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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 09:48 AM
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Default Trim ring tricks

Any good pointers on tweaking the spring clips on the factory rally rings? I forgot how little fun those things were until I put the new 245-60-15 T/As on this weekend.
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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 10:14 AM
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You can pry open the clip with a screwdriver a tad....and just use your palm to secure the ring to the rim, once you have it positioned properly.

But, if I were you I would buy an after market set with the 360 degree clips....they look good, go on easy and come off easy, and are not that expensive. Save the originals for the show's when the car is just sitting still. Most original rings if not secured properly, make the car look like the wheels are going to fall off the car due to the visual "wobble effect"....I am sure others will chime in.....JMO

Stay in tune....

Last edited by GREGG-73; Aug 2, 2010 at 11:30 AM.
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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by GREGG-73
You can pry open the clip with a screwdriver a tad....and just use your palm to secure the ring to the rim, once you have it positioned properly.

But, if I were you I would buy an after market set with the 360 degree clips....they look good, go on easy and come off easy, and are not that expensive. Save the originals for the show's when the car is just sitting still. Most original rings if not secured properly, make the car look the the wheels are going to fall off the car due to the visual "wobble effect"....I am sure others will chime in.....JMO

Stay in tune....
Great idea Gregg. Thanks for the input.
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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 11:14 AM
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Ditto. I run the vari-clips most of the time and put on the original 4 clip when I want to show off.

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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by GREGG-73
You can pry open the clip with a screwdriver a tad....and just use your palm to secure the ring to the rim, once you have it positioned properly.

But, if I were you I would buy an after market set with the 360 degree clips....they look good, go on easy and come off easy, and are not that expensive. Save the originals for the show's when the car is just sitting still. Most original rings if not secured properly, make the car look like the wheels are going to fall off the car due to the visual "wobble effect"....I am sure others will chime in.....JMO

Stay in tune....

But... as far as tips go, I end up removing the wheel lay it down flat and use my knees to hold the clips as I smack them on to the rim. I seems like you need 4 hands sometimes, and the 2 knees work as a couple of those.
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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 427basketcase

But... as far as tips go, I end up removing the wheel lay it down flat and use my knees to hold the clips as I smack them on to the rim. I seems like you need 4 hands sometimes, and the 2 knees work as a couple of those.
I did something similar accept I left it flat on the tire changer and used my elbows to hold already attached clips. I think the new rubber covers more of the rim bead too. Which in turn made it tougher to get the outside of the clips hooked.
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Old Aug 2, 2010 | 06:55 PM
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I run the 360 degree clips too and keep the originals in the garage for special occassions. I use a small pry bar to get the original trim rings off. The wider face and angle of the bar work pretty well for me. Felt like I was making more contact with the trim ring and ran less risk of damaging the clip(s) or the trim ring.
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 12:38 PM
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I run the 360 degree clip rings too. The car had 4 of the OEM style rims with the clips on it when I bought it, but one was really trashed, so I threw it out. I have three more, and can't decide if I should try to sell the 3 I have, or look for a 4th in decent condition at Carlisle for a reasonable price. Usually, the means I'll do, .......nothing.
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 04:24 PM
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Is it possible to post a pic of original and aftermarket so the difference is visible ?

I have 4 but how can I see if they original or not ?

Thanks
Roma
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 05:38 PM
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Here is a picture of what the original look like. You can see one of the clips where the valve stem opening is and the extra ridge on the corner that the aftermarket rings don't usually have.


Typical aftermarket rings
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 11:59 PM
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Thanks Frogday, I got original ;-)
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 12:21 AM
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How do the original clips fit over wheel weights?

What about the aftermarket clips, are they a better fit over the weights?

Thanks
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by drspencer
How do the original clips fit over wheel weights?

What about the aftermarket clips, are they a better fit over the weights?

Thanks
The clips won't fit over wheel weights, you need to mark out where they shouldn't put weights prior to having them balanced.

The weights won't interfere with the aftermarket rings.
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 12:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Frogday
The clips won't fit over wheel weights, you need to mark out where they shouldn't put weights prior to having them balanced.

The weights won't interfere with the aftermarket rings.
Excuse my ignorance, but do the aftermarket rings look any different from the originals?

Thanks
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 01:24 AM
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They do look slightly different, but at a glance, few would notice.
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by drspencer
Excuse my ignorance, but do the aftermarket rings look any different from the originals?

Thanks
Be careful of some aftermarket rings, the inner edge (closest to lugs) on some aftermarket rings isn't rolled like the original. I found out the hard way washing the car for the first time when I bought my 75 in 92, sliced the back of 3 fingers when I wiped the wheel inside. Rings were thrown out and GM ones installed the next day. Also the repros some don't look "right" in finish, orig are stainless and the ones I had had a yellowish tint to them almost like they were nickel plated. Stick with the GM ones, more bang for the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old Aug 4, 2010 | 09:19 AM
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drspenser,
the aftermarket have a smooth roll from the inner lip to the outside of the wheel. The org. style actually have an indention or small lip that make the bend more of a 90 degree bend. Its not a 90, but it is more drastic. The outside lip is actually a flat surface w/ no roll to it. With all that said, clear as mud now, huh?

Originally Posted by drspencer
Excuse my ignorance, but do the aftermarket rings look any different from the originals?

Thanks
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