trim ring fit to rim

[sbmiano]

I have original rims and trim rings and having trouble with 1 of the rings fitting the rim.  Anyone have this issue and what did you do to get it to fit.  Tried to pinch the clips but still a gap.  There is a little nipple on each of the rims around the edge of each rim what is that?

Thanks

[BULLITT65]

I assume this is the rally wheel with the 4 clip design trim rings? can you take a pic and show the  gap?

[sbmiano]

This is the trim ring with fingers all the way around.  04D 69 z

[cam69aro]

sbmiano, would an 03E cars have the 4 clips or fingers all the way around ? would you be able to post a pic of the front side of the trim ring so i could see the detail of where the inside edge of the ring meets the wheel ? thanks

[BULLITT65]

I have a 08C Z/28 (late 69) car, and mine came with both the 4 clip and the finger design. My 4 clip design sits snug on the wheel, but there is a small gap between the rim and the trim ring.

[sbmiano]

I will try and get a good pix of the gap and post it.  As for the 03E car, as I posted before I was told by a legends judge that in or around Feb 1969 they went to the fingers all the way around the ring do to the 4 clip design falling off.

[rszmjt]

I will try and get a good pix of the gap and post it.  As for the 03E car, as I posted before I was told by a legends judge that in or around Feb 1969 they went to the fingers all the way around the ring do to the 4 clip design falling off.

I personaly don't believe that, my 06A has 4 clip rings. Bought the car in 74 and the protecto plate and owners manual was in the glove box as well as the visor sleeve operating instructions and a original trim ring removal card showing 4 clips. It also has the original spare, although used and the rim shows no evidence of ever having the gouge marks from a finger type trim ring. A buddys 09A (69) has the finger type trim rings.

[BULLITT65]

I have seen many guys with original cars from may, june july and august state they still had the original 4 clip design. Enough guys, that it seems more likely they were original to the car, than somebody went and located the 4 clip and swapped out the finger design. Just my 2 cents.

Hey Rszmjt, can you post a pic of the trim ring removal card? I don't think I have ever seen one. thanks
*or email me the pic, PM sent. thanks

[69Z28-RS]

I have seen many guys with original cars from may, june july and august state they still had the original 4 clip design. Enough guys, that it seems more likely they were original to the car, than somebody went and located the 4 clip and swapped out the finger design. Just my 2 cents.

My original 09C Z28 which I purchased in 1976 had the 4-clip covers on it when purchased; they had the normal dings/scrapes in them, so I tried to purchase new ones (but the 4-clip design was not available in the 15x7 size at that time so I chose not to buy the 'wrong ones').  The 'finger style' trim ring WAS available OTC during those years, as that was what they were installing on the '73 to '77 MonteCarlos (all having 15x7 wheels), and El Caminos/Chevelles with 15x7 rallyes.   I purchased a new '77 MC, and sometime in the late '70's, I actually swapped the trim rings between my MC and the Z28 (because the MC trim rings were like new and I wanted the 'best looking' ones on my Camaro.. .  Fortunately, I traded them back before I sold the Monte Carlo.

It's interesting that during that same period, Corvette trim rings (15x8 size) ALL had the 4-clip style, both on new Corvettes, and OTC.  I have a set of them that I bought around 1977 when I put Corvette 15x8 wheels on my Z28 (temporarily) until the front fender scrubbing got to be too much for me.  IF the 15x7 rings with 4-clips had a tendency to 'fall off', then why did ALL the larger 15x8 Corvette wheels have that same 4-clip design from the late '60s thru the mid-late '70's???  I suspect they began to use the finger design on the higher production cars - MC and Chevelles etc - in the '70s because the 4-clip designs are more difficult for owners to remove...

[BULLITT65]

and I thought those Corvette owners didn't like to get their hands dirty...

[69Z28-RS]

and I thought those Corvette owners didn't like to get their hands dirty...

... ..   *some* Corvette owners are simply putting on a show, but there are many more Corvette owners who are 'typical Car guys'..

[sbmiano]

Lots of different opinions about trim rings.  I was just a little boy at that time so I go by what the judges at the Camaro Nationals tell me.  I also have a set of 4 clip for this car but was told they were incorrect.  Thing is the 4 clip fit much better to the rims than the finger
ones.  But once the finger clip ones are on they don't move

[z28z11]

I found my 01C X77 in '72, bought it in '73. Trim rings were original to the car as far as I could tell - fingers on all, not 4 clip.

When I parked it on the street at school, I used to pull the rings and derbys, and store in the trunk to keep 'em from getting gone. I got pretty good at pulling them off without a screwdriver/lug wrench, but boy, did they ever scratch up the YH's. 4 clips would have probably been better ?

Regards

[69Z28-RS]

I will try and get a good pix of the gap and post it.  As for the 03E car, as I posted before I was told by a legends judge that in or around Feb 1969 they went to the fingers all the way around the ring do to the 4 clip design falling off.

"Judges" can be wrong too.. and not all the judges agree...  which is a good enough reason for the Camaro organizations to develop a 'Judging Manual', and make it a living document (subject to update and improvement)... and provide it for SALE to restorers, owners, AND judges..  (ie.  Just as NCRS does for each Corvette year/series .. and they DO get updated pretty regularly as more/better information develops).

[Dusk Blue Z]

I agree, that is one of my pet peeves about restoring Camaro's.

Mike