Hub caps

[davepl]

Those (the Chevy caps above) look great. BTW, I took a shot at polishing a set I had on hand, but none of the compounds I had would touch it, so I presume they were chrome.

I took from my experience that you can't polish out chrome, it needs to be replated. Stainless and other metals you can polish out very nicely.

Does anyone know (a) what years are for sure chrome and (b) how they can be refinished?

[davischevy]

Conventional wisdom is 69-72 chrome, 73+ stainless.

[Chevyland]

I'm not sure of stainless or chrome years^^^probably true
But my understanding is

73 and above concaved in, where the bowtie was yellow

And 69-72 bubbled out where the bowtie was blue

What I have seen is 69-72 are worth more $

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Conventional wisdom is 69-72 chrome, 73+ stainless.

This ^^

There are oddballs out there as well, I have a 69-72 GMC 3/4 ton cap like Daves, except it is an "innie" like 73-up

[davischevy]

And, this the "innies" and "outies" applies to 3/4 ton caps.

[Chevyland]

Originally Posted by davischevy

And, this the "innies" and "outies" applies to 3/4 ton caps.

Yes 3/4 ton caps
As far as I have seen. The only difference on 1/2 ton is color of bowtie
Now I'm wondering about the metal?
Will 69-72 polish up differently than 72 up

[Chevyland]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

This ^^

There are oddballs out there as well, I have a 69-72 GMC 3/4 ton cap like Daves, except it is an "innie" like 73-up

How do you know it is a 69-72?
Was the metal the difference between it being 73up?
And they just tooled it with the 73up machine?

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Chevyland

How do you know it is a 69-72?
Was the metal the difference between it being 73up?
And they just tooled it with the 73up machine?

Here is a pic

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Conventional wisdom is 69-72 chrome, 73+ stainless.

This is generally true, but there are a few deviations from this rule. Some blue bowtie 3/4 ton convex caps were made from stainless steel. Not sure if they were original issue on some '72's or later parts dept. pieces. There also was some rare chrome '73-'75 caps. Those chromed steel caps are much stronger than the chromed brass of the '69-'72 era.

[leddzepp]

1/2 ton are 10.5" in diameter. 3/4 ton are 12" in diameter

[jocko]

3/4 ton caps: the innie vs outie is also a tough one to crack. Generally speaking for 3/4 tons, 69-72 chromes were outies and 73+ alums were innies - but, I have seen some 73+ yellow bow tie alum outies at times. Have never, ever seen a 3/4 ton 69-72 chrome innie though - was always my understanding that there weren't any of those made.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by jocko

3/4 ton caps: the innie vs outie is also a tough one to crack. Generally speaking for 3/4 tons, 69-72 chromes were outies and 73+ alums were innies - but, I have seen some 73+ yellow bow tie alum outies at times. Have never, ever seen a 3/4 ton 69-72 chrome innie though - was always my understanding that there weren't any of those made.

I can likely solve that one, since mine were NOS and still in the bags and never had been installed.

When I went to install the first one, it was an outie. I installed it with a rubber mallet and when I knocked it in the center, it became an innie. So I popped it back out, figured "don't do that", and proceeded.

All of the others were also "outies" fresh from the package.

So, from the factory, they are outies. It's easy to make an innie by hitting or pushing too hard, but they come out of the bag as outies.

That's the 3/4T chrome 70s at least.

[Nomadicflyer]

Just climbing out from under my rock, here... but I'm having a time finding steelies for my 72 C20. Any tips for those 'been there/done that'? 8 lug. I'd say 16 inch, but I know there were variations. What's on there now are aftermarket 16's.

Hubcaps? Whew. Who knew? That's gonna take another deployment.... I'll just take the steelies, for now.

Thanks!

Kevin
1972 C20 Fleetside Long bed

[jocko]

Kevin, the stock 69-72 caps will fit both 16" and 16.5" gm 8 lug steelies. While 16.5s were standard thru mid-70's (and 16s could be ordered in cases), 16s, even from 73-87 era, are a nice upgrade for tire availability (but there are still tires for 16.5 rims). Also the accuride Ford 8 lug rims that can be purchased relatively inexpensively will also fit stock caps. The 3/4 ton caps are getting hard to find, as you've just read, and, worse yet, when found the prices are getting silly. Member PICKMUP (Frank) does some beautiful refurbs on these and he's a great resource to ask if he has any available. His prices are very fair in my opinion, especially considering the amout of work put into the ones he restores. Accuride rims are lug-centric, not hub-centric like GM, but that's ok - they work just fine. Ref member Sicklajoie's truck to see an example of what they look like. Indistinguishable from GM rims visually - and some better width options. Personally, I tend to scour the junkyards for squarebody 8 lug wheels - but they're getting hard to find.

[jocko]

Yes, like I mentioned in the quote, chrome PO3s were outies. I was referring to the aluminum 73+ 3/4 ton caps where I have seen them in both innie and outie configs (without using a hammer).

[special-K]

Originally Posted by jocko

Yes, like I mentioned in the quote, chrome PO3s were outies. I was referring to the aluminum 73+ 3/4 ton caps where I have seen them in both innie and outie configs (without using a hammer).

You meant to say Stainless, not aluminum, right? I don't know of any aluminum caps other than the next design.

[Nomadicflyer]

Thanks, Jocko! Good intel!

[jocko]

YES! Sorry about that! Ha.

[special-K]

Oh dangit! I was hoping to learn a new tidbit. Time for someone to start pressing some up!!!!

[robs71]

Hey Davepl I am with you...first off your truck is beautiful...I am doing a 72 super with as much NOS as I can,,it is taking forever to accumulate parts and costing more than I really have to spend but I decided I would like to do one truck in my life as nice as I can get it,,probably be finished when I can't drive anymore..then the kid will get it and put an LS motor in it...anyway I searched out the nicest set of caps I could find for it and price did not matter((thanks jimer1964))...rarity=$$ with these things.What you paid is icing on the cake for a truck well done......Rob

[davepl]

Here's one of the other sets of NOS caps I bought last year. This one more like $200 for the set, because they're more common (1969 Pontiac w/Disc Brakes).

[Chevyland]

Nice, see that one on the center top shelf.
It was a spare I had when I sold my 64 GTO
I used to be big into Pontiacs
Not so much anymore
All about trucks now

[special-K]

Oh the hubcap drama

[old Rusty C10]

now that this has gotten back on track lets keep it that way before I get grumpy

[davepl]

Here's an NOS radiator cap for $450 if anyone needs one :-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-GM-RC-15...hR7EIz&vxp=mtr