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#1 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
I sent five of what I believed were chrome 3/4t PO3 hubcaps for re-plating. The shop called to tell me the caps were in fact stainless so these were polished instead.
Three of these caps came from a low mileage k20 suburban survivor (see here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=467636 ) and I believe these are original to the truck. Another cap is an original blue bowtie convex example. A thin fridge magnet didn’t stick to any of these including the yellow bowtie example. I have a blue bowtie convex NOS cap and when I look closely it appears to have some “grain” to it so I suspect it’s also stainless not chrome. Can anyone 1) show me how to confirm a chrome cap apart from a stainless cap and 2) prove there are chrome examples for 69-72 apart from highly polished stainless steel? Anyone have an example of chrome plate peeling from a cap? Pics attached of before and after polishing.
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#2 |
Proprietor of Dale's Corner
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Location: Vacaville , CA
Posts: 16,089
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
I don't know about chrome caps but the caps above sure are pretty.
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"Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,370
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
This topic has been discussed a while back. During the 60's to early 70's GM "chromed hubcaps" were a disaster. Should have been made out of much stronger stainless steel like Ford used in there same era trucks. There is a thread on it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...cap+metallurgy . I can add on to this topic. Some manufacturing plants started using chromed over steel in '73 and possibly some late '72's. There are very strong and very shiny and very rare. The only chrome hubcap a magnet will stick to. Heavier also. Magnet will not stick to the original chrome over brass, just not enough metal. The basic transition to the stronger stainless steel began in '72, but there are some that were built with older chrome over brass till supply ran out. But, there is a possibility, sooner or later you might eventually run into a steel painted hubcap that was stripped and chromed by the owner, not by GM.
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#4 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Thanks Dale!
Thanks for posting the link. It’s. Not clear to me on the post if that cap was factory painted or not - I’d like to see better pics. I could imagine a transition during 69-72 to stainless. So it seems fair to say that not all 69-72 “chrome” caps (and perhaps for 72 only) were indeed chrome with at least some stainless. I’d still like to see some chrome over brass 69-72 examples. I see caps advertised for sale as chrome and I’m now asking myself how do sellers know for certain? Here are 1/2 t caps. Spot the chrome example. One was NOS painted that I had chromed. Am worried the chrome will flake the first time I pry it off. Will see. The other is polished stainless. FWIW the painted examples I used were noticeably heavier than similar stainless. Maybe a true chrome cap weighs more than stainless?
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2001
Location: Independence MO.
Posts: 7,697
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
I have several nos chrome over stainless 3/4 ton caps at home. And I believe 2 chrome steel ones. I’ll have to dig them out and get some pics
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#6 |
Senior Member
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Location: Independence MO.
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Here’s an NOS 69-72 chrome cap. I also have early yellow bow tie chrome over stainless caps.
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Larkspur, Colorado
Posts: 916
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
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#8 |
Senior Member
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Location: Independence MO.
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Steve, I believe that’s brass you are seeing.
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#9 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Joe thanks a ton. The visible brass is a dead giveaway. When I get the chance I’ll post up pice of a blue bowtie NOS cap I have that is probably stainless as there is no visible brass. Would be great to learn when the caps were transitioned to stainless. Certainly by the 72 model year at least some were stainless not brass. There’s also a belief that some yellow bowtie caps are chrome. I’d like to see some proof of that. Wouldn’t seem to make much business sense to use a mix of chrome and stainless over many model years.
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#10 | |
Senior Member
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Location: Independence MO.
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Quote:
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#11 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Joe thanks again. FWIW here’s a blue bowtie NOS 3/4t cap I have that’s stainless w no visible brass.
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2001
Location: Independence MO.
Posts: 7,697
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
I have 2 more nos blue bow tie caps I’ll have to dig out and see what they look like
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,370
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
The brass spots showing on the back side is a dead giveway its an original chrome over brass cap. I've never seen a chromed steel hubcap with the blue bowtie in the convex configuration, all the chromed steel hubcaps I 've seen had the gold bowtie with the convex sharpe, but most gold bowtie hubcaps are stainless.
