Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

[David L.]

I have many vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs as well as Chevrolet & GM Parts History catalogs. The part history catalogs use 3 terms: "REM", "USE", and occasionally "MIX". The definitions on the first page of my 1965-1973 Chevrolet Parts History catalog are as follows:
REM = Parts removed from service
MIX = Parts transferred
USE = Parts substituted

Doe any know the actual meaning of "Parts transferred"?

Example:

My 1963 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1962) lists GM # 3825686 as the part number for the 15" X 5.5" 1963 Corvette steel wheel.

Parts History lists the following: "3825686 MIX 3834127 1-63".

The 1963 Corvette AIM (Sect. 10, sheet 1.00) lists the wheel asm. as part # 3834127 with "8/29/62 WAS 3825686 WHEEL ASM" in the revision box.
From what I understand from others the 3825686 wheel is exactly the same as the 3834127 wheel. I have only owned 63 Corvette wheels made in Jan. & Feb. 1963 (a total of 6 wheels) but nothing made in the Fall of 1962. When I bought the "early" 63 Split (Oct. 1962) as shown in the photo above in 1987 it had three 15 X 5.5 1965-1966 Corvette wheels, one 1955 15 x 5 wheel dated Aug. 1954, and no spare.

Has anyone ever compared a 63 Corvette wheel made in the Fall of 1962 with one made in 1963?

Dave

[David B.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

Dave,
Have never compared a 63 wheel but I am having trouble accepting the fact "others" are saying the 3825686 wheel is exactly the same as the 3834127 wheel. From all the blue prints I have read a part number is not changed unless there is some deviation from the the previous drawing. In this case perhaps there were so many small variations from the original drawing a new part number was simply assigned to the original wheel drawing. Would like to see the blueprints of both before saying they are the same.

[Joe L.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

I have many vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs as well as Chevrolet & GM Parts History catalogs. The part history catalogs use 3 terms: "REM", "USE", and occasionally "MIX". The definitions on the first page of my 1965-1973 Chevrolet Parts History catalog are as follows:
REM = Parts removed from service
MIX = Parts transferred
USE = Parts substituted

Doe any know the actual meaning of "Parts transferred"?

Example:

My 1963 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1962) lists GM # 3825686 as the part number for the 15" X 5.5" 1963 Corvette steel wheel.

Parts History lists the following: "3825686 MIX 3834127 1-63".

The 1963 Corvette AIM (Sect. 10, sheet 1.00) lists the wheel asm. as part # 3834127 with "8/29/62 WAS 3825686 WHEEL ASM" in the revision box.
From what I understand from others the 3825686 wheel is exactly the same as the 3834127 wheel. I have only owned 63 Corvette wheels made in Jan. & Feb. 1963 (a total of 6 wheels) but nothing made in the Fall of 1962. When I bought the "early" 63 Split (Oct. 1962) as shown in the photo above in 1987 it had three 15 X 5.5 1965-1966 Corvette wheels, one 1955 15 x 5 wheel dated Aug. 1954, and no spare.

Has anyone ever compared a 63 Corvette wheel made in the Fall of 1962 with one made in 1963?

Dave

Dave------


When a part is replaced for SERVICE (i.e. "USE" in parts history parlance), it means the new part has REARWARD compatibility. However, it does not mean that the old part has FORWARD compatibility. In other words, as far as GM is concerned, the old part number is not necessarily compatible with applications originally using the new (replaced) part number.

When the term "MIX" is used, it means the replaced part number and the original part number can be used interchangeably. In other words, the old part number is FORWARD compatible and the new part number is REARWARD compatible. The term "MIX" comes from the fact that the dealer can mix the inventory of the old part number and the new part number. Thus, someone whose application originally used the new part number can be sold the old (replaced) part number as long as the dealer has any of the old part number in stock.

So, this is, essentially, what "parts transferred" refers to.

[John D.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

Joe, Very good information. Nice job. Thanks, JD

[David L.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

Joe, I like your explanation of the term "MIX" as it does make sense.

I guess that I should have not used the phrase "exactly the same" when referring to the 3825686 wheel and the 3834127 wheel. Since the wheels have both foreward and rearward compatibility then the two wheels must be quite similar. However, since the part number is different there must be a difference between the two wheels and that is what I would like to know. The 3825686 wheels must be quite rare as the change on the assembly line (8/29/62 on paper, not on the actual production line) was very early in the production.

BTW, I still think that "late" 64 Corvettes possibly could have been issued the 3839814 wheel (15 X 5 1/2 K with the 2.91" hub hole) as I once owned one that was dated "6 64" or the date might have been "9 64". The 3839814 wheel appears in my 1964 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (dated Oct. 1963) listed for 63-64 Corvettes. The 3834127 wheel was replaced with the 3839814 wheel in Oct. 1963 for wheels sold over the counter.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

Joe, I like your explanation of the term "MIX" as it does make sense.

I guess that I should have not used the phrase "exactly the same" when referring to the 3825686 wheel and the 3834127 wheel. Since the wheels have both foreward and rearward compatibility then the two wheels must be quite similar. However, since the part number is different there must be a difference between the two wheels and that is what I would like to know. The 3825686 wheels must be quite rare as the change on the assembly line (8/29/62 on paper, not on the actual production line) was very early in the production.

BTW, I still think that "late" 64 Corvettes possibly could have been issued the 3839814 wheel (15 X 5 1/2 K with the 2.91" hub hole) as I once owned one that was dated "6 64" or the date might have been "9 64". The 3839814 wheel appears in my 1964 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (dated Oct. 1963) listed for 63-64 Corvettes. The 3834127 wheel was replaced with the 3839814 wheel in Oct. 1963 for wheels sold over the counter.

Dave

Dave-------



I have no doubt that there is some difference between GM #3825686 and the 3834127 but I don't know what it is.

[Pancho T.]

Re: Parts History terminology & 63 Corvette wheels

Joe
Great explanation. Thanks for sharing.

Pancho