1967 Trim Rings

[James N.]

There were two types of Trim Rings installed on the 67 Corvettes. The first type had "four equally spaced clips" that gripped the outer edge of the wheel trim. This system must of been problematic since Chevrolet replaced it before the year was half over. The new type of retainer had "spring type" teeth built into the rim itself. The trick with the new "spring type" was to install the ring without bending it and a Service Bulleting was issued by Chevrolet to deal with this problem. Source: Corvette Restoration Guide 1963-1967 by Richard F. Newton (1st published in 1998).
Build Date on my Vette was June 28, 1967 (three weeks prior to the end of the last 67 coming off the line). I am headed to Bloomington in June followed by NCRS in the fall.
If I claim my Trim Rings (spring type) were installed at the factory, I'm betting on suffering a complete inquisition from the judging forces.
Appreciate any and all comments. [/SIZE][/SIZE]

[David P.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

My 67 with April 1967 build date has the "four equally spaced clips" style on DC rims.

Just more information, don't know if it helps.

DAP

[Stephen L.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

My April 67 has the 4 clips style trim ring. Hadn't heard this information before.. does the manual you cite have a copy of the bulletin in it???

[Donald O.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

My May 5th, 67 vert has the 4 clip style.
The AIM only lists one part number for the trim rings and shows no revision for that part.
Right now I have a set of repops on that are the 360* spring type, but they are repops.

DonO

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

There were two types of Trim Rings installed on the 67 Corvettes. The first type had "four equally spaced clips" that gripped the outer edge of the wheel trim. This system must of been problematic since Chevrolet replaced it before the year was half over. The new type of retainer had "spring type" teeth built into the rim itself. The trick with the new "spring type" was to install the ring without bending it and a Service Bulleting was issued by Chevrolet to deal with this problem. Source: Corvette Restoration Guide 1963-1967 by Richard F. Newton (1st published in 1998).
Build Date on my Vette was June 28, 1967 (three weeks prior to the end of the last 67 coming off the line). I am headed to Bloomington in June followed by NCRS in the fall.
If I claim my Trim Rings (spring type) were installed at the factory, I'm betting on suffering a complete inquisition from the judging forces.
Appreciate any and all comments. [/size][/size]

Hi James,

I think all trim rings were of the four-clip style for all of 1967 production. There is an article on Trim Rings by Rick Miller in the Summer 2007 Corvette Restorer Magazine (Vol. 34, #1).

[Gerard F.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

James,

My 67 is a June 29, 1967 car (22049 VIN-last 5) and it has its original "four equally spaced" trim ring clips.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

In Rick Miller's article mentioned above, he is referencing a 1975 parts catalog, and the 1967 Trim Ring part number he lists (9796696) is a later Service Replacement part number. According to the 1967 AIM, the production-line Trim Ring is GM 3901703 (UPC 0-C1, Item 15 counting down from the top, labeled "RING UNIT - WHEEL TRIM"). This is likely a production-only part number. The earliest Service Replacement part number I could find for a 1967 Trim Ring is 3901708.

Adams


The 1967 JG mentions only the 4-clip style trim ring.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

In Rick Miller's article mentioned above, he is referencing a 1975 parts catalog, and the 1967 Trim Ring part number he lists (9796696) is a later Service Replacement part number. According to the 1967 AIM, the production-line Trim Ring is GM 3901703 (UPC 0-C1, Item 15 counting down from the top, labeled "RING UNIT - WHEEL TRIM"). This is likely a production-only part number. The earliest Service Replacement part number I could find for a 1967 Trim Ring is 3901708.

Adams


The 1967 JG mentions only the 4-clip style trim ring.

Scott------


The GM #3901703 is a PRODUCTION-only part number but the trim rings differ in no way from the 3901708. The 3901703 is a trim ring UNIT. This means a unit of four of the GM 3901708 trim rings packaged together for assembly plant convenience for inclusion in the car for later dealer installation as part of new car prep.

The GM #9796696 trim rings were originally a Pontiac part. Sometime in the early 70's (it's unclear exactly when; one GM source says November, 1970 and another says May, 1975) GM decided to discontinue the 3901708 and replace it with the 9796696. The 3901708 has the "4 clip" wheel attachment and the 9796696 has the "360 degree multi clip" attachment.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

Scott------

The GM #3901703 is a PRODUCTION-only part number but the trim rings differ in no way from the 3901708. The 3901703 is a trim ring UNIT. This means a unit of four of the GM 3901708 trim rings packaged together for assembly plant convenience for inclusion in the car for later dealer installation as part of new car prep.

Hi Joe, thank you for the explanation.

The GM #9796696 trim rings were originally a Pontiac part. Sometime in the early 70's (it's unclear exactly when; one GM source says November, 1970 and another says May, 1975) GM decided to discontinue the 3901708 and replace it with the 9796696. The 3901708 has the "4 clip" wheel attachment and the 9796696 has the "360 degree multi clip" attachment.

For a couple more data points, I found GM #9796696 in the July 1969 Chevrolet catalog, but it was listed for "Pass. w/15" wheels", not as a "CORVETTE" part. The earliest reference I could find for GM #9796696 being listed as a Service Replacement for the 1967 Corvette was the 1953-72 catalog, effective September 1971.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

Hi Joe, thank you for the explanation.




For a couple more data points, I found GM #9796696 in the July 1969 Chevrolet catalog, but it was listed for "Pass. w/15" wheels", not as a "CORVETTE" part. The earliest reference I could find for GM #9796696 being listed as a Service Replacement for the 1967 Corvette was the 1953-72 catalog, effective September 1971.

Scott-----


The 9796696 may very well have had other Chevrolet applications and, possibly, for some NON-CORVETTE Chevrolet applications it was even a piece used in PRODUCTION. Nevertheless, The 9796696 started life as and was originally released as a Pontiac part.

[James N.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

James,

My 67 is a June 29, 1967 car (22049 VIN-last 5) and it has its original "four equally spaced" trim ring clips.

Interesting! Your 67 was built one day after mine (21936). Mine is a convertible (Rally Red, Red Interior). My tank sticker indicates mine was optioned with the N11 (off road exhaust) which is very rare.

Thanks for you comments. Unsure what I will do at this point.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

Scott------


The GM #3901703 is a PRODUCTION-only part number but the trim rings differ in no way from the 3901708. The 3901703 is a trim ring UNIT. This means a unit of four of the GM 3901708 trim rings packaged together for assembly plant convenience for inclusion in the car for later dealer installation as part of new car prep.

The GM #9796696 trim rings were originally a Pontiac part. Sometime in the early 70's (it's unclear exactly when; one GM source says November, 1970 and another says May, 1975) GM decided to discontinue the 3901708 and replace it with the 9796696. The 3901708 has the "4 clip" wheel attachment and the 9796696 has the "360 degree multi clip" attachment.

Joe,

I have been working on these things since 1970 and I can not remember ever being able to buy a correct `67 ring. My opinion the Nov. 70 date would be more likely.

[John H.]

Re: 1967 Trim Rings

The 3901703 Trim Ring Unit (4 separate clips) was also used on the '68 and '69 Camaro Z/28; in '68 it went on a 6" rim, and in '69 it went on a 7" rim. A couple of very late (early November '69) 1969 Z/28's have been noted with the 6696 (360* multi-clip) rings, but we (CRG) haven't been able to document that release.