ledger and revision notes may or may not reveal what was there with previous releases.
Sure any plant could (under some circumstances) use up stock, but that certainly was not the norm. Little of that is documented.
I'm not at all suggesting your wheels did not come on your car originally. But as you can see for yourself, the factory docs say the code for your 68 was HB. I have not looked everywhere, but I don't know what the HF is supposed to be for. (I'll ask a stupid question, are you sure it is HF and not HB?) Never the less, if your wheels are correct size/configuration-wise, they very well may be original.

 

partial Kurt Quote " but I don't know what the HF is supposed to be for."
FWIW--> I have a 72 Supreme Sedan, power drum brakes w/ HF {1/24, 1/25, 1/26/72} wheels.

 

Thanks. Prompted me to look further. Yes, HF shows up in '72. Attached are the wheel pages from '69-'72.
HF first shows up in '70., part number 9791450. It is not the 442 wheel in '70-'72(at least), because I believe the all the 14" wheels (sport and steel) were 14" x 7".

Bottom line is that I don't show the HF code wheel to be correct for the 442 for any year.

 

Here is what I found last night regarding steel rims.

65-68: Code R for 442, (14x6).

67-68: Code HB (14x6), showed up as disc brake for use in 67 to 68.

69: Code LR, (14x6),for 442 & S.W., and for disc brake option, gm 403397

70: Code XT, (14x7) for 442.

Code HF , (14x6), for all disc brake (exc 442 & sw)

Code XE, (14x6), for all exc 442 & sw

Code LR, (14x6) for S.W.

71: Code XT (14x7), for 442

Code HF (14x6) for all others (exc 442 and sw)
Code MH (14x6) for S.W. 14x6

Interesting to note that I found a 67 tempest document on wheels showing.

HB code showed up as a disc brake rim and had same part number as HB in the olds document, gm 9773690. So both Pontiac and Olds used the same rim in 67. likely to assume this happened with other codes and though Chevy and Buick to some extent.

Also in the garage I have HF rims from Motor Wheel, Kelsey Hayes, and Norris Technologies, so likely to assume all three manufactured wheels to all gm divisions. I also have some MH rims and some XE rims, which appear to be exactly the same. XE is the code for late 60 chevelles and now I find MH used for olds.