C20 Hubcaps

[Uncle Mike]

We have a 1966 custom camper that we were able to make original hubcaps for. We took the brand new hubcaps that were meant for the c10 and then took the hub cap rings from the three-quarter ton junker hubcaps and put them in the new ones. Our problem is that we are losing the hubcaps going down the road due to the clips not holding them on well. We even bought extra clips and put them on the wheels for better retention. The ones we have bought seem to be pretty brittle and break easily telling me that they aren’t holding up well. Is there a place that sells stronger clips that I can mount to these steel wheels? Is there also a place that sells just the back rings? I don’t have any junker hubcaps to steal rings from anymore and trying to locate more!
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[rideblue00]

Are the clips breaking? How are you mounting them? Dont weld them on, spring steel is brittle and will crack...especially if you weld it.

[Uncle Mike]

We aren’t welding the clips. Just screwing them on. We were able to harvest a couple clips off an old spare wheel that had more tension and worked better but don’t have any extras for the other wheels.
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[factorystock]

We had a thread on this subject a while back. What clips are you using? Regular clips for older cars and 1/2 ton pickups are too short. Nobody makes the correct size clips. You need to remove original clips from an older 8 lug GM wheel. Older wrecking yards might let you do this on the multi piece wheels, if they plan on scraping them.

[factorystock]

A chrome cap for your C 20 https://www.ebay.com/itm/37466850833...Bk9SR9CajuX-YQ

[Uncle Mike]

Thanks for sending this my way. I was able to discover that I had not installed my clips high enough on a couple of my wheels to where they had a good contact with the hubcap. I found another used hubcap and I will update you guys on how it goes!
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[factorystock]

Here is the thread from a while ago. Original 3/4 ton wheel clips fit modern 16" Econoline wheels like a glove. Only issue is trying to rivet them like the factory riveted them for ultimate retention. I didn't feel comfortable with screws a cut short experiment.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=591894&page=2 I believe what you did is shown on post #25 link. Running shorter car or 1/2 ton clips forces you to mount the clip up higher in a uneven location.

[JPTL]

Your subject 'making' C20 hubcaps got me thinking..
My '66 C20 came with 16" steelies fitted with '73-'87 hubcaps. Even though they're C Series hubcaps, and they're a snug fit on the wheels, they just don't look right on a '66 vintage truck.



That said, I'm on a budget and not quite ready to drop $300 on a set of correct C20 hubcaps....and that's assuming that they fit on the wheels that I have. Maybe some day.
Since the '73-'87s are so much more common, I have no problem modifying what I have to get a little closer to a correct look. If I painted the bowtie white inside a dark orange/red circle, it might pass as a more correct hubcap from a distance.
What do you think?

[Uncle Mike]

I don’t have any experience with the square body hubcaps of that year but it may make it look more period correct. I’d say give it a go. Those hubcaps are easy to find as well. Through trial and error is how I finally got my hubcaps to work great.

[JPTL]

Since original C20 hubcaps are scarce and pricey, and my C20 came with a set of '73-'87 hubcaps that had enough of a factory look, I decided to stick with them.
I removed all of the black and dark yellow paint and sprayed the centers red with white bowties.
I'm going for a clean original restoration and although not 100% correct, these modded hubcaps look good IMO