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Center wheel cap
- Thread starter sunny67
- Start date
husky drvr
Platinum Level Sponsor
Jay Laifman
Donation Time
It's funny. My memory of those wheels has always been without center caps. I don't recall what they ever looked like with them. As you point out, the are particularly small. I did to a search for "vintage" center caps for wheels and did come up with a lot of various older center caps. But none seemed to be the size of yours.
I also wonder what they originally had. Some had little caps that were sort of tapped on and stayed on by the pressure fit. Others slid in from the back, and there was a small relief in the wheel for a lip of the cap to be held in. Others still fit over the face of the wheel, and the lug nuts held them down. Don's Mustang versions seem to actually screw onto the wheel.
What were these wheels called? Maybe that will help with the search to see what was original anyway. Ansen Sprint slotted mags? American Racing? I see pictures of those with chrome centers.
I also wonder what they originally had. Some had little caps that were sort of tapped on and stayed on by the pressure fit. Others slid in from the back, and there was a small relief in the wheel for a lip of the cap to be held in. Others still fit over the face of the wheel, and the lug nuts held them down. Don's Mustang versions seem to actually screw onto the wheel.
What were these wheels called? Maybe that will help with the search to see what was original anyway. Ansen Sprint slotted mags? American Racing? I see pictures of those with chrome centers.
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Jay Laifman
Donation Time
Maybe see if one of these types of places can provide them
http://www.ewheeldeal.com/wheel/196...wheels-vna69-ansen-sprint/?finishID=10&lugs=4
http://www.ewheeldeal.com/wheel/196...wheels-vna69-ansen-sprint/?finishID=10&lugs=4
Limited Supply American Racing VNA69 Ansen Sprint Wheels | California Wheels
American Racing is the original custom wheel company. Their pioneering light alloy custom wheels from the 1960's are still sought after as the most stylish wheels around for true muscle cars. The company has its roots in drag racing and no other company knows more about the art of getting power...
www.caliwheels.com
Jay Laifman
Donation Time
husky drvr
Platinum Level Sponsor
Jay,
The wheel pictured by the original poster is a wheel that Ford offered as an option starting on Pintos, then Mustang II's and Mercury Bobcats as they came along. The black stripe, small diameter center bore hole, and the four screw holes in the face of the wheel are the tell-tale identifiers. The rear of the wheel should marked with the Ford logo as is the metal, die cast hub cover in my picture of the rear of the cover - lower corner of the upper left leg and a Ford part number on the lower right.
Hope this helps,
The wheel pictured by the original poster is a wheel that Ford offered as an option starting on Pintos, then Mustang II's and Mercury Bobcats as they came along. The black stripe, small diameter center bore hole, and the four screw holes in the face of the wheel are the tell-tale identifiers. The rear of the wheel should marked with the Ford logo as is the metal, die cast hub cover in my picture of the rear of the cover - lower corner of the upper left leg and a Ford part number on the lower right.
Hope this helps,
Jay Laifman
Donation Time
Ah, you are very right. I did not open the picture to see the four mounting holes.
husky drvr
Platinum Level Sponsor
I was thinking it might be simpler to have a plate machined to match the base of the stock cover and machine the center of that plate to match any snap in cap you pick. Cost wise, the EBAY choices are probably a simpler, quicker option.
Just a thought,
Toyanvil
Gold Level Sponsor
The only challenge I see with that, is most caps need 3/8" to 1/2" deep to snap in. It is a good idea and easier to change caps if you find some you like better in a different size.
husky drvr
Platinum Level Sponsor
I finally grabbed one of these Ford wheels to gather some follow up information for reference.
There is no size information imprinted on this rim. All measurements are courtesy of well used devices and should be considered as such. If someone wishes to compute the offset - please do so.
For consideration, this wheel is a very close approximation of the LATER Alpine's steel wheels but with 1/2 inch more width - on the outer edge.
wheel center bore..........> 2 3/8 inches
13 inch diameter x 5 inch wheel width
backspace is 4 inches
frontspace (wheel face at hub hole to rim outer edge) is........... 1 3/8 inches
Total rim width is ................. 6 3/16 inches
rim thickness at hub is............. 7/8 inches
There is no size information imprinted on this rim. All measurements are courtesy of well used devices and should be considered as such. If someone wishes to compute the offset - please do so.
For consideration, this wheel is a very close approximation of the LATER Alpine's steel wheels but with 1/2 inch more width - on the outer edge.
wheel center bore..........> 2 3/8 inches
13 inch diameter x 5 inch wheel width
backspace is 4 inches
frontspace (wheel face at hub hole to rim outer edge) is........... 1 3/8 inches
Total rim width is ................. 6 3/16 inches
rim thickness at hub is............. 7/8 inches
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