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Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Dave Plummer User icon on 3/11/2018, 12:50 pm

As you may know up in Canada the Pontiacs were built on Impala chassis for 69 and Chevy-style rally wheels were an option.

I read on one site that to get the "wide track" for Canada, they used a US Chevy Wagon rally wheel which was supposedly offset more. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

So my actual question is whether there really is any difference in a "Wagon" rally wheel. So far as I can tell for 69 all "Passenger" rally wheels are coded DC and there's no special rally wheel for wagons, but I'm no expert.

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Dave Plummer User icon on 3/14/2018, 11:59 am, in reply to "Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"

So I did some more research in the catalogs. Here's what I found.

For 1969 all fullsize cars including wagons used part number 3901698.

That's true of 1970 as well except for wagons they added part number 3968773 which I guess is the wagon version.

I verified this in both the US Impala catalog and the Canada Pontiac catalog (same chassis). Both use the same wheel across the line in '69 and then introduced the special wagon version in '70.

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Jon Krogh User icon on 3/14/2018, 2:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"
VIP Member and Board Expert

Dave, If you look in more books this 3901698 number is for 1967-1969 15x6 Rally wheels. This is a perfect example of why you cant always rely on Parts Books for 100% of restoration VS what actually was used. In this case its a wheel that was basically the same but we have spelled out the differences in stampings by the valve stem.

If you look in a GM "Parts history book" , your 3901698 is superceded or changed to 3968773 . I think a good explanation for this might be DC Versus YS . Then to really confuse you , 1981 Chevy Corvette only parts book lists 3968773 for ONLY 1967 Corvette. What this means in this particular book , since only 67 Corvettes used the 15x6 rally,, the REPLACEMENT part is, or only thing Chevy had available to fix your 67 vette in 1981 was the 1970 15x6 3968773 part numbered wheel. Same wheel in offset size and shape as all 1967-1970 15x6 DC YS wheels , CAR and WAGON.

The absolute BEST wheel book is Chevrolet by the Numbers . It lists everything by Code. All of the authors code information came directly from the GM Archives

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Dave Plummer User icon on 3/15/2018, 12:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"

I'm not sure where you're disagreeing or why you say you can't rely on the parts book.

Which part of my post are you actually disagreeing with?

If it's the use of 3901698 in 1970, I'm only asserting that year for Canadian Pontiacs. Could have been left over wheels they shipped up North, for all I know.

But 3901698 appears to be the right rally wheel for 1969 on wagons and coupes. Then in 1970 they added a special wagon wheel.

I'm using a Dec70 book because I'm trying to avoid too many "superseded" parts which I think makes it in accurate for restorations, of course.

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by donnyb User icon on 3/13/2018, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"
VIP Member and Board Expert

Basically, there are 2 types of "DC" wheels. The first ones, 1967, have a larger font. The 68 and early 69's were also coded "DC" and the font was smaller. There is no such thing as a 6 1/2" or 7 1/2" inch DC wheel. They were all 6", period. There was a "DB" coded wheel in 67 that was 5" wide for use on standard disc brake cars. These wheels were all welded. The 15 x 6 riveted wheels were often found on Corvettes and were coded "FI".

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Jon Krogh User icon on 3/14/2018, 10:25 am, in reply to "Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"
VIP Member and Board Expert

Theres actually one more 1967 Rally wheel that was used , the DG . I have found 2 sets of these on Impalas, one was a 1967 Caprice 4 door loaded car with 4 piston discs. The Corvette guys have the history on why its a DG instead of a DC and the month or two that it was used. If I remember right it had to do the the DC stamp going bad so they used the DG for a short time. Same exact wheel.

I think ? what Nick is saying about 6 1/2 inch wheels Don is for 14 inch 14x6 C wheels for Station Wagons but is measuring to the outside , same with his 7 1/2 comment . Wheels are measured BETWEEN the beads , not outside edges.

Yes DC was used to 1969 but superceded by YS code 15x6.

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Nick User icon on 3/12/2018, 6:12 pm, in reply to "Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"

Dave. The wagons I believe had 7 1/2 inch wide wheels because they came with bigger tires like 8-25-14 4 plys. Most Impalas and Biscayne cars get Corvette wheels which fills the wheel wells for show and a wider stance. They got 6 1/2 from the factory. I think most judges overlook this fact. NICK L72

427impalasportcoupe

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Steve User icon on 3/12/2018, 8:11 am, in reply to "Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"
VIP Member and Board Expert

The wagon rally wheel is identical in offset and dimension to the passenger car, with the exception of its center and rim being riveted together instead of welded. All so equipped 69 fullsize used a 15x6 rally wheel.

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by Dave Plummer User icon on 3/12/2018, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"

I'll have to check my USA Impala parts catalog to see that. In Canada all cars got the same wheel, part number 3901698, which is a DC-coded wheel.

Anyone know the part number of this riveted wagon wheel and what they'd be coded?

Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels

Posted by HMC User icon on 3/12/2018, 1:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Wagon and DC coded rally wheels"

The riveted wheel is coded FI. I come across them every once in awhile when parting out 69's

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