Special period wheels? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

factorystock · 07-23-2016, 06:57 PM

This Blazer if from an automotive show in 1970. An era when it was popular to chrome steel wheels. OK, it is a Blazer, rear axle appears to be the standard 1/2 ton axle. Wheels appear to be period 16.5's. Hubcaps are the large 12" caps used only on 8 lug wheels( a trained eye can easily spot this out). My conclusion, these wheels must be 6 lug with a much larger 12" nub spacing, not the typical 10 1/4" nub spacing. I would say these 6 lug 16.5" wheels would be very rare if they accept the 12" 3/4 ton caps.

tommys72 · 07-23-2016, 07:54 PM

I dont know, but it looks good! Wish it was in color

Keith Seymore · 07-23-2016, 09:53 PM

Cool pic.

I wouldn't read too much into how the wheels or caps were made. For a show vehicle they could have been stamped out of pie tins and taped on, or the centers cut out of a set of 3/4 ton wheels and welded up to create a set of four.

K

Keith Seymore · 07-23-2016, 09:54 PM

- or - machined out of flat stock and held together with set screws.

K

PanelDeland · 07-23-2016, 09:57 PM

It could also be that the wheels are "Argent" the color of the later rallyes and have beauty rings and special caps.

**MusicMan70** · 07-23-2016, 10:02 PM

So the "trained-Eye" looks at the center of the cap to determine it belongs to a 3/4 ton?

**Classic v6 GMC's** · 07-23-2016, 10:21 PM

I think the picture was doctored. Just look around the back of the bed where it meets the camper.

**special-K** · 07-25-2016, 10:35 AM

I have this picture from the magazine article. While it's true a wide truck tire back then would have been a 16.5, and that's what a 1/2t got with the 10.00 flotation tire option, I think these are chrome reverse 15s. You never saw a whitewall 16.5. I think those are L78-15s on 15 x 8s. That was the biggest car tire a whitewall came on. True, a whitewall 16.5 could also be easily created. If those are the hubcaps for 8-lug, the front caps are one-off to fit the 1/2t hub. My picture is smaller, but I never felt the wheels looked like 16.5s. That's usually something I pick right up on. Both size hubcaps fit to the rim the same, so the question is rim size. The wheels do appear to be the duplex type, like 16.5s

What I see in 1/2t vs 8-lug hubcaps are the 1/2t edges are actually taller and steeper with the face area more flat. The 8-lug face is more angled

factorystock · 07-29-2016, 09:20 PM

The plot thickens.

67ChevyRedneck · 07-29-2016, 09:28 PM

I heard the special period wheels were only offered for one week out of every month. That could explain why they're so rare?

mud.man.rj · 07-29-2016, 09:29 PM

Oh, now we really need to know when it's advertised too..hmm

factorystock · 07-31-2016, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

What I see in 1/2t vs 8-lug hubcaps are the 1/2t edges are actually taller and steeper with the face area more flat. The 8-lug face is more angled

That is correct, here is the visual comparsion.

07-23-2016, 06:57 PM	#1
factorystock Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 3,380	Special period wheels? This Blazer if from an automotive show in 1970. An era when it was popular to chrome steel wheels. OK, it is a Blazer, rear axle appears to be the standard 1/2 ton axle. Wheels appear to be period 16.5's. Hubcaps are the large 12" caps used only on 8 lug wheels( a trained eye can easily spot this out). My conclusion, these wheels must be 6 lug with a much larger 12" nub spacing, not the typical 10 1/4" nub spacing. I would say these 6 lug 16.5" wheels would be very rare if they accept the 12" 3/4 ton caps. Attached Images

07-23-2016, 07:54 PM	#2
tommys72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: springfield mo Posts: 3,075	Re: Special period wheels? I dont know, but it looks good! Wish it was in color __________________ United States Marine Corps 2000-2011 Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Just living life now and enjoying it and my wife, daughter and son

07-23-2016, 09:53 PM	#3
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,213	Re: Special period wheels? Cool pic. I wouldn't read too much into how the wheels or caps were made. For a show vehicle they could have been stamped out of pie tins and taped on, or the centers cut out of a set of 3/4 ton wheels and welded up to create a set of four. K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

07-23-2016, 09:54 PM	#4
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,213	Re: Special period wheels? - or - machined out of flat stock and held together with set screws. K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

07-23-2016, 09:57 PM	#5
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Special period wheels? It could also be that the wheels are "Argent" the color of the later rallyes and have beauty rings and special caps. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

07-23-2016, 10:02 PM	#6
MusicMan70 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 1,842	Re: Special period wheels? So the "trained-Eye" looks at the center of the cap to determine it belongs to a 3/4 ton? __________________ MusicMan70 1961 GMC Suburban

07-23-2016, 10:21 PM	#7
Classic v6 GMC's Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Arizona from Overland Park Kansas Posts: 3,968	Re: Special period wheels? I think the picture was doctored. Just look around the back of the bed where it meets the camper. Attached Images __________________ Current projects: 1966 Chevy Custom PS PB A/C BBW 283 v8 3 speed OD 1966 GMC Long Step 1966 GMC 3/4 ton Custom PS PB Sport trim 351 v6 1966 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Custom PB 305 v6 np435 1960 GMC Custom 1968 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Short Bed 1962 K20 Tow truck 1961 GMC Extended Suburban Panel and a few more

07-25-2016, 10:35 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Special period wheels? I have this picture from the magazine article. While it's true a wide truck tire back then would have been a 16.5, and that's what a 1/2t got with the 10.00 flotation tire option, I think these are chrome reverse 15s. You never saw a whitewall 16.5. I think those are L78-15s on 15 x 8s. That was the biggest car tire a whitewall came on. True, a whitewall 16.5 could also be easily created. If those are the hubcaps for 8-lug, the front caps are one-off to fit the 1/2t hub. My picture is smaller, but I never felt the wheels looked like 16.5s. That's usually something I pick right up on. Both size hubcaps fit to the rim the same, so the question is rim size. The wheels do appear to be the duplex type, like 16.5s What I see in 1/2t vs 8-lug hubcaps are the 1/2t edges are actually taller and steeper with the face area more flat. The 8-lug face is more angled __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-29-2016, 09:20 PM	#9
factorystock Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 3,380	Re: Special period wheels? The plot thickens. Attached Images

07-29-2016, 09:28 PM	#10
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Special period wheels? I heard the special period wheels were only offered for one week out of every month. That could explain why they're so rare? __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

07-29-2016, 09:29 PM	#11
mud.man.rj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Creighton Sask. Canada Posts: 4,121	Re: Special period wheels? Oh, now we really need to know when it's advertised too..hmm __________________ 1987 Green n Green machine. 5.0 4spd std. 7" lift w 35's.



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