The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Hub Caps -- SS or Chrome?

It just dawned on me that I've finally went over the edge; No one told me that this "hobby" could become an obsession either, so I'm going to sue someone.

The parts suppliers have replacement hub caps in stainless steel and chrome. The chrome ones cost $2.50 more than the stainless. Although I've maintained that my truck will be a daily driver I may want to show it occasionally. For show purposes does the material the hub cap is made of make a difference? I know for sure that the stainless will be less of a pain keeping clean here on the beach.

My five 1980s something, and my five very very old hub caps have a chrome plated brass wrapper on them. The rechrome cost is $100 EACH! The old old ones are too dinged up to even consider, but the 80s ones are in great shape except for the chrome. Does anyone know if the new repos have the brass wrapper on them? Even considering rechroming at $100 a pop is where I believe the screws shook loose and this ole 'bolt went over the cliff.
:blat:

$100.00??? That chromer must have more business than he needs. I just bought a set of 4 from Classic Parts and was surprised to find they weigh the same as the original caps. In fact they look pretty good and at $30.00 each you can tell that chromer to chrome himself.
http://www.classicparts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=64-019
One thing to remember these dog dish hubs will need a nodule or a clip on the wheel rim to snap on to. I made the mistake of buying late Camaro wheels without the nodule. Therefore I have to add the clips to each wheel. If you're using the original wheels you shouldn't have a problem. As it has been said here, "look before you leap".
Good luck and send pictures.

I’m workin’ on a '50, 3604 so it's no doubt, somewhat different than yours Don. I had three original chrome steel hub caps on the truck when I got it, dinged and rusted of course. So way back last fall I started back-ordering hub caps for it. One of the vendors finally came through a couple of weeks ago. Just another one of the curses of restoring a 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton.

The original caps: Two full, double layer disks, that is, the grip ring is a full dish with the outer chrome dish rolled over it. In both dishes the material is .040" thick mild steel. The letters are embossed into the outer dish and the edges of the fonts are crisp and sharp. Up side, old fashioned high quality and sturdy. The downside, if dented can’t be straightened and re-chroming is very expensive and probably would give you trouble with out a lot of upkeep, especially near a salt air environment.

The replacement copies: A single layer, not as deep of a dish as the originals, but made of SS material and are only .028” thick. They have a narrow mild steel grip ring instead of a full disk (about an inch wide) with the outer dish rolled over it. Not a double layer as was the original. The grip rings were made almost 1/4” shorter than the originals making it very difficult to get them to grab the clips, they should have extended deeper into the wheel disk to make full contact with the tabs. The font has a very soft rounded edge not at all as crisp at the edge as the originals, probably to keep the SS from tearing during stamping because of the thinner material .
As usual, I’m some what disappointed with the quality of the copy, I really can’t bring myself to label these as reproductions as they look pretty good from a few yards away, but on closer examination, you can see they are not to up to snuff. I liked the idea of SS but wish they were a better copy of the original ones. Cost $50ea.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Big Chevy - All of the pics, except the hub caps are linked in my signature My '41. I don't know what competitive prices are for chrome work these days, but yes, My plate shop is running full tilt boogie with auto work out over 6 months. I do know that the price of copper and nickel have more than tripled in the last year or so, but 5 hundred for hub caps is a bit over the top.

Don

Don
They must be triple dipping. That is outlawed here in Dallas (EPA). If they are using copper it is to fill in the pits. If you don't have a lot of pitting and repair work needed you don't need that expensive a job done.
I guess with a load of work to do they will keep raising their prices as long as the market will bear it.

i have had the repo hub caps on my 49 for 3-4 years, those have been driven in anything you can imagine and they look great, they are around 40-50 a pop, but stainless will outlast chrome

I bought 50.00 s-steel ones at carlisle. I had to monkey with the fit a little but I think they look good. If you knew the work in triple plating you would respect the 100.00 ea. My 2 cents and 15 min. of typing :hammering: