Hub caps on truck question

[brawley]

I have a set of the chevy 4x4 truck rally wheels 73-87 style. I wanted to know if there is a way to use old style hub caps instead of the current bolt on centers ?? something with some type of clips to hold in place? anyone ever tried this have any pics. or know what to use. thanks

[aerotruk63]

I know a guy who welded the nubs from another wheel onto one of those 4 inch wide spares to put on the front end of his truck with the stock 64 15" cap. He wanted the stock look but in the big and smalls formation. The clip hubcaps are hard to find so any kind of ridge you put on the wheel the 15" hubcap should be able to snap onto. There could be a balancing issue afterwards however.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by brawley

I have a set of the chevy 4x4 truck rally wheels 73-87 style. I wanted to know if there is a way to use old style hub caps instead of the current bolt on centers ?? something with some type of clips to hold in place? anyone ever tried this have any pics. or know what to use. thanks

The old style clips are available about $15.00 each, I thought we would just take some round bar stock or tubing and weld small pieces at the right place around the wheel to put the hub caps on. Maybe there is a idea for a new product that would be a clip assembly that would screw in the truck rallye wheel threaded holes. ??? Kieth

[aerotruk63]

If you have a die made for a metal spinning shop they could spin an adapter like you said that could be screwed onto the wheel using the existing holes then click the hubcap onto the spun beaded side.

[brawley]

heres a pic of the wheels and something similar to this for a hub cap

[62 short step]

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[doobiebro]

Originally Posted by brawley

heres a pic of the wheels and something similar to this for a hub cap

I ran those 4x4 wheels with those exact same bolt on center caps on my 62 chevy stepside I had 10 years ago. What I did on my center caps was I had a friend cover the center (4X4) with a custom 3M decal bowtie matching the color of the truck and the rims. Looked great. Just an idea?

[kieth]

I think it would need to take a stock hubcap for this to be accepted, in that way we could run wider wheels that are inexpensive and still make the truck look fairly stock. I will see what we can come up with. Kieth

[srziemkowski]

Just another idea,not older look,but newer silverado cap painted

[kieth]

EUREKA I DID IT, FOUND A SIMPLE CHEAP WAY TO MOUNT STOCK HUBCAPS TO RALLYE WHEELS....................IT LOOKS GREAT WILL SHARE WITH YOU GUYS AFTER THE PATENT IS APPLIED FOR..........KIETH

[62 short step]

Cant wait to see!

[aerotruk63]

keith Does it involve spoons from the kitchen?

[Rich 5150 69]

[csa daddy]

well fill us in i want to use camaro derby caps for centers in my truck rallies

[Rich 5150 69]

Look at these...Maybe
http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[kieth]

Ok here we go----simple hub cap mounting system for rallye wheels:

1. Parts needed----grote steel insulated wiring clips part # 84-7018



I had these so do not remember how much they cost but I think about .50 each

2. We centered the hubcap on the wheel then traced the outline of the hub cap on the wheel, backed off about 3/16" and installed the clips.



Hoping above all that it would work..........................


3. Tried a 1957 chevy hubcap first---------------and it worked



Would rather be lucky than good...... Wheel only with cap and trim ring

4. 57 chrome hubcap with tire



I think it looks good, just think what it will look like on a truck and the wheel painted to match the truck

5. Wheel tire, trim ring , and a painted hubcap




Now we just have to try it driving down the road but I will tell you it feels very solid and after it is installed it is hard to get the hubcap off since it is held in place by 4 clips..........when I removed it the first time it bent one of the clips back, then all you have to do is push it back in place. I think since the load will be centrifical (out ward) that the clips will work just fine, if not we could weld them in place Kieth

[aerotruk63]

Crafty lil devil you are, that looks great on there. Before taking it for a drive on the truck, take it to a tire shop that has one a tire balancing machines and let it go for a spin. Less likely to damage the cap or the truck. Can you post a picture without the trim ring please.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Crafty lil devil you are, that looks great on there. Before taking it for a drive on the truck, take it to a tire shop that has one of tire balancing machines and let it go for a spin. Less likely to damage the cap or the truck. Can you post a picture without the trim ring please.

I will look for a pretty wheel just to set a hubcap on without the trim ring. I think it will look fine, I did go look around a little and found these, they might be ideal for doing the same thing but be made out of spring steel.

http://www.iowa80.com/DirectionsWEB/...UB+CAPS+3+PACK

will post up a picture later.

[aerotruk63]

Iowa 80 truck stop. Used to go there, HUGE lot. Those new clips might be spring steel, a little stronger than the cable clips. Had your thinking cap on didn't ya! lol

[kieth]

here they are....








to see the wheels like they should look the ones with the white hubcaps should be painted black and the chrome hubcaps should be painted the same color as the truck. I do have a set of 4 x 4 wide wheels that I am going to use on my 66 custom cab truck, they should look better still since they are deeper. Kieth

[aerotruk63]

Their going to look nice with any color and the stock painted hubcap. With a black wheel the slots will disappear making it look more like a stock wheel. Way to go Keith!

[csa daddy]

looks good an thanks for the tip

[kieth]

I just had one of those moments, after I saw that the stock wheel clips were $15.00 each......just said hmmmm there has to be a easier way. I am ordering some of the spring clips today and will try them, I think they will be better since they are spring steel, but one never knows if it will work correctly until we do it. Will let you guys know. Kieth

[theastronaut]

Pretty slick Keith!! I had been planning on running stock caps on 18" Nissan Titan steel wheels and had been wondering what kind of hubcap clips would work. Thanks for the tip!

[kieth]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Pretty slick Keith!! I had been planning on running stock caps on 18" Nissan Titan steel wheels and had been wondering what kind of hubcap clips would work. Thanks for the tip!

It always irked me that the only option was to order wheel vintiques or others and spend a lot of money. The clips that I had found on all the chevrolet part websites were just a little pricey so I thought we should find a reasonable alternative...........and now we have. It looks like the nissan titan wheels really have a steep angle on them......you might want to look to the clips I used, or the 2 types which are also listed on the iowa80.com website and see which one works the best.

here is a link to those clips that look to me like they may handle that steep angle and they are priced right.

http://www.iowa80.com/DirectionsWEB/...%28Set+of+6%29

If you will scroll down to the recently viewed items you will see the available alternatives.