American Racing Hubcaps issue
 

I'm trying to get these caps off so I can get new tires to bring the truck home. It's been sitting for over 20 years. American Racing chrome (over rust) wheels, 8 lug 1 ton truck. They won't budge! Not even a wiggle, nothing.

There's a small oval shape cut out in the lip of the caps. It looks like there's a small bump like a detent but when I push it in, nothing. I even took a small screwdriver and knocked that bump in where it touches nothing, and still can't get them off.

Does anyone know what to do other than destroy them? American Racing said they were vintage and had no manuals or any documentation to help me. I want to save them because I searched everywhere I could and they seem to be extremely elusive.

HELP! :waah:

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

A good soak in your favorite penetrating oil might help. Down side is that stuff can take days to do a proper job.

Hitting with a rubber mallet might break it loose.

Boiling water might be enough heat to loosen a bit.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

I tried a mallet and it just made a small dent. That sounded like hitting concrete. I even tried one of those old strap oil filter wrenches, but it looked like the cone part was about to cave in. I'll soak them with some knocker loose and let it sit. But if someone here had dealt with these, and can confirm that nub is a detent, I might be able to get a pick in the slot and yank till it smacks me in the nose:lol:.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

I love Kroil oil.

When it come time like it looks like in your case, I use a mix of 50% ATF and 50% Acetone.
Here's a Video below.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

Thank you. I will give that a try. I can only go where this truck is about every 2 weeks, so letting it sit all lubed up will be easy.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

I'd try kroil.
When you come back after a couple weeks, maybe even small amounts of heat.

Any safe place to maybe tap in a plastic wedge?

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

There's no room for a wedge, especially on the rear wheel that's pictured. I tried to get one of those teeny pocket screwdrivers in between the wheel and cap, and that wouldn't fit either. I don't want to ruin those caps because they seem to be a rare bird and fared the weather unlike the wheels.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

The other question is, are they press fit (would be my guess) or are the threaded on

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

I have no idea. They do have a small slot with what looks like a detent. I push it in and its still tight. This was my Dad's truck that has been sitting for 20+ years. I have a pic of the truck in another thread. It's a 1980 Chevy Dually with a 1967 Avion Camper. I need to get it home but the cracks in all the tires are a bit too bad to chance it. They will either blow or bounce the truck apart. I'm being pressured to get it out of there, so...................

I found it rotten that American Racing had no idea what to do. They just said it was a vintage model and suggested to use one of those hub cap removers with the rubber mallet on one side and the spade hook on the other. Ya know, the standard hubcap remover. I wonder if that guy would try that tool on a push through cap? :lol:

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

According to Wiki, the company was bought out by one of those private equity firms in 2005. Likely that all the original folks took the money and left with their knowledge of the older products.

If time makes it a choice between some covers that may only fit a set of rusty rims or saving the truck, save the truck. Possible that destructively removing one cap will provides clues for safely removing the other 3.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

I have a set of Alcoa's I'm putting on it, so I agree with your statement. I just want to save them if possible in case someone else has a need for them.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

Got 2 of them off. Dually's have that thick metal ring that centers the lug nuts. Behind that ring was a chrome (rust) ring with about a 3/8th's inch lip coming towards you. The hub caps simply push on over that lip. There is a detent like I thought, but it's useless. I soaked them with some knocker loose I still had for 3 days.

I used an old fabric strap oil wrench on the rear cap. Twisted that on as tight as I could until it looked like is was going to crush the cap, then twisted and yanked as hard as I could. When I hit the ground, the cap was off :lol: I used a bigger strap wrench for large pipe on the front. Same way, same result. The other 2 are soaking.

Now off to spend a mint for some new tires and get this thing home. Got lucky because the studs are long enough to put those Alcoa's on. Dang lug nuts cost me $120! Then again, there are 32 of them.

Re: Alcoa Hubcaps issue
 

Great News.:metal:

With the lug nut price.:uhmk:

I try in my own mind to break it down.;)

Less than $4.00 dollars a Piece. :waah::ito:;):lol: