Help!!! Trim rings for YH wheels

[SS427]

What are you Yenko and COPO owners using for trim rings. I have now gone through a third set of reconditioned OEM #3901708 trim rings that were VERY nice but I cannot get all four of the clips to hold onto the wheel mainly due to the steel band not being perfectly flat with the clips and thereby making 1 or two of them to stick out further than the wheel. No amount of muscling will make the clip attach on and stay on.

I have a big photo shoot this coming Wednesday night and am desperate to find something that works. Would anyone in central Illinois have a set I could borrow for a day (I will pick up and deliver back) or can you suggest a reproduction (including vendor and part number) that you have tried and work. Not all 15" trim rings will fit these wheel based on the design of the inside face of the wheel which is why I am asking for specifics. ANY help is greatly appreciated as I am desperate and running out of time.
Rick

[bergy]

I'm using the 4 clip rings Rick. I have a survivor set and a reconditioned set. Biggest problem (for me) is getting them off without distorting the trim ring lip and/or the steel band. I use 2 small screwdrivers to pry each individual clip loose one at a time. Too bad that you're not closer - the survivor set is sitting on the shelf.

[WorkinProgress]

I do not think many cars are using the 4 clip attachment for the 15X7 YH for the obvious reason few exist. From what I have seen is the 9796696 superseded trim ring used in its place.

- Warren

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-1...9c3bRj&vxp=mtr

[SS427]

Warren, agreed on rarity which is why I am having such a problem. The 9796696 will also not work. Thanks to John Hoer who sent me 4 9796696 rings at no charge and was trying to help. Unfortunately, there is interfere between the inside lip of the wheel and the backside of the trim ring which inhibits the ring from completely seating. I never imagined a trim ring would be the hardest thing I have had to locate.

[WorkinProgress]

Rick, I disagree that the 9796696 will not work on a YH rim. Never had a problem. So, to prove it, I took pictures for you. Either the ring you have is not GM or you are not putting enough pressure on the ring to snap it in place. The ring distorts quite a bit installing it. I had no problem getting to on with the palm of my hand. My picture shows an NOS ring next to a used one to show they are the same ring. I did not want to install my NOS when the used one will work just fine.

-Warren

[WorkinProgress]

More GM documentation to show the 3901708 ring supersedes to 9796696. GM would not have superseded it to the newer number if it would not fit.

Maybe the paint on your rim is too thick.

Also the rings do not sit flush against the rim. You need room for the wheel weights if you need them.

- Warren

[SS427]

Understood and not arguing with you Warren. All I can tell you is the set of NOS 9796696 rings that were donated to me I could NOT get them on. When we made every attempt my tech noticed that the inner ring of the trim ring was hitting the inside lip of the wheel and not allowing them to tap on. Is it possible that the trim rings in the box were not actually 9796696? Possibly thought they looked identical. These wheels are going to be the death of me. Now I have bigger issues to worry about besides the trim rings. Never ending with this car. LOL

[rszmjt]

Rick, did you try letting the air out of the tire before installing the trim ring? My own 69 Z has the original 4 clip trim rings and I usually let the air out then tap the trim ring on carefully, sometimes when you have 3 clips on you can take a screw driver and hammer and carefully tap the side of the clip to move the trim ring around towards the first clip, we used to do this a lot on the 15x8 trim rings on C3 Corvette.