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I recently bought a 1966 Corvette and have at a shop where they are fixing a few things.
They sent me the following and wanted to get some advice.
Or they dangerous and if they are original, what are they worth if I sold? Or best to hold onto if I do remove them.
"BTW, I would REALLY like to talk you into getting rid of those knock-off wheels and putting on some “bolt-on” knock off wheels.These factory knock offs are crazy dangerous and I can’t count the number of times I have had customers loose a wheel when driving and destroy the side of the car.
If these are real Kelsey-Hayes knock off from the factory, we can put them in the boxes from the new wheels and either sell them or store them, but if not, there not really worth anything."
thanks for any advice.
Why? This is a highly recommended and rated shop that specializes in Corvette? And it sounds like good advice, what is your concern?
Because if they are installed correctly they will not fall off. If this shop does not know how to install them correctly you need to find someone who does. Especially if they were the place that installed the other customer's wheels who fell off.
Because if they are installed correctly they will not fall off. If this shop does not know how to install them correctly you need to find someone who does. Especially if they were the place that installed the other customer's wheels who fell off.
Just to prepare you, you are going to get responses that say if you have original design (not bolt on repro) knock offs, if you monitor them diligently then they are perfectly safe and you are a big ‘ol sissy if you get rid of them.
You will also get responses that they are enormously dangerous and might fall off your car at any moment.
They are both sorta true, and both sorta extreme.
If you understand how the KOs work and should be installed and you keep a close eye on them, they are safe enough. If you don’t, one could fall off. If you allow shops or other people to work on your car, they could install one incorrectly and you could have to deal with that. Not sure if your shop falls into the alarmist category, but they absolutely have a point, the bolt on repros look just like the originals and you bolt them on and forget about them. That’s why I bought a couple of sets, because there’s simply less attention you have to pay to them.
Your shop is wrong that if you have repros they aren’t worth anything. The last set I sold I got $800 for them, although it’s likely less now that most people buy the repro bolt ons for convenience. But the fact is, the bolt ons cost quite a bit more than someone could buy a used set of original design repro knock offs for, so there’s a market.
Its also interesting that your shop has such a good reputation but apparently cannot ID whether yours are original or not.
Im not sure how much you are going to drive your car, but that could affect your decision as well. I drive my cars regularly, so bolt ons made more sense. It also made sense to me not to own incredibly valuable original knock offs and drive with them on the car. I’d be freaked about damage, theft, etc. They are amazing on a show car.
But all this is up to you and your personal situation. You will get extreme responses, but decide how all this fits into your use of the car.
Just to prepare you, you are going to get responses that say if you have original design (not bolt on repro) knock offs, if you monitor them diligently then they are perfectly safe and you are a big ‘ol sissy if you get rid of them.
You will also get responses that they are enormously dangerous and might fall off your car at any moment.
They are both sorta true, and both sorta extreme.
If you understand how the KOs work and should be installed and you keep a close eye on them, they are safe enough. If you don’t, one could fall off. If you allow shops or other people to work on your car, they could install one incorrectly and you could have to deal with that. Not sure if your shop falls into the alarmist category, but they absolutely have a point, the bolt on repros look just like the originals and you bolt them on and forget about them. That’s why I bought a couple of sets, because there’s simply less attention you have to pay to them.
Your shop is wrong that if you have repros they aren’t worth anything. The last set I sold I got $800 for them, although it’s likely less now that most people buy the repro bolt ons for convenience. But the fact is, the bolt ons cost quite a bit more than someone could buy a used set of original design repro knock offs for, so there’s a market.
Its also interesting that your shop has such a good reputation but apparently cannot ID whether yours are original or not.
Im not sure how much you are going to drive your car, but that could affect your decision as well. I drive my cars regularly, so bolt ons made more sense. It also made sense to me not to own incredibly valuable original knock offs and drive with them on the car. I’d be freaked about damage, theft, etc. They are amazing on a show car.
But all this is up to you and your personal situation. You will get extreme responses, but decide how all this fits into your use of the car.
Thanks, that is more along the line of my thinking. Its going to be a driver car that I might take to local shows. Bolt ons do sound the route I prefer so there us no worries. I dont have to continue to check..
