Riviera steel wheels

[RivNut]

I recently purchase five wheels off a 1964 Riviera.  They are nothing like anything that I've run across before.  They have the bolt pattern of the older Buicks that used lug bolts and had an alignment pin on the brake drum so there are smaller holes in the dimples to accomodate the alignment pin, but these wheels have the later model face that has the four holes for mounting the 63/64 cast wheel covers. They have a Kelsey-Hayessticker on them between the beads that gives some info. In all my years I have never run across a wheel like these. Can anyone give me a clue as to what they were initially made for? Any help will be appreciated. 

 

Ed

 

[JZRIV]

Ed are there any stamped numbers that might be relevant to a date code?

[kegart]

With those small holes, they look like late 50s early 60s that had lug bolts instead of lug nuts.

 

Kevin 

[RivNut]

That’s what I was getting at.  I could see maybe one wheel as a replacement but not five.  I have an original older 50s era wheel but it has five slots for “poverty cap” clips.  
 

Jason, I’ll take a closer look at one and post my findings.  I guess I should try to run the numbers on the stickers.

[1965rivgs]

  Maybe the vehicle was a theft recovery at some point and was missing the original wheels? The "X" number is a universal wheel number and is definitely later than the early-mid `60`s. The rims may have been manufactured later in the `60`s for multi-year retrofit back into the `50`s ??

  Look for a stamp that begins with the letter "K" with a series of characters after.

 

Tom

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by 1965rivgs (see edit history)

[lrlforfun]

OK Ed: The Turbine opening inthe poverty cap slit is the key here. Without that hole , definitely 1960 Buick only. I believe these were aftermarket as the 61-64 Buick rims did not have holes for the alignment pins and these accommodate them as well as the Turbine caps. 

 

 

 

I'm guessin' all 5 insurance replacements. Remember, many folks purchased an extra pair of rims for their Bu's to accommodate the snow tires and thus the availability.   Mitch

[RivNut]

I looked at the wheels again today and could not find any stampings on them.  I’ll look again if someone can give me an idea where to look for something. 

[1965rivgs]

Ed,

  I have a couple of NOS K-H steel rims, I`ll look for codes on mine.

Tom

[1965rivgs]

1 hour ago, RivNut said:

I looked at the wheels again today and could not find any stampings on them.  I’ll look again if someone can give me an idea where to look for something. 

  Take a look around the valve stem, pretty sure that is where I found them but it has been awhile since I last checked a K-H rim. The code will begin with a "K" which will be followed by other characters,

Tom

[1965rivgs]

21 hours ago, RivNut said:

I looked at the wheels again today and could not find any stampings on them.  I’ll look again if someone can give me an idea where to look for something. 

Ed,

  Did you check around the valve stem for codes? My K-H wheels have their codes stamped at the valve stem.

Tom

[RivNut]

I’ve been rebuilding my work bench.  It’s really nice outside today so guess who’s working inside. 
 

[RivNut]

Tom, 

I found some stampings next to the valve stem hole as you suggested.  I tried taking some pictures with my cell phone camera but it's not a very good camera.  I can make out a large W and some other light stampings but not everything.  Here are the pictures that I took.  Tomorrow I'll take a wire wheel to it and look again. I got one valve stem out and scrubbed around the hole with a Scotch Brite pad but that did not get through any paint.

Edited December 3, 2021 by RivNut (see edit history)

[1965rivgs]

  Look to the left of the valve stem...there will be a "K" and two or three characters after on the same horizontal plane...or possibly a single stamped digit underneath the previously first two referenced characters. My understanding is the "K" signifies Kelsey-Hayes, the next character is the plant at which the rim was manufactured, and the third character is the last digit of the year of manufacture providing the characters are all on the same horizontal plane...or the last digit of the year of manufacture may be underneath the first two previously referenced characters. i`m quite sure, after referencing the NOS K-H rims I have on hand and their characteristics, that your rims are `64 and earlier Buick replacements....possibly manufactured well after their model year application.

Tom

[RivNut]

@1965GS Tom,

I took a wire brush to the area around the valve hole and was able to expose some stampings.  Hopefully they are clear enough for you to decipher them. 

Ed

 

 

That is a K on the far left. K-1-9    11.   On the other side of the hole is a 19  and a W.