Wheel center caps or not?

[Brent Mills]

Ok, this is probably a goofy question, but here it goes....I've seen pictures of vintage cars with and without them. Some with front center caps, but the rears not there. I personally like the raw look without, but....I'm probably wierd.

Did all of the cars come with them on all fours and some/all got lost on the track, or??? Ron (computerworks) probably has this kind of information just floating in all that extra brain matter of his.

Told you it was a goofy question.

[fastraxsg]

All the books I have showing the early road cars, particularly in the book by Dave Friedman showing the sales promo shots, showed cars with wire wheels with knock off spinners taken in early 1964. In the promo shots for the Racing dept., his shots show alloys with knockoffs. Same goes for the coupe photos and the Dragaon Snake. It appears that with the alloy wheels though, there were several types of different knock spinners that could be used.

[Brent Mills]

I'm more asking about the little round center cap with the alloys...The thing in the center of the spinner.

Here's an example of csx2260 with a center cap on the fronts but not the back.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by Brent Mills

Ok, this is probably a goofy question, but here it goes....I've seen pictures of vintage cars with and without them. Some with front center caps, but the rears not there. I personally like the raw look without, but....I'm probably wierd.

Did all of the cars come with them on all fours and some/all got lost on the track, or??? Ron (computerworks) probably has this kind of information just floating in all that extra brain matter of his.

Told you it was a goofy question.

On the original cars, the front caps actually sealed the wheel bearing area from dust, so most kept them on. On the rear, they were only cosmetic, so the comp cars didn't use them.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

On the original cars, the front caps actually sealed the wheel bearing area from dust, so most kept them on. On the rear, they were only cosmetic, so the comp cars didn't use them.

Yup, that's exactly what I was gonna say. Fronts are needed for bearing protection, rears were cosmetic.

I pulled the rears off my car, and I love the way it gives it more of a comp look. And now I have a spare set of fronts .

[*13*]

Great question Brent! I always kinda wondered that myself. I would pull mine but afraid they may be needed???

[Brent Mills]

Thanks fellas.

I do have the same question as Hyde (*13*). How do you tell if they are needed or not?

[strictlypersonl]

If your front pin-drives use adapters on a standard bolt-on hub, the the caps are not needed. The ERA 6-pin system's one-piece hubs need them. I haven't seen a rear design that needed 'em.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

If your front pin-drives use adapters on a standard bolt-on hub, the the caps are not needed. The ERA 6-pin system's one-piece hubs need them. I haven't seen a rear design that needed 'em.

I think what he means Brent, is if you are running a real 6 pin setup (like CSXs, KMPs, ERAs 6 pin, etc), then you need them. If you are using the Trigo 5 lug adpaters, then you don't. For your KMP, you need them on the front, but not the rear (just like original cars).

[Brent Mills]

Ok, thanks! I'll check on that.

[bcrumpley]

I must be as wierd as you Brent, I like the look too. In fact, I'm gonna do like Sal and pull the rear ones off.

[Brent Mills]

Originally Posted by bcrumpley

I must be as wierd as you Brent, I like the look too. In fact, I'm gonna do like Sal and pull the rear ones off.

Here's the pisser guys...I love the look of them being off, but it for some reason bugs me having the front on but the rear off. It just seems unbalanced...Damn it! Sometimes I hate me.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Brent Mills

Here's the pisser guys...I love the look of them being off, but it for some reason bugs me having the front on but the rear off. It just seems unbalanced...Damn it! Sometimes I hate me.

Want me to take a quick pic of my car with them like that?

[Brent Mills]

Sure!!!

[Power Surge]

Here you go.. Sorry for the not so great pics, my camera is like 5 years old and the shop lighting sucks...







And one pic of the mighty FE, just because...

[Brent Mills]

Thanks for the pics! I'll definately run that way. I may try to come up with a different inverted dust cover for the front to protect but give the no cap look all the way around.

By the way, I like how you removed the paint on the Eagle part of the tires. If/when I get a set of those tires I'll likely do the same. Oh, and you just had to make people dool with the FE shot, right?

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Brent Mills

Thanks for the pics! I'll definately run that way. I may try to come up with a different inverted dust cover for the front to protect but give the no cap look all the way around.

By the way, I like how you removed the paint on the Eagle part of the tires. If/when I get a set of those tires I'll likely do the same. Oh, and you just had to make people dool with the FE shot, right?

Hehe, yeah. I spent a LOT of time and effort on that motor, making sure every nut, every bolt, every wire, bracket, clamp, etc was as correct to an original as I could. Lots of photos, questions, and buying wrong parts . But I am really happy with how it came out. Other than the obvious block difference (it's a 390), the rest of the motor is pretty much exact to an original (save for one or two items I haven't changed yet).

[HSSS427]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Hehe, yeah. I spent a LOT of time and effort on that motor, making sure every nut, every bolt, every wire, bracket, clamp, etc was as correct to an original as I could. Lots of photos, questions, and buying wrong parts . But I am really happy with how it came out. Other than the obvious block difference (it's a 390), the rest of the motor is pretty much exact to an original (save for one or two items I haven't changed yet).

Power Surge,
Can you share the details on your "original" engine build? It would be interesting and informative to hear about what you found through your research. For example, given my recent trials with blow-by, I'm curious to hear how that was addressed on original engines. Was the only venting the oil recovery tank on the firewall with a line from the rear breather hole on the intake? How did those oil tanks work? Did you just have to empty them, or did the oil run back in to the crankcase?

Thanks!
Scott

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by HSSS427

Power Surge,
Can you share the details on your "original" engine build? It would be interesting and informative to hear about what you found through your research. For example, given my recent trials with blow-by, I'm curious to hear how that was addressed on original engines. Was the only venting the oil recovery tank on the firewall with a line from the rear breather hole on the intake? How did those oil tanks work? Did you just have to empty them, or did the oil run back in to the crankcase?

Thanks!
Scott

I don't have any blow by issues on my motor so I can't say. My motor is vented like original, with the oil fill breather cap, and the rear line going to the puke tank. The puke tank is just a vapor tank, but in the event that the vapor condenses and turns back into liquid oil, one of the lines runs back down to the Aviaid oil pan. That's what the big port on the front of the pan right behind the dipstick fill port is for.

Hope this helps.

[Jamo]

Leave 'em off the rear.