Originally Posted by pumacub

Howdy, first post! Does anyone here know how I could check a part number to see if its PO1 wheel or not?
Thanks

Originally Posted by avalonjohn

The difference between P01 and P02's is VERY slight. In fact, early promo shots of 68 vettes show a different center that, from my investigations, was never put in to production. The production P01 and P02's are almost idenitical. The ones with the flat center caps are not for a Corvette. I've been shown the difference between original P01 and P02's and I had to get about 2 inches away to see the difference...........They are basically the same. From what I have been told, on P01's, where the "fin" mets at the center hub..it's a flat or staight meet.......on P02's, it's pointed.............VERY hard to see.......That's what I was told from a member more knowledgable than me, but I did see the difference.......and they are all 15"...........Again, the EARLY promo shots showing a very distinct difference in the center protrusion, (I don't think) were ever produced for sale...........If anyone has one, please post a picture! stay safe, John

PS.......Clam, still interested, I will call you tomorrow, Thanks, john

Originally Posted by JC68

Jason

I'm not of the opinion that what separates PO1 vs. PO2 wheel covers is how the fins end at the center section as the latest NCRS Judging Guide calls out. A vast majority of the 68 Corvettes were produced with the square end fins from what I have seen. It seems only very early cars had the pointed end fins. I think the change in fin end style was just a running change to production in 1968. Why the switch from calling them PO1 in 68 to PO2 in 69 I have no idea.

Below is a picture of the original PO1 wheel cover of my April 68 production car.

You do have some interesting center caps. I don't think I've seen them like that before. The center section doesn't stick out as far as what I've seen on both the pointed and square finned caps. Even the NCRS JG which has a picture to illustrate what they think distinguishes PO1 vs. PO2 doesn't show the style of center cap style you have on your wheel.

John

Originally Posted by Jasonb86

I took apart the caps looking for a part number, and came across this:


The centers aren't really removeable. And certainly not interchangeable.

A few things about these:

They have the shorter center, as mentioned being PO1 specific.

They have the shorter fin going to the valve stem (this fin on PO2 hubcaps is longer)


And they are 15" hubcaps with the corvette center emblem. I'm still of the opinion that they are early PO1 caps. There isn't really a large enough database of info for us to know everything about these. Much of what you read online is conflicting as well, and even the NCRS judging guides miss it when it comes to pointed fins vs. straight.

Originally Posted by LT-1 kid

those POs don't look like corvette issue PO1 or PO2s, the center caps would be removable
if it was for a corvette, from what I have seen.

Originally Posted by gbvette62

To my knowledge, the 68 PO1 and 69-73 PO2, are the same cover. The Corvette Parts books only ever listed one part number for Corvette PO2's, 3923630. Prior to 69, the Chevrolet RPO for any full size wheel cover was PO1. When Chevrolet offered the finned "Deluxe Wheel Covers" on the Corvette in 68, it was only logical that PO1 was used, as it signified a full wheel cover to GM. In 69, Chevrolet offed the Corvette style "Deluxe Wheel Covers" on the full size car as an option. Since PO1 was the code for the regular full wheel cover (remember that "dog dish" caps were still standard then), PO2 was assigned to the second optional cover, the finned Deluxe one. Since the full size car initially used the same cover as the Corvette (see below) Chevrolet probably changed the Corvette Deluxe Wheel Cover RPO to PO2 to avoid confusion and coincide with the full size lines use of the Deluxe Cover.

The PO2 cover with the flat emblem, actually did not go into production until late 1969. The regular Chevrolet Parts book (for Impala, Chevelle, Nova, etc.) listed the same 3923630 cover as "1st Design" for use on 69 full size Chevrolets (Corvette was the only GM car to use this cover prior to 69). The 3923630 cover is described in the full line parts book as having a "convex ornament" and the Corvette Parts book also lists it using the "convex ornament". The passenger car PO2 with the smooth ornament is part number 3963405 and is listed for "69 (2nd design) and 70-73 w/deluxe wheel trim cover" and has the following notes "flat ornament only".

At the start of 1969 production, full size Chevrolets ordered with PO2s, got the Corvette style cover with the recessed emblem. At some point in 69, the emblem used on the passenger car covers was changed to the flat style. I don't know why Chevrolet changed them. It might have been to differentiate the Passenger car cover from the Vette one? Maybe it was done to make the passenger car one cheaper? I don't know if Chevrolet planned on having two different covers all along and the flat one just wasn't ready at the start of 69 passenger car production. Whatever the reason, some full size Chevrolets used the Corvette style PO2s, but no Corvette ever came with the passenger PO2s, with the flat emblem.[IMG]file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Scooter\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtm l1\01\clip_image001.gif[/IMG]

Originally Posted by pumacub

Now this guy is throwing out part numbers for a PO2 corvettes & Impala`s (3923630 & 3963205). These ARE NOT the serial numbers on mine?

Originally Posted by pumacub

Mike, my part # is not on that list you sent. Did a little more digging and found some guys selling mine as PO2`s with my part number. Still not convinced yet, but dosen`t look good.

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