3/4t hubcap question

[GMCBubba]

Hey all, I have a 69 GMC 3/4t with Dana 60 rear end. I am having very little luck finding good hubcaps and at least a couple of mine need tons of TLC. Truck is getting a full restoration but the hubcaps have been difficult to source. If need be, I'll just run without hubcaps and still be happy. But I was wondering if anyone knows if the hubcaps from 76+ will fit over the axle in the back. My understanding is 76 marked a transition to all corporate axles and the fitment might be an issue. If you have any insight, I'd appreciate it.

[kwmech]

I have 3 of these

[mr.mud1]

i have a 72 C-20 with a Dana 60,all four hubcaps were gone.i rounded 11 hubcaps,picked the best four and restored them.i know have some or all later hubcaps that had the gold bowtie.the fit the Dana hub just fine.

[special-K]

You are wondering about the next style, 76-91, hubcaps fitting over the Dana 60 hub, correct? I guess I never crossed that bridge. I think I've heard they don't fit. I know the 'do' fit over HO52 hubs

[GMCBubba]

Originally Posted by special-K

You are wondering about the next style, 76-91, hubcaps fitting over the Dana 60 hub, correct? I guess I never crossed that bridge. I think I've heard they don't fit. I know the 'do' fit over HO52 hubs

yeah special-K, that was what I was wondering, since I thought they discontinued the dana 60 in those trucks and that it wouldn't fit. and mainly asking because the correct caps are hard to come by in the 3/4t GMC variety and I am exploring easier options.

[special-K]

I like that style cap. Back when the correct caps were harder to find I would run the 76-91 style. I actually think they are a better looking hubcap. I just never tried using them on a truck with Dana 60

[mr.mud1]

sorry,i misunderstood,i thought GMCBubba was asking about the next style 73 and up hubcap fitting the Dana hub.i realize now he meant the later square body 76 and up aluminum hubcap.i have had those huncaps too but don't know that i ever tried them over a Dana rear?it's all good.

[GMCBubba]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

sorry,i misunderstood,i thought GMCBubba was asking about the next style 73 and up hubcap fitting the Dana hub.i realize now he meant the later square body 76 and up aluminum hubcap.i have had those huncaps too but don't know that i ever tried them over a Dana rear?it's all good.

you're good. I'm happy for any extra info coming in on 3/4t.

[factorystock]

The stainless 12" '73-'75 cap kwmech posted is your best choice for your '69. The original chrome over brass, like the era Chevy cap, was notoriously very weak and dented and cracked very easily ( shown in photo, black center, red letters). There was a chromed steel '73 version, but it is much rarer than the stainless version.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by GMCBubba

you're good. I'm happy for any extra info coming in on 3/4t.

How do you feel about wheel spacers?

[GMCBubba]

Originally Posted by special-K

How do you feel about wheel spacers?

not opposed if it helps the situation. I assume the issue with the dana axle is how far it sticks out? a spacer would open up the use of 76+ caps? any idea how much spacer would be required?

[special-K]

Yes, it is that the Dana 60 hub sticks out more. I don't know how much but I know it's minimal. Hopefully someone with experience in this will post. I'd guess 1" should work. I don't know if they make them thinner. Too bad you don't have a cap to try out

[1967GMCC20]

I run the later 12in GMC caps on front rims of my 67. Have not been able to find a pair for Dana 60 with open centers. I do have 2 Chevy gold color 12in, one nice, one is usable.

[GMCBubba]

thanks guys. I ended up buying kwmech's 3 hubcaps. but that means I'm still searching for more. thanks.

[factorystock]

Good news, the '73-'75 stainless are much stronger than originals and newer aluminum caps and the stainless caps can be polished out nicely and repainted if need be.

[special-K]

Good to hear.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Good news, the '73-'75 stainless are much stronger than originals and newer aluminum caps and the stainless caps can be polished out nicely and repainted if need be.

I apologize if this is too far off topic but I'm curious. It seems to be understood that the 73-75 stainless caps are stronger than the earlier chrome over brass version. How do the painted steel 69-78 caps stack up in the sturdiness category?

[special-K]

They should be the same, both are steel. The difference in the brightwork hubcaps is the materials

[cericd]

Ah okay. I didn't know if the painted caps were any thicker/thinner.

[stjosephburb]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

i have a 72 C-20 with a Dana 60,all four hubcaps were gone.i rounded 11 hubcaps,picked the best four and restored them.i know have some or all later hubcaps that had the gold bowtie.the fit the Dana hub just fine.

Nice hubcaps. I am working on my 1970 C20 Suburban and also ISO hubcaps.
Did you restore them yourself or have a specialist do it? Any tips either way? Thank you!

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by stjosephburb

Nice hubcaps. I am working on my 1970 C20 Suburban and also ISO hubcaps.
Did you restore them yourself or have a specialist do it? Any tips either way? Thank you!

hi.i was going to buy a set already done but decided to do my own right here.i kept buying them,as i said,til i had 11,picked through to find the best 4.a couple took a little bumping to work out a couple dents but they weren't bad.i worked them on a piece of plywood on my bench and made a couple little tools from a piece of hardwood to push out a couple dents and creases.you can't use anything sharp cause you'll make marks that stretch the material making them harder to get out.i stripped off all the paint and once i was happy with them,buffed them on my buffing wheels and finally applied new decals that i bought from a guy in North Carolina,i believe he was.i think they look pretty good for home made hubcaps?holler if i can help.take care.Greg

[special-K]

Originally Posted by cericd

Ah okay. I didn't know if the painted caps were any thicker/thinner.

I may have been wrong in my reply. Seems I've heard tell the 69-72 8-lug truck hubcaps with chrome plated brass, which would be why they tend to split. I know the painted caps are steel and I have never seen one split. When I couldn't find front hubcaps to save my life I bought a pair of N.O.S. painted steel rear/2wd hubcaps to cut holes in and have chromed. I eventually did find chrome original front hubcaps, so the painted caps were spared. They now reside on a fellow members super sweet Longhorn

[72c20customcamper]

I used the early square hubcaps on my truck . They fit over the Dana without modification.

[chevmn]

Just fyi, the later stainless Chevrolet caps will fit over a Dana 60, but the stainless (concave center) GMC will not - at least not without interference and it will press the center portion outward. Why? Because the GMC lettering is embossed inward, where the Chevy is not. Beware. Early convex center caps are no issue with the Dana axle.

[dagnabbitt]

I'm not trying to offer a suggestion that you do not want, but since I just received this piece in the mail this morning it seems timely to mention that you can run conversion lug nuts with 1990's GM 3500 wheel covers to fit over your Dana.

Just an option. It might not "go" with your restoration. I myself was pretty keen on stock caps, but got tired of searching for a nice set. Once I had spent a fortune on them, I thought to myself, I'd be scared to put them on the truck!