12/1/67 Stamped DF wheels used in Production?

[68camaroz28]

Back in 2005 I was introduced to at the time my first dated 12/1/67 DF wheel via ebay. I was so taken by it I even printed off and documented the results. Since then, I have noted several DF wheels over the years with the same date stamping. Even have three of them in my DF collection! Interesting to note all of the examples I have seen have a 12/67 inner hub date as well. Does anyone have information concerning whether any of these were used in production? Note the K1 location & always a light stamp.

[x66 714]

My car & another from Los Angeles had these wheels in the trunk. The cars are 15 vin numbers from each other & both are 02E. He purchased his car in 1971 & I purchased mine in 1976....Joe

[68camaroz28]

My car & another from Los Angeles had these wheels in the trunk. The cars are 15 vin numbers from each other & both are 02E. He purchased his car in 1971 & I purchased mine in 1976....Joe

Thanks Joe!
Surely some of our resident experts have or know something of this? Need some assistance and info concerning this please.

[x66 714]

Maybe they all went on vacation at the same time 

[Jon Mello]

I guess I am not understanding what it is you are questioning.

[68camaroz28]

I guess I am not understanding what it is you are questioning.

My Question Jon was "Does anyone have information concerning whether any of these were used in production?" With many members having 68Z's, members checking survivor cars, car judges, whatever, I was hoping we could uncover just how these were used (production vs. service replacement) as they are so early of a date code to what we think is normal. So far "X66 714" verified that two LOS cars had one in the trunk. Researching both here and team camaro supplied little if any info.  Thanks Jon for helping me clarify what this is all about.

[Jon Mello]

Why would they not be used in production, Chick? They are in the early-middle of the production cycle for the '68 Z/28 and made prior to when your car, and the other two cars mentioned, were produced.

[68camaroz28]

Why would they not be used in production, Chick? They are in the early-middle of the production cycle for the '68 Z/28 and made prior to when your car, and the other two cars mentioned, were produced.

One of the few pcs. of info here involved the same type dated wheel on ebay some months ago and about the only comment was it was probably a "service replacement only wheel." Since I could not find any written (books) info to review or comments on these early of a dated wheels on production cars there was a question in my mind especially when the orig. wheels on our car were stolen back around 1969/1970 and the first owner purchased after market wheels to replace instead of waiting for GM replacements. I do not wish to utilize a wheel only to find out it is not correct. It ain't easy obtaining some of this info don't you know.......  

[69pace]

The Wheel data spreadsheet I use states that DF is:
1967 - size 15x6 JK for Camaro Z-28 and coding for these wheels began on 3-1-1967.  
These wheels use 5 bolt pattern, 4-3/4 bolt center, 7/16 bolt size, 2.783 center hole, .62 offset, 13.156 rim inner dimension, welded construction, and manufactured by Kelsey Hayes.
The database also says they were used in 1968 on Camaro Z-28. So I assume that it was a general production wheel.

[Jon Mello]

Chick, so you are just wanting to be sure the December 1, 1967 DF wheel is an acceptable wheel as used on a '68 Z/28 such as yours, built at Norwood 01B, correct? That had not been clear to me from your original posting. My opinion is yes, that could have been an original wheel as used on your car. Maybe Ed can scan the database to see if we have some cars where that data has been recorded or some owners with January '68 Z/28s can chime in.

[68camaroz28]

I sure do appreciate your persistence Jon on assisting me with zeroing in on the question. I'm trying to know if anyone has noted a 12-1-67 dated small font wheel/s used on assembly cars leaving NOR. It seems for some reason a batch of KH wheels were date coded on Dec. 1, 1967 and then subsequent batches were not until much later. I've noted Feb.68 wheels from the same KH plant with the large DF font (no date code at valve stem hole) and it seems df date coding kicked in during March, 68 for good.

[1968RSZ28]

I've noted Feb.68 wheels from the same KH plant with the large DF font (no date code at valve stem hole).

This is the case with my 02C LOS '68 Z/28.

Paul

[69Z28-RS]

So where is the date code?   on the inside of the wheel?

[69pace]

I would assume that the original "run" of this limited use wheel was supply enough to last through the mid model run for the 67's and maybe for those used for the 68 models too?   I have never seen a schedule of production for Kelsey-Hayes but assume it manufactured wheels based on GM's production needs producing some wheel styles daily and others as assembly plant inventory demanded.  The database states that this wheel was first "coded" on March 1 1967, so that batch must have been exhausted by December when your wheels were manufactured. What code was put on the Z-28's produced from December 1966 til March 1 1967?

[maroman]

I think I remember the service parts wheels my cousin bought back in the last century were black. Is that correct?

[68camaroz28]

So where is the date code?   on the inside of the wheel?

The pics I posted show the date coding. The inside rim (pics showing 12 67) showed when that portion of the wheel was produced by month/year and later wheels started to date at the valve stem when wheel was assembled.

[68camaroz28]

I would assume that the original "run" of this limited use wheel was supply enough to last through the mid model run for the 67's and maybe for those used for the 68 models too?   I have never seen a schedule of production for Kelsey-Hayes but assume it manufactured wheels based on GM's production needs producing some wheel styles daily and others as assembly plant inventory demanded.  The database states that this wheel was first "coded" on March 1 1967, so that batch must have been exhausted by December when your wheels were manufactured. What code was put on the Z-28's produced from December 1966 til March 1 1967?

Not sure when the first ones were manufactured but the early wheels were all large font DF. Believe the date coding they are referring to is the inside of the wheel as I have not seen or heard of any spring/67 date coding at the valve stem hole. The earliest DF wheel with a valve stem date code I have observed is the aforementioned 12/1/67. 

[68camaroz28]

I think I remember the service parts wheels my cousin bought back in the last century were black. Is that correct?

Possible but wheels I have accumulated over the past 25 plus years that were service replacements and others observed were gray in color. Believe JohnZ had mentioned the gray primer on service replacements but going by this ol' memory that stinks

[maroman]

Chick, maybe it was grey? What really sticks is that they were not argent. Good grief that was over 40 years ago.

[68camaroz28]

So none of our resident experts and judges have any idea whether this 12/1/67 wheel was used in production at NOR? So I assume that if I had one or more there would be NO problem. Yea.............

[Jon Mello]

I personally don't see a problem there, Chick. I think it's a production wheel.

[68camaroz28]

Thanks Jon! 

[Jon Mello]

You're welcome, Chick.

[NED]

Chick,
        I may have some information for you. I have 2 of the 12/1/7 wheels that you are asking about. One is new and painted grey with a green sticker on the inside, such as a service replacement and the other is a used wheel that has been painted for use on a car. Now that doesn't answer the question as to whether they were only service replacement, but I can verify that my new wheel appears to be a service wheel. Doesn't mean that they weren't used for production during that time period though. Just thought I would throw a little more info into this discussion. I wouldn't think that anyone could say that these wheels were not used in production unless some undisputable documentation was produced. Those wheels should be considered correct for your 01B car IMHO.  But hey, I'm not a judge!

[68camaroz28]

Good info Bill and thank you! It's interesting to note the different forms of DF wheels used during the 68 model year.