'68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

[Dave F.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

My original rings are smooth.

Upon further review, I discovered my replacements rings (GM 03923626) this morning, opened one of the boxes, and saw they do have the "step". Remembering my original response, this sent me back to my "original parts inventory" for more digging and lo and behold, three of the four (corroded beyond use) rings have the step. The one on top is smooth but does not have the 4 mounting clips (no clips at all actually). Unfortunately this is the one I glanced at the other day when I responded that my "original" rings were smooth.
It has been almost three years since I looked at any of this stuff, and memory of certain items is not good at best. Please accept my humble apologies for this misinformation. I will be more thorough before responding to anything in the future.

[Terry M.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

The originals from my 1970 have the step in them.

Allow me to suggest that by concentrating on the step you are losing sight of the many other differences in the trim rings over the years of their production. I can't tell you which ones separate those produced in 1968 from those produced in say 1969 or 1972, but later in their production there were changes to the opening for the valve stem, location of the mounting clips, and manner of finishing the inner lip.
I don't have details on all these diverse features (I generally leave exterior judging to others), but some have been covered on this board in the past, and there was a story about the valve stem opening in a recent Restorer Magazine.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

As stated, there were changes in the location of the clips. My OEM have the 4 clip design starting with the one at the valve stem, lets say.

I have GM NOS with the clips at different locations. My JM shows the use of both kinds. Is there a deduction for the NOS type on my car?

I guess my question is "Does the judge have the discretion on this?"

It is a case of As Built vs Restored

[Dave F.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

As stated, there were changes in the location of the clips. My OEM have the 4 clip design starting with the one at the valve stem, lets say.

I have GM NOS with the clips at different locations. My JM shows the use of both kinds. Is there a deduction for the NOS type on my car?

I guess my question is "Does the judge have the discretion on this?"

It is a case of As Built vs Restored

I guess it depends on the year - what year is yours, Ken?

My '68-'69 TIM&JG only addresses four clips with one always mounted at the valve stem. There is no other mention of whether the ring is smooth or has a step; nor does it address anything about the valve stem opening or inner lip finish of the trim ring.

[Terry M.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

The 1970-72 TIM&JG calls for the clips oriented with one at the valve stem hole also. My guess is that it is similar or the same wording.

The rest of the details I mentioned are not called out in the 1970-72 manual either, but that doesn't stop an experienced exterior judge from making a deduction if he/she has the knowledge to support that call. A story in The Restorer would certainly support that decision.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Terry,

Thank you for the reply. I have new NOS in the box trim rings. I also have my originals that will set me back a bit to have restored. If I will get dinged for the NOS then I'll go with the OEMs.

Ken

PS '71

[Dave F.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

The 1970-72 TIM&JG calls for the clips oriented with one at the valve stem hole also. My guess is that it is similar or the same wording.

The rest of the details I mentioned are not called out in the 1970-72 manual either, but that doesn't stop an experienced exterior judge from making a deduction if he/she has the knowledge to support that call. A story in The Restorer would certainly support that decision.

Terry,

Thanks for the heads up on that, as I did not realize a technical update in a Restorer article could possibly supersede the TIM&JG w/o it actually being revised. Good info for all!

[Rich G.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

I originally posted that the ones on my 68 were smooth. Upon further review (I looked at them today) they do have the step. I am not 100% sure these are original to the car. They do have the clips in the correct place per the TM&JG.

Rich

[Terry M.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Judges do not have to rigidly follow the TIM&JG. If they have knowledge beyond what the JM calls out, they can use it -- even if there is no Restorer article to support it. I know one exterior judge who checks the inner lip of the trim rings by inserting a business card -- or judge's lunch ticket -- behind the trim ring. I don't know what he is looking for, but I see him doing it each time I see him judging exterior.

This is how judges deal with the mistakes that are in the manual, also. The manual is a judging GUIDE for a reason.

If the explanation the judge makes for his deduction does not sound reasonable to the owner, there is an appeal process -- that is what it is for.

[Reba W.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Our knowledge of cars grows much faster than we can revise manuals. Most updates are five years or more apart. Knowledgeable judges can and do make decisions based on things learned since the last revision.

My personal JG has numerous notes in the margins regarding new information or discrepancies I have found. This does not mean a judge can use one example he/she has seen--there must be a pattern that tells us the JG is in error.

[Joel K.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

The originals from my 1970 have the step in them.

Allow me to suggest that by concentrating on the step you are losing sight of the many other differences in the trim rings over the years of their production. I can't tell you which ones separate those produced in 1968 from those produced in say 1969 or 1972, but later in their production there were changes to the opening for the valve stem, location of the mounting clips, and manner of finishing the inner lip.
I don't have details on all these diverse features (I generally leave exterior judging to others), but some have been covered on this board in the past, and there was a story about the valve stem opening in a recent Restorer Magazine.

Terry,
The photo you included with this post shows a trim ring with what I would describe as a smooth rim, with the slight recess where the face transitions into the main part; the step I initially referred to is in the middle of the rim face as you look at it -- almost bisects the rim face. There's an article in the summer 2007 Corvette Restorer that addresses some of the changes in trim rings between 1967 and 1982.

[Terry M.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Clearly then I don't understand what you are asking about. I guess it is a good thing I posted the picture.

That aside, they are what they are. I only wish I had wiped it off before I took the photo.

[Joel K.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Terry,

The "step" I was referring to is at the center of the outer rim face of the trim ring. In the Restorer Summer 2007 article on page 39 is a picture of a '67 ring that clearly shows this step. The rings for 1968 and later supposedly did not have the step; the photo on page 41 in the same article shows the smooth face w/recess at the transition point. I had looked at several supposed "OEM style" '68 rings that had the step and I was trying to verify what was correct for that year. From your photo, it appears that the face is smooth.
Thanks to you and to all who replied.

[Bill M.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

Terry,

The "step" I was referring to is at the center of the outer rim face of the trim ring.

Here's a picture of a trim ring with the step in the face. This is not a Corvette trim ring.

[Richard F.]

Re: '68 Rally Wheel Trim Ring

The only ones that I have seen with this step on the face were not Vette-sized rings. The possibly original 68's and 69's I've had, and a NOS set I bought years ago in factory-sealed boxes only had the notch at the corner. I don't know when these NOS ones were made, but they had the correct part number on the shipping tags.