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#14 | |
Senior Member
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Location: Lexington, Ky
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Quote:
That 3/4T hubcap sure looks chrome to me. That dingy brownish or goldish color on the back side does not look stainless to me. However, I don't know how to be sure either way. Think this GMC cap is chrome for sure … well almost sure ? ?
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Larry 84 Chevy SWB, "Roy", dark blue orig paint, 6 cyl auto, PS, 88,000 miles. 72 Highlander LWB "Olive" med olive over lt yellow, air, 77,000 miles (sold) "It's a sorry man who can't find his wife a good job" |
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#15 | |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Quote:
Would like to dial in a for sure way to tell chrome apart from polished stainless. Pics of more chrome examples might help. I’m stumped on yours.
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#16 |
Senior Member
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Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Here are pictures of one from my '69 3/4 ton. Not NOS like some of them here, but I am 100% certain it's original to the truck (Dec, 1968 production). It looks stainless to me. Not sure how to find out without scratching it on the backside with a sharp object. The weight is virtually the same as (about an ounce heavier) a similar yellow bow tie version I have.
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#17 |
Senior Member
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Subscribed
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72 C20 292 3OTT 77 GMC 2500 4x4 Longstepper 350 4sp 50 3100 ex Airforce/Town of Mendon fire truck 72 GMC 1500 2wd short stepside 250 4sp 78 GMC 2500 4x Longstepper 292 4sp 54 6400 Chevy 5 window 4 sp 2sp vac rear end Shell oil truck/dump truck (Norman) |
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#18 | |
Registered User
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Location: Burbank CA
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Quote:
The cap shown below is chrome over steel. Besides being much shinier than stainless, there is visible rust on the backside, and a magnet sticks tight. Proof! Now I suppose this could have been a painted cap that was chromed once upon a time, but the paintwork (despite thinning and wear) looks factory. |
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#19 |
I'm trying....
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Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 2,559
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
May seem silly, but it may be what happened. Do we know who made the caps? I assume (dangerous phrase I know) that these caps were made by a supplier (as many components/subassemblies were) and shipped to the assembly plant. It doesn't seem crazy to me that there might be more than one facility/supplier that was stamping out caps and that their processes might differ during overlapping time periods. For goodness sakes Camaros of this era were put together completely differently at different assembly plants during the same model year. I'm not saying that's what happened. But as you guys build the evidence here, that may be an explanation that fits.
Another killer thread regardless. Good on ya Pete!
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1970 K20 Z62 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...56#post9334756 1970 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645076 1969 K10 SWB CST http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...52#post8520352 1971 K20 Z84 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...90#post9047290 1946 B.F. Avery Model A Tractor http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post8292555 "Sometimes I wonder if zander208 was even real..." |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,370
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
'69-'72 GMC 3/4 ton chrome over brass vs '73-'75 stainless. Note how the back side of the original chrome over brass discolors to a darker shade vs. stainless which stay pretty much as clean as the front side. It also appears to have slightly different block lettering that is found on the '73-'75 versions and paint is more reddish than orangish used in '73-'75 era. Not mine
Last edited by factorystock; 03-24-2020 at 06:49 PM. |
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#21 |
Senior Member
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Location: madison indiana
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
anyone got any tips on reapinting these caps after polishing?
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jamie72 72 BB cheyenne -- Restoration getting started.. member #807 http://www.myspace.com/whitetailobsession www.antlertalk.com |
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#22 |
Registered User
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Location: Burbank CA
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Several years ago I made a set of templates or dies for painting these caps. They came out looking factory perfect. It was a fair amount of careful work making the molds, but required no taping and super quick to paint once done.
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#23 |
Senior Member
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Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
An FAQ thread with oem4me's contribution and others:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=455805
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Jim |
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#24 |
Senior Member
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Location: madison indiana
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
those look great..
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jamie72 72 BB cheyenne -- Restoration getting started.. member #807 http://www.myspace.com/whitetailobsession www.antlertalk.com |
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#25 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,376
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Re: 69-72 PO3 Hub Caps - were these ever really chrome?
Here’s another anecdote re cap painting: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=247
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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