VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 pinstripes on wheels

What sort of info is available on pinstripes on wheels? I have a prewar GMC and was curious if any info exists. I am a member of the old gmc site and we have not come to anything conclusive as yet. I thought I would ask here. The Chevy trucks of the era had a single fat stripe around the valve stem area and 2 smaller stripes near the hubcap.
I have an old wheel that was in the back of the truck when I bought it and since it did not match the other wheels nor did I recognize it as a truck wheel , I put it aside. After looking at it today, I am curious as to what it may go to. It is 16x4, w/ 6 lugs and clips. Pretty standard- but instead of the normal 4 "slots" it has 10 slots. It is NOT an artillery wheel. It has pinstripes similar to those described above, except that the 2 near the hubcap area are actually 3; 1 thin, flanked by 2 more ultra thin stripes. I was unable to find any stampings on the wheel. Any ideas?

click This is a 38 Chevy Coupe Master HB wheel.

Yep, that's the one. Mine looks like maybe a light/medium blue with cream stripes. Is this a common wheel to obtain?

In 1938 the Chevrolet passenger cars had stripes and the half ton trucks with the same wheels had no stripes. Customer order optional stripes and color combinations. GMC had a larger selection of available colors than Chevrolet trucks with the same body. GMC offered "two tone" paint, Chevrolet did not. (A black chassis, fenders and runningboard is not considered a color.) Look at original literature that shows paint options to answer your questions. . .
. Good Luck!

K10 I have the original Chevrolet truck blue print from Chevrolet Indianaoplis body plant & Chevrolet Engineering showing the paint instructions for the 38 Chevrolet trucks. It shows the body striping and indicates no striping on the wheels. E-mail me with your postal adress and I'll send you a copy.

I believe the first 1/2 ton truck to have striped wheels was the 1947 Carry-all and DeLuxe model trucks.The trucks other than the above in standard trim from the '30's up thru the '50's had black wheels and no stripes.

Somewhere along the way,when I was driving my 38 Chev,I picked up a set of charm rings (beauty rings). Can anyone tell me if they were an option (or came standard) on a 1938 chevrolet? I think they may also be called trim rings. I think they look nice but do not want to use them on my newly painted wheels if they are not factory chevrolet. I do not remember where I got them, but it was off another car. (No,I was not into hubcap swiping).

Also, does anyone know the color of paint for the following items: coil, starter, generator, generator pully, fan, intake manifold, downdraft tube, transmission, bellhousing, bellhousing under pan, acorn nuts on top off the rocer arm cover, horn, and air cleaner housing? By color I mean, engine color, car color, or other like black gloss or black satin. Thank you.

Just turn ignition on, push as hard as possible, jump in grab first gear and pop the clutch...and away...

The trim or beauty rings were an approved accessory.The grippers on the back will damage the paint so once they have been installed you will not want to change your mind and remove them.They do enhance the apppearence.
The starter,generator,road draft tue,fan,generator pulley,transmission,horn,and air cleaner were black.Satin or a medium gloss will come close to what the factory used.The coil had a higher gloss black as did the voltage control cover.
The bell housing and its under pans,intake manifold and hardware holding it to the head,acorn nuts, were the engine color-dark blue/gray.
The complete engine with the various covers,oil pan,water pump.etc.,were bolted together at the factory and painted as a unit.The exposed edges of the gaskets and all the attaching bolts were painted also as they were in place.
The firewall was body color.The various side splash pans and braces and inside of grille housing were black.The under side of the hood was gray medium gray.
All the above is for a passenger car-which is what I assume you have. :)

Dear Chevgene, Your Reply was very much appreciated and detailed. I did not think the transmission was black. However, know I know. I am glad to be able to use my charm rings as I think white walls look to modern for the car. I suspect the outer pin stripe on the wheel will be covered by the charm ring and will not need to be added.
Does anybody know where to get the proper main bearings for a 38 chevy engine?

My 2 cents. I sure do agree with Gene, "The grippers on the back will damage the paint so once they have been installed you will not want to change your mind and remove them."

And may I add the word, SEVERELY, to damaging the paint. Removing the trim rings will remove more paint from the wheel than a scraper would, but they do look nice.

Michael41

I was always under the impression that the trans. case was not painted also but at one time I posted that info here every came back and said it was painted....I know the later models were not.The proving ground pictures that I have indiacte the 1937-38 were painted and the 1939 was not...My '39 is not painted./////take your pick

click

Your instructions are close-----grab second gear as it would provide less effort to turn the engine.

Speaking of beauty rings for a 38, who vends the most accurate and high quality reproduction rings?

Years ago I bought 17" trims rings from Bill Hirsch....they were reproductions ,chrome plated,and are great.He still sells them in both 17 and 16 inch sizes.The originals were stainless.He now lists chrome and stainless.I would guess either would be good.