Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**72 tigger** · 05-20-2017, 06:49 PM

Maybe this is common knowledge, but I just noticed that my blue bow tie cap is different from the yellow one I just painted- the outer and inner ring is a little taller on the 69-72 (rh) than the 73-75 (lh).

**72 tigger** · 05-20-2017, 06:50 PM

2nd pic

factorystock · 05-20-2017, 07:53 PM

Yes there is a slight difference in height due to new tooling which occurred around 1975. So you'll find '73 thru '74 yellow bow tie caps indentical in styling and height to the '69-'72 blue caps. The slighty lower cap is the '76 thru '78 version. Yes, up to 1978, base models continued using this style painted cap up thru the 1978 model year, while higher trim '76 thru '78 and later pickups got a newer flatter style aluminum caps. 1978 marked an end of an era of GM offering painted steel hubcaps on new pickups.

**special-K** · 05-20-2017, 08:01 PM

And they were commonly found on StepVans and ValuVans

dfwright · 05-20-2017, 08:02 PM

Interesting. I found a similar difference on the full wheel covers. The blue bowtie covers are heavy stainless steel, while the yellow bowtie covers are much lighter. Chrome, I guess.

05-20-2017, 06:49 PM	#1
72 tigger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berne IN Posts: 3,237	Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps Maybe this is common knowledge, but I just noticed that my blue bow tie cap is different from the yellow one I just painted- the outer and inner ring is a little taller on the 69-72 (rh) than the 73-75 (lh). Attached Images

05-20-2017, 06:50 PM	#2
72 tigger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berne IN Posts: 3,237	Re: Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps 2nd pic Attached Images

05-20-2017, 07:53 PM	#3
factorystock Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 3,380	Re: Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps Yes there is a slight difference in height due to new tooling which occurred around 1975. So you'll find '73 thru '74 yellow bow tie caps indentical in styling and height to the '69-'72 blue caps. The slighty lower cap is the '76 thru '78 version. Yes, up to 1978, base models continued using this style painted cap up thru the 1978 model year, while higher trim '76 thru '78 and later pickups got a newer flatter style aluminum caps. 1978 marked an end of an era of GM offering painted steel hubcaps on new pickups.

05-20-2017, 08:01 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps And they were commonly found on StepVans and ValuVans __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

05-20-2017, 08:02 PM	#5
dfwright Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,374	Re: Difference in 1/2 ton painted caps Interesting. I found a similar difference on the full wheel covers. The blue bowtie covers are heavy stainless steel, while the yellow bowtie covers are much lighter. Chrome, I guess. __________________ 1972 C10 LWB, 350/350 Deconstruction began 5/2009, mostly completed restoration, 5/2017

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