1962-1963 GMC K1500 hubcap

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 60-66

I know the 62-63 hubcap is taller but ?

Here is the rub. The '64-'66 1/2 and 3/4 ton hubcap is physically the same height, only difference is the mounting lip underneath. This is not true for '61-'63 3/4 ton cap. Yes, the 3/4 ton cap also has a mounting lip, but the '61-'63 3/4 ton hubcap is physically taller than a '61-'63 1/2 ton cap. 1/2 ton cap far left, propped up to compesate for the mounting lip. The '64-'66 3/4 ton cap on far right is much lower than the '61-'63 3/4 ton cap middle.

[60-66]

Today I was able to find the parts necessary to mock up a 1960-1966 17.5 8 lug wheel with a 1960-1969 3/4 ton hub and spicer lockout. It definitely will not work with this hubcap. All bolted together and the hubcap is a full inch away from seating on the rim . So that answers that . It was not meant to be for a lockout but was punched to be made larger, later , for lockouts . I did check part numbers for the Housing, which is the spacer for the lockout and only one was used 60-69 .

[factorystock]

Impressive mock up Jon! Was thinking the '61-'63 3/4 ton cap ( approx 3/4" taller) vs. the lower '66 3/4 ton cap would be the ace in the hole. Sure looks like it would have cleared on your old gold '66, but photos can be deceiving. Maybe a note was left in the GMC hubcap box for buyer to drill out for a custom fit to mfg's lockout hub?

[60-66]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Impressive mock up Jon! Was thinking the '61-'63 3/4 ton cap ( approx 3/4" taller) vs. the lower '66 3/4 ton cap would be the ace in the hole. Sure looks like it would have cleared on your old gold '66, but photos can be deceiving. Maybe a note was left in the GMC hubcap box for buyer to drill out for a custom fit to mfg's lockout hub?

Notice the shape of that 66 cap , everything tapers down to the outside edge. Where as the 62 63 is taller on the sides and sort of tappers to the center .Either hubcap will clear a fulltime 4x4 front axle without cutting , but the 1 3/4 spacer changes that. Still more research needs to be done as to why they are calling it J series and not G series . One thought is they could eliminate making a 4x4 cap in production , and just cut the 5 inch hole in the regular 3/4 ton cap without a problem . From what we've seen so far , 5 inch holes are what most 4x4 caps have in 62-63 trucks with lockouts.

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Welcome to the thread !
First , by what your saying Im assuming you have a short bed 1965 Chevrolet K10 ? On all Chevy K trucks the Data book states wheel colors as Black for solid color trucks and Body Color for two tone trucks, White wheels were ONLY used on GMCs . In 1967 that changed for Chevrolet.

As for the wheels , all the lock ring (split rims) wheels had clips . They didn't make a nub style lock ring wheel. In fact ALL 3/4 ton wheels had clips. 1/2 ton there was a choice . Had an original 1966 2wd Suburban with lock ring wheels as well.

As for the hubcaps , My 1966 K20 came from the Dealer , not the factory , with 1960 K20 hubcaps. The owner traded in a 1960 K20 and wanted the hubcaps on his new 1966 truck. Thats a possible explanation for your hubcaps. The other is that the wheels and tires were swapped from another truck. That can be verified by taking the tire off a rim and checking the date stamp inside.

This is my old 66 K20 when it was still in the original owners possession. Notice the white 1960 only K type hubcaps .

Thanks for the info.
Yes, it’s a short step side. Made a mistake in my OP. Truck was originally two tone light blue/white and the wheels matched the color and had same clips as the one in post #27, except of course with 6 lugs. Caps were white. Have swapped caps and rims to another member, so unfortunately can’t check the date code.

So if I understand correctly all rims had the clips whether or not caps were ordered. That makes sense, so I imagine the dealer found some caps, which at the time would only have been a few years old, to fancy up the truck for sale. I know the original owner didn’t custom order the truck because early in its life he painted it green and white to match his ranch colors. If he had special ordered it he would have specified the green color at the time.

So thanks to you I think the mystery is solved. Sure appreciate all the knowledge on this forum,
Tom

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

So if I understand correctly all rims had the clips whether or not caps were ordered.

All lock ring /split rims had clips, yes . You could also get a regular nub wheel on a K series in 15 inch and 16 inch from 1963-1966 . There is overlap with 61 and 62 but more comes into play in those years

[factorystock]

In the final analysis, any chrome early 60's 4x4 hubcap is rare, a chrome NOS 4x4 hubcap is super rare. We may never see a period photo of a small hole installed, they may never have fitted "as is". May very well have been a "cut out to fit" item. I would not hesitate to cut out the center of a NOS 4x4 cap to a larger diameter hub, if , and only if, I had a GMC Custom 4x4 worthy of the part.

[factorystock]

Found a photo of an original '61 Chevy 4x4 1/2 ton with a Spicer lock out, haven't found a 3/4 ton 4x4 photo yet.

[60-66]

Heres a real deal NOS 1/2 ton clip GMC Version of that cap Factorystock . Note the red paint , GMC ONLY , Chevy was all white .

