'60 hubcaps (a.k.a. frisbees)

[Matt F.]

I recently had the unpleasant experience of seeing one of my brand new repro hubcaps sail off into a field (I wasn't going that fast, thankfully). I've got repro wheels, with the nubs to hold the hubcaps on, but they don't seem to be doing the trick. Before I drove it, I made very sure that the hubcaps were all completely seated on the rims. I really like the look of the stock caps/wheels, so I would really like to keep them, obviously.

Any ideas to keep 'em installed? Is there any litmus test (i.e. pulling on the caps, etc.) to get an idea if they're actually going to stay on while driving? I don't want to put anyone else's safety in jeopardy...

-Matt

[Mike Cobine]

Re: '60 hubcaps (a.k.a. frisbees)

This is a common problem and there are many notes about it in the archives. One problem I remeber years ago involved the bumps you find around the rim that let the hubcaps grip the wheel. Corvette wheels had them, not all others did.

The cure many used to do was to weld bumps in the wheel. They looked ugly, but the hubcap hid them.

[Robert Willis]

Re: '60 hubcaps (a.k.a. frisbees)

55 and 56 Passenger Car wheels also had the nubs. 55s were rivited while the 56s are welded (Passenger Car).

Bob

http://members.kos.net/willisb/

[Christopher R.]

Re: '60 hubcaps (a.k.a. frisbees)

1. Have you got the correct wheels? The ones with the "nubs" on them?

2. Bend the tangs on the hubcap where they meet the nubs.

3. Put your name and phone number on a label affixed to the inside the hubcap. Massachusetts Highway Department called and returned one to me a few years ago that came off and landed in an Interstate median that I could never have reached.