Different stock wheel styles through the years?

[kenmosher]

Split off from for sale thread

Were the WH1 wheel packages on the early "T"s different than the regular "T"s? Where they typically the "many finned" flat turbine style in both '84/85? Or was that an '84 thing only? How about "regular" T-Types in 1985? Western style or turbine?

Here's a few pictures of different 1985 Ts with the WH1 (at least that's what they were labeled) ...







... and a 1985 GN with stock wheels (and later (1986+) Ts definitely came with these wheels without the black between the ribs) ...

[gmv6turbopower]

they only made 2100 total 1985 t types so there is not too many left these days. i stripped 2 that were beyond hope.they also made about 2100 1985 gns as well and i had 3 of those!

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...85ttype003.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...85ttype002.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...85ttype005.jpg

the car pictured above had the turbine style wheels on it when i went and got the car but the previous owner wanted to keep the wheels so i brought my own with me.

the second 85 t type i had also had the turbine wheels that car was rotted beyond hope as well. that car was maroon with maroon bucket seat interior t top and originally a non posi car that somebody slipped 1 in.

i also had a 84 wh1 that did have the other type wheels we were discussing.

here is a pic on a 85 hardtop gn that i got from a guy in pa that also has the turbine wheels but they were painted.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n.../85gnpa006.jpg

this car was also stripped because of rot.

here is another 85 that i had that was also stripped due to rot this 1 was a t top.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...0gn/ghfdhd.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...n/gyfiugui.jpg


i have had quite a few of these cars and i know them well.

i also had a 87 t NON TURBO that had the turbine wheels that were painted black in between the spokes like the 85 gn wheels??

[kenmosher]

OK, I think we have a terminology confusion issue ..

When I say TURBINE, I mean like the '84 pictured:



The wheels you have shown are what I call "Western" style wheels ... sometimes called "Vector" as well. Like the GN you showed and this one:



Those were DEFINITELY on the '85 GNs ... but as far as I know, they WEREN'T on the T-Types. They got the many finned "turbine" style wheels? As in the picture above?

Dammit, now I'm gonna have to dig in the boxes and pull out my literature ... I think I have some '84 dealer brochures and I also have the service manuals with pics ....

[Keller]

Is there really an argument here? I'm confused...

The rotted, abused T in your pics above has 1980somethig Camaro Z/IROC wheels.

The 84/85 T's have the "turbine" wheels with the flat face and high fin count. Just like in the pictures above.

The 84/85 GN had the "Vector" (referenced from the American Racing "Vector" wheel of almost identical pattern) style wheel with black inlays. However, those who did not care for them well or who used cleaning products that were too aggressive might have found the black coating coming off.

The 86/87 T's had the "Vector" style wheels, but with no painted inlays.

The 86/87 GNs had a steel wheel whose center pattern is like the mid 80s Riv wheels, but with black paint and a differnt width and offset.

[kenmosher]

OK, found some good documentation to clear it up ... the W44 book to the rescue!

The 1985 W11 T-Type package came with the "N90" wheels with the T logo on the cap.

W11 T-Type Package list:



The N90 wheel (used in 84/85 Ts):



The 1985 WE2 Grand National package:



came with the N89 wheel (with between the spokes painted black) ... later 86/87Ts came with these wheels also but not painted.

[Keller]

The 1985 Riviera with the wheels that the 86/87 GN wheels are based on. Notice that the centers are the same, save for the black paint.

[gmv6turbopower]

i guess by some weird coincidence both 85 t types that i had came with the vector/western wheels.

the former owner of the white t type wanted to keep the vector/western wheels so i had to bring these wheels to get it on the trailer.

i have only had 1 84 it was a wh1 and it did have the turbine wheels.

i have seen other 85 forsale with the western/vector on them i guess everybody must of put them on their cars????


no arguement just a discussion.we both may be learning something here!

[kenmosher]

The Western/Vector wheels USED to be very common. The reason why they are dubbed "Western" is that the Western/Vector actually had an aftermarket version that was very popular and available in wider widths for the Turbo Regals (and were also popular with the late 60's Charger crowd).

The turbine style wheels were much rarer and were only used for 84/85 Ts (while the GNs of the same years used the Western/Vector wheel). The turbine wheels were discontinued after 1985 but the Western/Vectors were continued for the rest of the G-Body Regal's production run on the "T Package" cars (both turbo and with the 307 V8). Because of availability, a lot of earlier "T"s had the later wheels put on them by owners to look more like the GN and/or later model Regals. A lot of these wheels were also used to mount slicks and such, since they were pretty easy to get and fairly affordable ... often times the owner would swap out all 4 wheels at that time.

[gmv6turbopower]

i went back 100 days in the cars forsale section on the other board and looked up 85 t types for sale and only 4 cars had pictures 3 out of 4 had the turbine wheels.the 4th car had the western vector wheels!

i guess i learned something thanks!

still think it was weird both 85 t types i had both had the western/vector wheels

[Keller]

I'd like to address a pet peeve of mine.

The finned aluminum wheels on the 86/87 Ts and 84/85 GNs do not resemble the "Western" wheels from the 70s much at all. They are almost a direct clone of the American Racing "Vector" wheels from the mid-70s through mid 80s.

Magazines, forums, and everyone-and-their-brother seems to keep referring to the wider 15x8 versions of the American Racing "Vector" wheels as "Westerns". They aren't. I've attached a picture of one of the Western "turbine" style wheels of that era for reference. Much higher "fin" count, and little or no resemblance to to the Vector or N89 GM wheel.

The Vectors were made in a lot of bolt patterns. I have seen 4, 5, and 6 hole versions, and Ford, MoPar, and Chrysler bolt circles. So if you are looking for some bigger rear wheels, bring a ruler or tape to be sure of what you are buying.

Anyway, see my article on the website about some GM pattern Vector wheels I have seen/had. And please...let's forget about the Western wheels.