pc'ed wheels and full wheel cover question question...

[jocko]

Quick question for y'all. I am considering powder coating some 72 stock steelies. The truck came with PO3 hubcaps originally, and I can get those on/off without damaging pc too much (have this on my 66). My question is whether or not i't even worth it when using full wheel covers. my 72 full wheel covers pretty much destroy the painted wheels when taking them on/off and wondering if anyone out there uses powder coat WITH full wheel covers and how the pc lasts under the abuse of the frickin' metal shredding attachment points of the full wheel covers... I'm afraid I know the answer, but just curious. Wish the hubcaps weren't so fragile, they are hard to put on without damaging them (mine are 73+ alum ones wiht blue bowtie) - but my full wheel covers are actual 72's with chrome. I may powder coat regardless just because it helps keep the inner wheels easy to clean and powder coat is pretty cheap where I live - and it will certainly scratch at least a little less than with paint.

Problem is that once I install a full wheel cover, I can never go back to the hubcaps, beacuse it is going to scratch the snot outtt the wheels...

Thoughts?

How do you all keep your wheels from getting scratched to pieces when installing full wheel covers?

How do you all install the smaller caps without damaging the caps?

Simple stuff, but when you consider how trashed most of the used caps and wheels are, it's no wonder, kinda lousy attaching design, but no worse than any other trucks/cars of the day.

Thanks!