The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Painted hubcaps for AD?

Stupid question probably, but does anyone reproduce painted hubcaps for the Korean War era trucks? I've got a '52 that I am working on. It'll be a driver, definitely not a show truck. Although I'm making some changes (upgraded rear end, 235 in place of 216, different but similar to factory paint color) I still would like to keep it somewhat era correct, keeping the painted bumpers, grill, sm420, ect. I've read that '52 was very limited chrome, and had painted bumpers, grill and hubcaps. I've looked all over online and at swap meets and have not found painted hubcaps. Crazy as it sounds, I really would prefer them. I've got some time before I get to that point, but just thought I'd ask and see if anyone knows of a place to find them.

I've never seen a painted hubcap either, but had a painted bumper (but it's since gone in the trash as it was too far gone).
There is a way to get painted hubcaps, and that's to paint them. I'm pretty sure nobody makes repops, as most don't want them.

1954 had Thistle Gray painted hubcaps as standard equipment on 3100 trucks.

There was a Accessory full size stainless-steel wheel cover for those 1954 16' wheels.

1947-53 Chevrolet 3100 wheels had stainless steel hub caps (as standard equipment - no other RPO/accessory hub caps in those years).

Thistle Gray pertinent page (1953 and earlier) in Master parts book
Stainless Steel pertinent page (1954) in a Master Parts Book

Similar to this truck (except for the outer grill bars which are not painted blue)

https://www.rkmotors.com/vehicles/3548/1953-chevrolet-3100-pickup-truck

I haven't seen any gray hubcaps or bumpers for sale. I think you'd have to strip chrome ones and have them painted.

According to the 52 and 53 GM Vehicle Information kits, the inner grille bars were painted Thistle Gray, and outer grille bars painted body color, while the bumpers were painted Anvil Gray. There was no mention of hubcap color on those. I don't know how much difference there was between Thistle Gray and Anvil Gray. This lists Thistle Gray as Ditzler (PPG) 30873 paint code, but makes no mention of Anvil Gray.

[on edit]OK, here's a pic of a 53 3100 from back in the day. It sports Korean war era painted hubcaps and bumpers. It looks like Thistle Gray is slightly darker than Anvil Gray, but hard to tell the difference.

Tim, Thanks for the info, on the 54-3100 that I'm putting so much time in, I had a question. I opted for re-pop hub caps and they are stainless. The painted caps were I believe about a hundred dollars more so I decided on the stainless/chrome. This is the first 54-3100 that I have paid this much attention to. The caps that were on it were off previous years. The inside is a thick zinc with a very heavy I think copper and chrome skin. Are the painted 54's made of stainless? Can I sand blast the stainless caps and paint them? Or will the paint not stick. This may be a question for the paint and body site. However I wanted to verify what material the caps are made of. Ed

Doc
You can definitely paint over stainless steel. You definitely won't have adhesion problems if you sandblast.

I did find a paint code for Anvil Gray - PPG 32983. The whole gamut of colors with PPG paint codes is in the Tech tip for paint colors. Stovebolt Paint Colors Thanks to Tim Lederman.

There is a type of paint that is removable ,don’t remember the name of it but a gal at work painted her rims a flat black and she said you don’t have to sand ,just clean them up . The paint can be removed if you want to go back to shinny .The only problem may be getting the right colour as these were spray cans

I recall seeing someone painting with stuff called "Plasti-dip" which is normally used for tool handles and will peel off. I don't know why anyone would want to use removable paint, though.

I just remembered I bought a can to try and it is on the shelf . It is called protect dip .It is most likely the same as plastic dip says it is a rubber coating removable all I can say is it looked pretty good and lasted a Northern Ontario winter .Being rubberized may help with stone chips .I think originally Plastic dip came in a can to dip or brush on but you can get it in a spray can there is lots of info about it on google .

Thanks guys, It will be done. This is the greatest of all sites. Ed

Here's one that came off my '53's spare, way back when. Now it helps decorate my garage.

I guess I too will try my hand at painting a set of stainless.

Kevinski A friend from pennsylvania said they used to paint all their chrome with tire paint for the salty winter months-then wash it off in the spring I think with gasoline.

Five-oh you might get a set of ratty chrome ones light blast and paint them your gray.Should last you a long time.

The 55.1 I owned from 89-92 had two painted caps with the Bowtie emblem in blue. They were light gray.

We blast with glass or white sand and then use a "non porous" primer. Using this primer alone on glass window painted on signs makes them last for years. IIRC Tremco and Rustoleum have the non porous primers but do a search.

At one time, a dealer was selling the black "chevrolet" letter stickers. That would be a lot of hand painting otherwise.

I got my thistle gray hubcaps for my 53 from Jim Carter, he stocked them a few years ago..

I used a lot of painted items on my 53, hood strip, grill, both bumpers, interior as well but I did use stainless hubcaps. My truck did have two or maybe three painted hubcaps when I purchased the truck but they were not identical.

five-oh get some straight rough chrome used ones light blast paint gray, last you a long time,my 2 cents.