hubcaps too small, what do i do!!!!!
February 26th, 2016, 09:16 AM
#1
Gearhead in training
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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hubcaps too small, what do i do!!!!!
So i lost a wheel cover for my 83 olds custom cruiser and just bought a set off of a gentleman for 50 bucks no shipping! Sounds great right? Wrong! They're to small! I didn't even consider that was a possibility and didnt realize it until i tried to put them on. Why!?!?!?! I didnt even know they made them in different sizes. Are they completely incompatible with my car??
February 26th, 2016, 09:33 AM
#3
Gearhead in training
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 390
I guess so, a whole set of them. Ill post a pic of the difference here in a few because im at work. I just never thought about it i guess, mistake on my part. Are 14" wheels common/better in any way? I just assumed my car had stock wheels and the hubcaps obviously arnt remanufactured so it would line up.
February 26th, 2016, 10:42 PM
#9
Big Daddy No Bucks
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 891
That was the standard 15 inch wheel cover for the full size 71-73 cars.
The later steel wheels (late 70's+) tend to be different vs the earlier steel wheels & the wheel covers mount differently.
Instead of the wheel covers leaving the edge/lip of the wheel exposed (similar to the pic you showed), they cover the entire wheel right to the sidewall of the tire.
As you found out, mixing & matching early vs later wheel covers doesn't always work.
The later steel wheels (late 70's+) tend to be different vs the earlier steel wheels & the wheel covers mount differently.
Instead of the wheel covers leaving the edge/lip of the wheel exposed (similar to the pic you showed), they cover the entire wheel right to the sidewall of the tire.
As you found out, mixing & matching early vs later wheel covers doesn't always work.
February 27th, 2016, 03:11 PM
#10
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,284
Did the wheelcovers stay on the wheels after you mounted them? If they did, you'd have been OK. Now, if they weren't large enough diameter for their tangs to bite the wheel rim, they were too small.
Think it was 1970 Olds moved to 15" wheelcovers on the full-size cars.
Don't worry about yer noob mistake. Nobody was born knowing anything.
Think it was 1970 Olds moved to 15" wheelcovers on the full-size cars.
Don't worry about yer noob mistake. Nobody was born knowing anything.
March 2nd, 2016, 07:40 AM
#11
You lost ONE wheelcover? What were they? The wire spokes? What did you do with the others?
If they were the wire spokes wheel covers, you'll have a hell of a time finding a new one. And in the future, you gotta make sure those things are bolted into the hub and if you get any tire service whatsoever, DO NOT TRUST THE TIRE GUYS TO TIGHTEN YOUR WHEEL COVERS!!!
NOT EVER! Always double check that they've tightened that cover! Lol. I know from experience and $60 later (for ONE!), I FINALLY found another one on eBay.
One time, I took off the little bolt hole cover in the wheel cover to discover that the tire guy had simply placed the bolt inside and snapped the Olds emblem plate on. Seriously. I was pissed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Oldsmobile...9WYM8N&vxp=mtr
Buz
If they were the wire spokes wheel covers, you'll have a hell of a time finding a new one. And in the future, you gotta make sure those things are bolted into the hub and if you get any tire service whatsoever, DO NOT TRUST THE TIRE GUYS TO TIGHTEN YOUR WHEEL COVERS!!!
NOT EVER! Always double check that they've tightened that cover! Lol. I know from experience and $60 later (for ONE!), I FINALLY found another one on eBay.
One time, I took off the little bolt hole cover in the wheel cover to discover that the tire guy had simply placed the bolt inside and snapped the Olds emblem plate on. Seriously. I was pissed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Oldsmobile...9WYM8N&vxp=mtr
Buz
Last edited by Arrowstorm; March 2nd, 2016 at 07:46 AM.
March 2nd, 2016, 07:44 AM
#12
I guess so, a whole set of them. Ill post a pic of the difference here in a few because im at work. I just never thought about it i guess, mistake on my part. Are 14" wheels common/better in any way? I just assumed my car had stock wheels and the hubcaps obviously arnt remanufactured so it would line up.
