I have a question about 06 to early 09 Z06 chrome split spokes.......in regards to OEM.....was the only manufacturer of that wheel in OEM spec "Speedline"? If not, what other manufacturer may have been used and how would the wheel have been identified?? I appreciate any help that may be provided..............

 

Somewhere in my foggy memory bank, I seem to remember that the early run wheels were cast in China and machined in Ohio by an American company that went bust. GM then went to Speedline in Italy for the wheels. I think I'm correct, but considering my memory, I could be full of BS.

 

I have an 06 ZO6 that I took delivery on 23Dec.05. The car had the optional polished alloy wheels. These wheels were made by Amcast located in Centerville, OH. At the time this company made wheels for several auto companys. In addition, they also made wheels for several aftermarket wheel sellers. At the time the company was in Chapter 11. Prior to the ZO6 I had a 2000 coupe with polished alloy wheels made by Speedline. These wheels were perfect. Very shiny with no imperfections. However, the ZO6 wheels were crappy to say the least. I bitched so much the dealer called the district rep in. He took about five minutes to inspect the wheels and determined they were ok. When I pointed out the many very visiable flaws he allowed they were normal. I continued to complain to GM but they outlasted me. During the summer of 2006 was at Corvettes at Carlisle and was able to loook at several other 06 ZO6s and saw the wheels were identical to mine. I begain to understand why Chevy had stonwalled me. Turns out everone was in the same boat. While there, had occasion to talk to Will Cooksey, then the Bowling Green plant manager. When he heard what I wanted to talk about, he jokingly threw up his hands and said the didn't want to talk about it. But then he told me that at one point Amcast told Chevy they were going to stop manufacturing the so called polished alloy wheels. Turns out Amcast's bid had been so low they were unable to make a profit. This situation ended up in court and the court sided with Chevy.

In the begining every time I washed those wheels and saw how poor quality they were it would tick me off. Then would remember everyone else was in the same boat. Considered aftermarket wheels on more than one occasion. But in the end decided thats what the car came with so would live with it. However, after almost six years have finally decided to fix this long standing problem. In the garage have a set of Forgeline centerlock GA3Rs with dark gray centers going on a machine gray 6. A reasonably confident the Forgelines will cure my wheel obsession.

 

Thanks guys for the input...........I am just trying to figure out what is on my Z. The stampings on the inner hub of the wheel look like stampings I have seen before but the "GM" is actually etched on the back side of one of the spokes, instead of cast into the aluminum like the Speedlines. I am fairly certain they are not repro's but I am not sure. I am not the original owner and the build sheet shows painted wheels............somewhere along the line the chrome wheels were added. I have seen another thread where a set of wheels just like these were for sale as repros.........then another Forum member pointed them out as being OEM. So I guess my point is I don't know what I have..................................

 

As long as they aren't out of round and balance out ok I wouldn't loose sleep over it. Sounds as if yours are aftermarket though.

 

My 2010 Z06 was one of the last Z's to get the "original" Z06 chrome wheels and mine are stamped "Speedline" and "made in Italy" stamped under that. There is also a 'GM' stamp on the backside as well.

add: the 'original' Z06 wheels (Speedline) are no longer in production. The last were installed at factory early '10 models (My Z's build date Nov '09).....they were perfect too....

 

That's what I'm going at. The factory wheels are stamped not engraved like the o/p's are.

 

 

Tim,
Are you agreeing that I'm correct or that I'm full of BS?

 

What you said....see my post above