I am working on a 1968 4-4-2 convertible. It did not come with SS wheels, because it had the houndstooth cardboard spare tire cover. The wheels that were on it were black rollers, original unkown. Is there any way to discover the wheel cover it came with without the build sheet? I have the protectoplate, but no other paperwork. I am partial to the PA-1 hubcaps. Also, what code steel wheels should I look for to restore it? Thanks

 

The short answer is no.

Choose whatever hubcaps you like. IMO, they won't make a difference to anything related to judging if they're OEM.

 

HB coded steel wheels for 68 442
Check out thread entitled "any steel wheel gurus?"...there is imfo on steel wheel codes....

 

Seems like HB wheels are for disc brake cars and R code for drum brake cars????

Henry

 

The PA-1 covers will look good on a 68 442. Most factory pics I've seen of 68 cars with wheelcovers had those. They're sporty and an easy design to live with.

 

These covers would look great on your 1968 442:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...el-covers.html


Of course, I may be a little prejudiced, as they are mine......but I always thought they looked great on anything!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Oldsmob...-/301089656968?

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...eel-gurus.html

 

Thanks, I have not got that copy thing figured out on my ipad

 

For what it's worth, poverty caps and similar items are hubcaps.

But the others are wheelcovers - they cover the whole wheel.

Interesting bit of trivia I discovered a few years ago, as I tended to use the terms interchangeably.

 

Diego, You are correct technically, I can appreciate technical, I once started a riot when I got into a flaming argument with a supposed Olds guy who claimed pronouncing four forty two was OK! About the wheelcovers; The only wire wheels I like are the Kelsey-Hayes on 1954 Buick Skylarks and 1963 Thunderbirds. The reason I doubt it came with poverty caps is that none of the wheels were painted body color. I am thinking of two sets; Pa-1's on stock wheels & Coker tires and Cragar SS on nice fat tires for that vintage look.

 

Incorrect terminology makes it hard to locate what you want on an ebay search.

Henry

 

True, but at the same time don't expect that all ebay sellers know what the proper terminology is either. That compounds the problem even more. Not only that, but I've noticed a fair number of ebay sellers don't know what model, or years to apply the parts to and just fling numbers and descriptions out randomly.

Searching eBay for parts can really be a hit and miss thing at times, even with search options set up. It takes a LOT of time to go through those searches too.

 

It makes it REALLY HARD to search if you are on dial-up as I am.....

 

Like this...they came on my '68 4-4-2 when it was new (still have the original window sticker).

Randy C.

 

Correct, Henry.

Mine came with the PA-1 covers. I think they are the best looking of them for a 442. But I still can't bring myself to wearing them on my '68. It is SSIs for me.


Those terms are definitely descriptively accurate, and what I use.
Olds called them "wheel hubcaps" and "wheel discs".

 

Those wires look great on there; is that an original W-30 car? That's a pretty rare option!

A neighbor of mine bought a NEW '68 442 W-30 convertible in Jade Gold, and it was a beauty! Unfortunately, he hit a tree with it when it was only a couple of months old, and bent the frame, took months to repair, and I don't even remember what happened to it after that!