67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

[Brian D.]

All,

We're having some discrepancies in 67 wheel descriptions. Is there any documentation (TJRM), GM docs, or Assembly Instruction Manual? I've heard that a 25 cent piece will not pass through the slot on a 'real' Corvette wheel, but it will pass through slots in the Camaro wheel. At our IN Chapter judging meet two weeks ago, there was a mixture of slot sizes. Those with the larger slots received deductions.

Thanks!

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

All,

We're having some discrepancies in 67 wheel descriptions. Is there any documentation (TJRM), GM docs, or Assembly Instruction Manual? I've heard that a 25 cent piece will not pass through the slot on a 'real' Corvette wheel, but it will pass through slots in the Camaro wheel. At our IN Chapter judging meet two weeks ago, there was a mixture of slot sizes. Those with the larger slots received deductions.

Thanks!

Brian------


Did anyone note what the wheel codes were on these various wheels?

[Wayne W.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

The larger slots are original. Later replacements the quarter will not pass.

[Brian D.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

Joe, my narrow-slot wheel was a DC, from Nov 66. My mounted wheels are repo bolt-ons. The other car's wide slot wheel that was visible (the spare) had DC also. I can't say what its 4 mounted Rallys were stamped.


Wayne, that information is 180 degrees from what we were told by our judges. I respect both their and your knowledge; can anyone show DOCUMENTATION of which slot size is correct? The TMJG does not mention slot sizes, only stampings of "B" (early), "DC" and "DG". The Assembly Instruction Manual lists only a part number. I'm aware that there is judges' knowledge not present in the manual(s), but if I have one judge who says 'narrow' and another 'wide' is correct, what happens to the owner? As the owner, I may have to prove something to avoid deduction. How is proof possible with no documents showing which particular size is correct?

[Ray G.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

The larger slots are original. Later replacements the quarter will not pass.

Agreed, not that your thoughts need a 2nd.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

Agreed, not that your thoughts need a 2nd.

Thanks,

I have been carrying a quarter around with me for forty years. Long before most ever thought about the size of the wheel slots. It was a quick check when the trim rings were on and I was too lazy to look through the valve stem hole for the DC. A quarter will pass with some clearance on originals, it will not pass on replacements. That is certainly true for DC,DG, dont remember ever checking a B.

[Daniel Y.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

I was told about the "quarter test" and I did a survey of about 23 cars some DC and some DG. I could not find any consistency - I doubt you will have a deduction for flight judging until further observations are done. don't forget the small DC is a reproduction....

[Paul D.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

Wayne, when you say "replacements", do you mean reproduction wheels available from all the vendors, or are you speaking of GM service replacements (or both)? I was told of the quarter test at a meet a while back. I thought they were talking about reproduction wheels, but I don't think they have been around for 40 years. If you say the GM replacements have smaller slots, have they always been or did something change in production. I know the last production car to use the rally wheel (8") was 82. Were the larger slots ever available as service replacements? Does the test hold true for all Rallys or just midyears? Thanks for any clarification you or others can offer. Chip.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 Rally Wheels (Slots)

Wayne, when you say "replacements", do you mean reproduction wheels available from all the vendors, or are you speaking of GM service replacements (or both)? I was told of the quarter test at a meet a while back. I thought they were talking about reproduction wheels, but I don't think they have been around for 40 years. If you say the GM replacements have smaller slots, have they always been or did something change in production. I know the last production car to use the rally wheel (8") was 82. Were the larger slots ever available as service replacements? Does the test hold true for all Rallys or just midyears? Thanks for any clarification you or others can offer. Chip.

Paul-------


I believe it holds true for all Corvette rally wheels. For any given time period, I think the centers used for the 6" Corvette rally wheels were the same as those used for the 7" and 8" rally wheels.

There were TWO part numbers for the Corvette 6" rally wheels. The original part numbers used in PRODUCTION and available in SERVICE until July, 1972 was GM #3901698/3901697. This is the "DC" coded wheel and the wheel with the "wide" slots. In July, 1972 the 3901698 was replaced by GM #3968773. I don't know if this wheel was coded "DC", or not. However, I believe this is the wheel with the "narrower" slots. The 3968773 was discontinued without supercession in August, 1995.

The original 1969-71 rally wheel used in PRODUCTION and available in SERVICE until October, 1969 was GM #3952869. This wheel is coded "AZ" and has the wide" slots. The 3952869 was discontinued from SERVICE in October, 1969 and replaced by GM #3970532. This wheel was also coded "AZ". It's possible it was actually used in PRODUCTION for 70-71 despite what the AIM says. In any event, I do not know what the slot configuration was for the 3970532.

For 1972-82 Corvettes the wheel used in PRODUCTION and available in SERVICE was GM #327709/327708. This wheel was coded "AZ" and became SERVICE for 1969-71 Corvettes in March, 1973 when the 3970532 was discontinued. This wheel has the "narrower" slots. The GM #327708 was discontinued without supercession about 6 years ago.

By the way, I pointed out some time ago that the slot configuration for the early 8" rally wheels was slightly different than the later 8" rally wheels, all coded "AZ". This is not something that requires a measurement to discern.