L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

[M W.]

Hi all again,

During the course of a recent Flight Judging and a past Flight Judging the questions arise as to correct Spinner Indexing for 64 Hubcaps in relation to the valve stem. There is no actual written information in the JG other than a reference picture for early or late hubcaps but it would be great to know the correct answer. The judges seem to think the black right flag needs to be indexed toward's the valve stem on a L64 but looking at the faint pictures in my original owners guide it actually shows the lower crossed flags sitting over the valve stem. I have had it both ways during two different meets and have been deducted a point each time. Thus according to the judges there is no right way. Does anyone have any definite information. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig

[Tracy C.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Craig,

I OJ'd exterior at the St Louis National meet last year and we didn't even look at spinner indexing. The guys deducting for this are misquided and need to ask themselves if they honestly believe the people bolting on spinners were paying any attention to this. If there was an engineering requirement for the spinner to be clocked in a certian way, the screw holes would have been designed so they only fit one way.

Without a engineering requirment, QA would have no reason to squawk them. The JG is silent on this anyway. There isn't any grounds for a deduct.

tc

[Michael H.]

Re: L1964 Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Hi all again,

During the course of a recent Flight Judging and a past Flight Judging the questions arise as to correct Spinner Indexing for 64 Hubcaps in relation to the valve stem. There is no actual written information in the JG other than a reference picture for early or late hubcaps but it would be great to know the correct answer. The judges seem to think the black right flag needs to be indexed toward's the valve stem on a L64 but looking at the faint pictures in my original owners guide it actually shows the lower crossed flags sitting over the valve stem. I have had it both ways during two different meets and have been deducted a point each time. Thus according to the judges there is no right way. Does anyone have any definite information. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig

M,

There was no such thing as correct/incorrect indexing for the ornament. (spinner) If there was, there would have been a note in the AIM advising the assembler of such.
I have several factory photos of 63-66 cars and all three possible positions are shown.

[M W.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Well guys they are and were deducting points for this as both cars besides me were as well. We even disputed this with the Team Leader Carlton C. and he said oh yes it needs to be indexed as shown in the judging guide. We tried to say that is only a current reference picture showing the different styles of hubcaps used in 1963 and 64. Obviously he or we are mistaken. When every point counts in Flight Judging items like this need to be resolved once and for all.

Thanks,
Craig

[Alger R.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Not sure on 64 but when I had my 65 judged (Either at Bloomington or the NCRS Chapter), I was told that the spinner directly below the cross flags should point at the valve stem hole. It was given as advice only and no points were deducted. I had them reset for the NCRS National and no comments? I have never seen anything in any of the manuals specifying this.

[Michael H.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Not sure on 64 but when I had my 65 judged (Either at Bloomington or the NCRS Chapter), I was told that the spinner directly below the cross flags should point at the valve stem hole. It was given as advice only and no points were deducted. I had them reset for the NCRS National and no comments? I have never seen anything in any of the manuals specifying this.

There's not one shread of evidence in any GM documentation that I know of that even mentions the "clock position" of the ornament.
It sounds like someone is making up their own rules.

[M W.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

There's not one shread of evidence in any GM documentation that I know of that even mentions the "clock position" of the ornament.
It sounds like someone is making up their own rules.

I totally agree with you and several of us tried to ask where the indexing was stated in the JG or shown in the AIM but all the Team Leader could say was the JG pictures shows it this way so this is the way it's supposed to be. Looking through my owners manual you can clearly see in several pictures where it shows the cross flags over the valve stem. I guess that's not good enough. Oh well.

Thanks,
Craig

[Bruce B.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

This subject has been discussed and I believe the conclusion on C1 cars was that there is no specific orientation.
Roy Bratz commented on this and if I am correct he stated that he found no documentation on the subject but liked it if the wording on the spinner was readable when oriented with the valve stem hole in the hubcap.

So the conclusion is that orientation is un-specified.

Roy, can you comment on this???

[Mike M.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Michael,
were the caps supplied by the Vendors, or by plant workers to the assembly line in one piece with spinners attached to the discs?
If so, would components then separated from the supplied assemblies typically NOT be addressed in the AIM?
We had a similar discussion regarding specifics of the cross shaft not being spelled out in the aim as it was supplied to the assembly line as part of the total assembly.
Thank you
HanD

[Wayne M.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

There's not one shread of evidence in any GM documentation that I know of that even mentions the "clock position" of the ornament.
It sounds like someone is making up their own rules.

Michael --- agree 100%. Can't even believe we're seriously discussing this. Below is zoom on pic of '65 Shriner Corvettes delivery (21 Nov '64). Valve stem is not directly below X-flags. Front wheel happens to be the same as rear, in this case.

Even a GM promotion pic of a '66 convertible (view of both sides) shows a mix [2 out of three possible positions] on EACH side . Ref: Nolan's Vol 2, page 320 -- get your magnifying glass out .

Roy S. should send out emails to national team leaders giving cease and desist orders.

[John H.]

Re: L Hubcap Spinner Indexing

Michael,
were the caps supplied by the Vendors, or by plant workers to the assembly line in one piece with spinners attached to the discs?

Mike -

All '63-'66 wheel covers were subassembled at St. Louis from separate parts (cover, spinner, retainer/reinforcement, and screws); if there was an Engineering requirement for the spinners to be indexed in a specific manner relative to the valve stem hole in the cover, it would have been shown as a note on the Assembly Manual sheet in UPC 10, or the design would have had an asymmetrical screw hole pattern so the spinner could only be installed one way. There was no such note, and the screw hole pattern allowed the spinner to be assembled in three or four random orientations relative to the valve stem hole in the cover.

Anyone who thinks the spinners were only oriented one way relative to the valve stem hole simply doesn't understand the design and assembly process; positive spinner orientation is an "urban legend".