1966 Knock Off Questions

[Mario Andreoli]

Hi, I have a 1966 with Knock offs. But I believe the style (for the Knock offs) is for the 1963, 1964 model year. My wheels have no paint between the fins and has a chrome cone. Judging from my research, I believe that for 1966 there should be paint between the fins, and a brushed cone. Is this correct?

If so, is the only difference between the wheels cosmetic (i.e. paint, cone)? No other physical differences?

Should I just attempt to paint between the fins? Has anyone done this? What is the appropriate color (paint code)?

I would hate to have to sell and buy a new set? What are a used set worth?

Thanks for any tips!!!

Mario

[Jerry Clark]

Re: 1966 Knock Off Questions

Hi Mario:

To the best of my knowledge the wheel construction is the same and as you said , the differences are cosmetic. The painting of the spokes depends on your ability but for most should not prove a difficult task. I will leave the color recommendation to those with more experience than me.

jerry

[Bill W.]

Re: 1966 Knock Off Questions

Mornin' Mario,

I am going to assume that you have K-H wheels and not repros. What works best is to dismount the tires from the wheels. The cones can easly be removed with a heat gun. If you don't have a gun a small, cheap hand held propane torch will work fine. Heat the cone until it is to hot to touch, 200 degrees or so. This will not hurt the cone in any way, but will soften the mastic holding cone to wheel. Turn wheel over and use an old broom handle you have cut at about a 30 degree angle. Insert the angled cut into the back side of wheel until it contacts the cone. You may have to tap it in a coupla places, the cone will come right off with no damage. Use any RTV silicone product to glue your new ones on. Now is a fine time to polish your rims and fins also, use 600 grit wet, followed by your favorite mag wheel polish.

Mask the fins with 1/8" stripping tape, for the rims use 3" masking tape, you don't have to do a great job with the masking, as lacquer thinner will remove any mistakes you make. For paint, go to your nearest NAPA store and buy a can of their "Cast Blast" paint. One can will do 7 or 8 wheels. This paint is the closest match to what the factory used. Our judging chairman, Roy Sinor, turned me on to this paint years ago. I have NEVER lost points on wheel finish using this paint, and I have refinished more K-H wheels than I can count. If you need more details, email me. Bill

[Tom B.]

Re: 1966 Knock Off Questions

Mario,

I noticed some correct information to help you accomplish what you want to do, but here's something else to consider. If what you have is an original set of knock-off wheels, are you sure you want to alter them? I would think that you would be money ahead to sell them to a deserving 63 or 64 and find a set of reproductions or possibly a correct original set for your year. It's just another option. TBarr #24014

[Mario Andreoli]

Re: 1966 Knock Off Questions

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Jack H.]

Another thought here....

I note you didn't respond with the source of the wheels (real KH or reproduction).... Real KH are pretty rare beasties and there IS a difference between '66 and earlier wheels to consider beyond Brother Wilhelm's advice to spritz paint and change out cones!

'63 wheels (a handful were actually delivered for GM internal use, E.g. Motorama) are considered red herrings and typically extract a full deduction on '63 Corvettes. KH KO's finally made it out the door in '64 under P/N XXXXX (see Noland Adams, my copy's not here) and they used chrome center cones as did '65 wheels. The Catch-22 is original '64 wheels were NOT date code embossed on the back -- rubber stamp was used which wore away fast under live use in the face of weather.

'65 KH KO's are kind of a mystery. Adams documents the wheel changed from P/N XXXXXX to P/N YYYYYYY on AIM date ZZ (late Feb, my book's not here....). And, we generally presume the embossed date code (wack) began in '65 continuing through '66 where the center cone changed from chrome to Lee Brush finish.

The 'mystery' is what was actually delivered on early '65 cars? If they were the SAME P/N as '64 then the drawing had to be revised to bring in the painting of the center spokes. IF this actually happened, then there had to be customer complaints from '64 users buying service spares here/there (theft, collision, Etc.) who wound up with a cosmetically non-matching wheel!

Other's speculate they continued to 'burn up' the '64 pipeline inventory into '65 until the AIM change date and that's when painted spokes and backside emboss began.

Still others believe the wheel P/N was revised to add the center spoke color in '65 at the start of production, it took a few month before the 'opps' was noticed (change to form/fit/function that's NOT user transparent) and a new P/N was issued to separate the '64 style KO from the '65/66 style wheel.

Bottom line here, if you've got real McCoy KH KO's and they are '64 style (no center spoke paint and no embossed date coding on the back), it'd be kind of a shame to destroy this capsule of Corvette history by painting the spokes and trying to fake the date code wacks. You might toy with the idea of trying to swap 'em out (ads in Driveline are free to members) so two Corvette owners get happy smiles....

[Tom B.]

Re: Another thought here....

Thanks Jack. A search through the Archives will help fill in some detailed blanks for original 1966 KH knock-offs marks and stampings. I provided a lengthy and detailed description of those some time ago from an original matching, dated set of 5 that I have. It could help to eliminate some doubt in several areas. TBarr #24014

[Mario Andreoli]

Re: 1966 Knock Off Questions

Just to put everyone's mind at ease, they are repro's .

:)

But all this info is great!

Mario

[John Rohe]

Re: Another thought here....

Jack,

I didn't see anyone mention "faking date code wacks" but you.

John R. #31818

[Jack H.]

Don't understand....

Your point is lost on me. I added information that was not present in prior thread:

(1) Spoke paint evolution. (2) Method of date coding. (3) Differences in center cap.

Then asked for clarification as to whether we were talking about KH wheels or reproduction wheels. My point was, others had indicated how to change an existing set of what COULD be rather rare original '65 KH KO's to meet requirements for '66 factory concours, I wanted to advise this might be doing a disfavor to the spirit of restoration/preservation and perhaps another avenue would be to swap putting correct wheels on correct car, etc. I also, didn't want the impression left that just by painting the center spokes and changing out cones one could actually convert a true original set of '64 KH wheels into 'correct' wheels for '66. Further, to do this task one would also have to consider the date code emboss and why bother going this far afield?

So, what's the point here about nobody else mentioning wacking the backs? I don't suggest one should or should not do this. I only describe differences between wheel generations to add to the discussion.....

[John Rohe]

Re: Don't understand....

Jack,

I can appreciate the additional information that you supplied regarding knock-off wheels (most of which I did not know). It seemed to me that Mario simply wanted his wheels to LOOK correct for his '66. I can also appreciate the concern you and others expressed about altering the appearance of rare original wheels, but I thought your remark about faking date codes (NOT the info. about date codes) was a bit off base for this particular thread. Perhaps I misinterpreted your response.

John R. #31818