Count me as an extremist: KO wheels will NOT spontaneously fall off if they are installed correctly. To put a fine point on that, both of our road race Corvettes have KO wheels and none of them have ever come off or caused any problems.
Your best tool for use on your KO wheels is knowledge. Learn the right way to install the wheels and don't trust anyone except yourself to do that.
You can pick up a lot of knowledge right here on the forum. Just ask.
I recently bought a 1966 Corvette and have at a shop where they are fixing a few things.
They sent me the following and wanted to get some advice.
Or they dangerous and if they are original, what are they worth if I sold? Or best to hold onto if I do remove them.
"BTW, I would REALLY like to talk you into getting rid of those knock-off wheels and putting on some “bolt-on” knock off wheels.These factory knock offs are crazy dangerous and I can’t count the number of times I have had customers loose a wheel when driving and destroy the side of the car.
If these are real Kelsey-Hayes knock off from the factory, we can put them in the boxes from the new wheels and either sell them or store them, but if not, there not really worth anything."
thanks for any advice.
Knock offs are worth from $800 to $8000 so I am not sure why they would say they are not worth anything. If they are reputable firm, why would they say it? I am with vetsvette2002 find another shop or as a minimum question the owner and ask why you were told they were worth nothing.
Knock offs are worth from $800 to $8000 so I am not sure why they would say they are not worth anything. If they are reputable firm, why would they say it? I am with vetsvette2002 find another shop or as a minimum question the owner and ask why you were told they were worth nothing.
because the owner of the shop is going to give you $50 for them and then sell them for $1000 or more depending on what kind of wheels they are. I’ve had knock off for at least 45 years and have never lost one or had one come loose. My regular driving 66 has original Kelsey Hayes knock off’s on it that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive cross country.
First thing I think you should do is determine if you have original knock offs.
As was previously stated if the shop doesn't know if they are original or repo's, I would be concerned.
I had repo knock offs on my car for 18 years. I had one loosen up on me when I first got the car. It was totally my fault, I didn't know what I was doing.
After I learned how to properly tighten them I never had another issue. Check the article linked below for more information: https://hhcorvettenewsletter.wordpre...ck-off-wheels/
Aflyer
I think you should try to find out if you have genuine GM/Kelsey wheels or aftermarket wheels. As mentioned above, genuine GM/KH wheels can be worth well into the thousands. Even if they are aftermarket KO's, they're still worth good money. You probably should remove one to inspect the back side of the wheel to find out if they're GM/KH or aftermarket. I'm not surprised the guy at the shop offered to throw them away for you. I'm sure there are quite a few people here that would offer to gladly throw them away for you too. LOL
I think you should try to find out if you have genuine GM/Kelsey wheels or aftermarket wheels. As mentioned above, genuine GM/KH wheels can be worth well into the thousands. Even if they are aftermarket KO's, they're still worth good money. You probably should remove one to inspect the back side of the wheel to find out if they're GM/KH or aftermarket. I'm not surprised the guy at the shop offered to throw them away for you. LOL
This.
And determine whether or not they are originals yourself - don't trust that shop to let you know.
Pop the center cap off, if they have an "antitheft pin" or holes around the hub for one, they are not Kelsey Hayes. If they don't have the holes for the pins, they are either original Kelsey Hayes or early Western Wheel knockoffs. Only the originals are selling for thousands. These are examples of wheels that are NOT originals.
Take a good close up picture of the wheels or just one. Many can spot repop wheels from a picture. The size of the fins on some. The lip of the wheel. The texture of the fin. The color between the fins.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Yes, you need to know what you have first. When I bought my '66 I knew she had genuine KH knock offs with a spare b/c provette67 who did the inspection told me so. At the time sellers were asking $10k for them in great condition as mine were. After two years I decided to get new tires and also to replace the KH ko with Corvette America bolt ons from Virginia Vettes, $2K. I was in my 60's and didnt want to worry about failure, theft or damage. They still look great after 8 years and 99% of the people cant tell the difference. To each their own.
The real McCoys were placed in the replacement boxes and are for sale at some ridiculous price.
I have been driving a Jaguar E-Type with central locking for many years. If the plugs are mounted correctly, the spinners tighten themselves and loosening is almost impossible. After 200 miles the screws are so tight that you have to use force to loosen the spinner.
05-21-2020, 07:58 PM
knock off questions