[factorystock]

Your right, no red paint on Chevy caps, that is rust!

[gmcdeadhead]

i have a front set of chrome GMC hubcaps , they came on a 1965 GMC 3/4 ton truck, (K1500) that i bought from a fire dept in pennsyvania with only 11,000 miles on it . these were on the front end , 4x4 it says GMC on the hubcap and it looks like they were cut out at one time , either from the factory or the dealer , the truck did have the chrome package , the back side measures 8-3/4" and the front hole measures 3-3/8 thought i would supply this info if it helps

[60-66]

Interesting , most likely added by someone at some point in the trucks life, being that these are 1962 and 1963 only caps. No hubcaps offered 64-66 on GMCs . Would be interested in seeing on the truck without the black rubber .

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 60-66

No hubcaps offered 64-66 on GMCs .

Is this in any of your data books Jon? I believe they were offered up to '64- '65 model year GMC 4x4's. I agree with no caps on '66 4x4's.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Is this in any of your data books Jon? I believe they were offered up to '64- '65 model year GMC 4x4's. I agree with no caps on '66 4x4's.

The proof is in the GMC parts books , I do believe it was also mentioned in the Data book also . No hubcaps for K series in 1964-1966 . GMC went to 1963 but Chevrolet 1962 was the last year.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 60-66

The proof is in the GMC parts books , I do believe it was also mentioned in the Data book also . No hubcaps for K series in 1964-1966 . GMC went to 1963 but Chevrolet 1962 was the last year.

Yeah, data books would be the last word. I might have been suckered by a July '65 Fourwheeler magazine that showed a 4x4 suburban with caps. Any owner could drill out the centers, even a dealer back in '65 to please a finicky customer. Note, optional mirrors are stainless steel Prutsmans, a GMC only option ( another ahead of the competition option from GMC).

[factorystock]

Period era photo judging by the car nearby, appears to be a '60 or '61 3/4 ton. I do see a much smaller hub piece that were used to seeing protruding from the center of hubcap. The plot thickens

[350TacoZilla]

60-66 with your parts mockup you did do you have a spare full time hub to throw on and try a standard cap vs the one with tiny hole? Looking at the gap you have before cap would be on it doesn't look like there would be enough clearance for the little nub on flange to stick out on standard cap.

[factorystock]

The previous red '60-'61 photo, IMO, is what the '62-'63 cap was designed for. Needless to say, more era photos would be nice to solve this mystery.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

60-66 with your parts mockup you did do you have a spare full time hub to throw on and try a standard cap vs the one with tiny hole? Looking at the gap you have before cap would be on it doesn't look like there would be enough clearance for the little nub on flange to stick out on standard cap.

If you look back at post 27 , notice the 2 inch spacer needed to run lockouts . If you remove that and put on a full time cover , a normal full wheel cover fits right over the top without a hole . Then look at post #8 and you will see a truck without lockouts and a full wheel cover .

[60-66]

Originally Posted by factorystock

The previous red '60-'61 photo, IMO, is what the '62-'63 cap was designed for. Needless to say, more era photos would be nice to solve this mystery.

I don't know , that 61 cap is a short profile cap similar to the 64-66 style . I tried that on my old 65 K20 and no hole was needed . With the 62-63 cap being so tall it clears fine . There again this 4x4 hubcap is in the parts book as a 1962 only part number . I think they figured out they did not need a special hubcap for 63 and stopped making it. Just a thought

[factorystock]

This factory photo shines some light on 3/4 ton 4x4 hubs. IMO, a specific wheel size must required a cap with a hole, where as, other wheel sizes did not require a cap with a hole.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by factorystock

This factory photo shines some light on 3/4 ton 4x4 hubs. IMO, a specific wheel size must required a cap with a hole, where as, other wheel sizes did not require a cap with a hole.

If you go back to post 10, it says in the parts book that the cap with the hole is for 17.5 and 19.5 wheels. Great photo FactoryStock !

[factorystock]

Thanks. I thought I knew GMC's well, then the parts book says N series, J series, G series and F series, I'm at a complete loss. Side note, I noticed the front wheel on your '65 K 20 is the correct deeper offset 17" wheel, however the rear wheel appears to be the shorter offset 17", more commonly seen in pre '60 3/4 tons.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Thanks. I thought I knew GMC's well, then the parts book says N series, J series, G series and F series, I'm at a complete loss. Side note, I noticed the front wheel on your '65 K 20 is the correct deeper offset 17" wheel, however the rear wheel appears to be the shorter offset 17", more commonly seen in pre '60 3/4 tons.

N=1960 1961
J=1962
G=1963
F=1964-1966

Parts book refers to this hubcap as J and in a previous comment I mentioned it was a "1962" only or possibly only made one year hubcap. I think they later figured out it wasn't necessary to make a 4x4 hubcap ? As the hole size took out the entire GMC stamping anyway.

That left rear on the 65 , I think, was a spare from another truck that the fire department used at some point . It came with the other correct 4th rim but the "original" tire was shot

[factorystock]

Thanks for the clarifications on GMC series identification, never knew that tid bit of info before. I agree on the cap, one year wonder, then discontinued.