Here's the deal. I've got a total of 5 stock 4 1/2" steel wheels, four from one car and one from the spare of my parts car. The matched set are date-coded 4-71, the odd one is 3-71. I need to make one of the five a spare for my normal car. I could use the odd one, but it's going to take a fair amount of prep work (strip and re-paint). Or I could use one of the others that is ready to go, but that would break up the matched set.

Now, remember that none of these wheels are the proper date code for my car, they are all 6-8 months too late. So it really doesn't matter to me which one I use in the spare. But if someone else might someday need/want the matched set, that would probably be enough reason for me to expend the effort to strip the odd one, rather than break up the set. I'm just not certain if there's enough people truly restoring cars of the 4/71-6/71 vintage to make the set desirable.

Does this make any sense to anyone? Should I be concerned about breaking up the set?

Well, I just paid a bunch for a date-matched correct 5/72 wheels for my Z, so I'd try to sell them as a matched set. Maybe I'm a sucker, I don't care. I bet someone would want those wheels as a matched set, especially if they want to pursue a #1/#2 level resto.

Since it's non-matching to your car, why put that much effort into cleaning it up? Make sure it's round and balanced, and do enough to make it look passable. Maybe a 10/70 set will come up and you can blow the cash on that....

$0.02,

Steve

Since it's non-matching to your car, why put that much effort into cleaning it up?

I'm just fussy that way, I guess. Can't see putting it in the car if it's all ratty-looking. If I'm going to clean it up at all, I may as well do it right.

Maybe a 10/70 set will come up and you can blow the cash on that....

Not likely that I'd spend much on date-matched wheels for a car that no longer has it's original engine or transmission. I certainly understand the reason some people might want things like that, but my car can never be original again, so why bother?

Not likely that I'd spend much on date-matched wheels for a car that no longer has it's original engine or transmission. I certainly understand the reason some people might want things like that, but my car can never be original again, so why bother?

Ah, true. Forgot you didn't have the original engine/trans. Well, maybe the cash from selling the complete set can fund some better upgrade down the road.

So, why do you care about having a steel wheel spare anyway? I mean, why not just buy five of your rims of choice, keeping the fifth in the spare wheel well?

So, why do you care about having a steel wheel spare anyway? I mean, why not just buy five of your rims of choice, keeping the fifth in the spare wheel well?

Because wider rims don't fit in the spare well. I've got a 5 1/2" wide slot mag in the spare well right now, and the spare cover sits 3/4" above the floor. Can't use wider than a 5" in the spare well of a 240.

I've got some (hopefully) original steel wheels, but I'm confused about the date code stuff. Where is it found on the wheel?

Arne,

I have a spare wheel that you can have. I'll trade you for the gauge bracket. Date code is 5/72. Not perfect but a light scotchbrite is all it needs. Will even loan you a wheel.

No worries, Bryan. I've got plenty of wheels. I was just being lazy. I'll clean up my odd wheel. And thanks for the offer, but I prefer to to have you guys up north owe me. Someday I'll need something important.

The date code is stamped into the face of the wheel, following the manufacturer's name (Topy). The wheel in the linked picture is a 4/71.

http://classiczcars.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12497&d=1148696800

I had totally ignored the rim on my spare until Arne posted posted the pics of the date stamp. So I got curious and pulled mine out to have a look only to find that what I thought was a Z rim probably is not. It is a 13 inch rim with similar slots and no date stamp that I can discern. The bolt pattern seems a little small as well, though I only rough measured it and didnt try to put it on the car. Did these cars ever come with 13 inch rims? This also explains why my hold down wont sit below the deck height.

Anyone know where I can find a decent rim for a spare? The junk yards here are pathetic.

Best,

H Houghton

Did these cars ever come with 13 inch rims?

No. All were 14", in all markets.