March 2nd, 2016, 08:30 AM
#13
Gearhead in training
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 390
You lost ONE wheelcover? What were they? The wire spokes? What did you do with the others?
If they were the wire spokes wheel covers, you'll have a hell of a time finding a new one. And in the future, you gotta make sure those things are bolted into the hub and if you get any tire service whatsoever, DO NOT TRUST THE TIRE GUYS TO TIGHTEN YOUR WHEEL COVERS!!!
NOT EVER! Always double check that they've tightened that cover! Lol. I know from experience and $60 later (for ONE!), I FINALLY found another one on eBay.
One time, I took off the little bolt hole cover in the wheel cover to discover that the tire guy had simply placed the bolt inside and snapped the Olds emblem plate on. Seriously. I was pissed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Oldsmobile...9WYM8N&vxp=mtr
Buz
If they were the wire spokes wheel covers, you'll have a hell of a time finding a new one. And in the future, you gotta make sure those things are bolted into the hub and if you get any tire service whatsoever, DO NOT TRUST THE TIRE GUYS TO TIGHTEN YOUR WHEEL COVERS!!!
NOT EVER! Always double check that they've tightened that cover! Lol. I know from experience and $60 later (for ONE!), I FINALLY found another one on eBay.
One time, I took off the little bolt hole cover in the wheel cover to discover that the tire guy had simply placed the bolt inside and snapped the Olds emblem plate on. Seriously. I was pissed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Oldsmobile...9WYM8N&vxp=mtr
Buz
March 2nd, 2016, 08:32 AM
#14
Gearhead in training
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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And i figured out that those wheel covers that i thought were 14" just alittle to late as i already traded back with the gentleman who sold them to me.. Looks like the ol CC is gonna have to go naked for a bit longer...
March 2nd, 2016, 09:10 AM
#15
Those wire wheel covers aren't expensive for that link I posted and if you don't snag em, I WILL! Lol.
No man, they won't ever come with those bolts because they are LONG gone. You'll have to take the hub bracket (or whatever that is) with you to the hardware store and find a bolt and then just go to a pawn shop to pick up a cheap driver and socket to keep in your glove compartment when you need to take the cover off to put on a spare.
No man, they won't ever come with those bolts because they are LONG gone. You'll have to take the hub bracket (or whatever that is) with you to the hardware store and find a bolt and then just go to a pawn shop to pick up a cheap driver and socket to keep in your glove compartment when you need to take the cover off to put on a spare.
March 2nd, 2016, 09:25 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,915
If they were 14" caps, and your wheel a 15", you would not have been able to mount the caps on the wheel at all. Now different style caps of the proper size is another story.
Your car had 15" wheels/tires from the factory.
Your car had 15" wheels/tires from the factory.
March 2nd, 2016, 09:34 AM
#18
Administrator
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Location: Poteau, Ok
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If you look at the picture the cap is not mounted on the wheel. Look at the difference of the gap compared from the valve stem to the opposite side.
March 2nd, 2016, 09:45 AM
#19
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Those wire wheel covers aren't expensive for that link I posted and if you don't snag em, I WILL! Lol.
No man, they won't ever come with those bolts because they are LONG gone. You'll have to take the hub bracket (or whatever that is) with you to the hardware store and find a bolt and then just go to a pawn shop to pick up a cheap driver and socket to keep in your glove compartment when you need to take the cover off to put on a spare.
No man, they won't ever come with those bolts because they are LONG gone. You'll have to take the hub bracket (or whatever that is) with you to the hardware store and find a bolt and then just go to a pawn shop to pick up a cheap driver and socket to keep in your glove compartment when you need to take the cover off to put on a spare.
That really is a great price for the both of them id say jump on it!
March 3rd, 2016, 12:44 PM
#20
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March 3rd, 2016, 06:33 PM
#22
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