Greg F Posted March 18, 2013 Report Posted March 18, 2013 Tried to buff out my hubcaps, but does not look like its working. Am I right in assuming they are not stainless steel, and have to be chromed? Thanks...Greg Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 18, 2013 Report Posted March 18, 2013 they are a chromed finish..they break up a bit for sure..get a very dusty looking shine when you start the polish process...up close it looks like bleeck..a few feet back will pass as drivable.. Quote
Andydodge Posted March 18, 2013 Report Posted March 18, 2013 The original hubcaps that came with my Oz 1940 Dodge are steel with a brass cap with a stamped "Dodge" and have been re chromed up very well.........however the caps that came with my 1941 Plymouth are stamped "Plymouth" into the steel hubcap, they may have been replated a long time ago but more likely the original plating and are as Tim above mentions, a "dusty" shine...................andyd Quote
White Spyder Posted March 18, 2013 Report Posted March 18, 2013 The ones on my Windsor are chrome over steel and are stamped with Chrysler. The trim rings are stainless steel and I am repairing them at this time. I did rub down the caps with 0000 steel wool to remove the grime and some of the scratches but you have to be light handed as you can get down into the brass layer. 5 feet and the look very nice. Quote
Greg F Posted March 19, 2013 Author Report Posted March 19, 2013 Ya think I found that brass layer...oops! Oh we'll was worth a try. Thanks G Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 I have a set of very splotchy chrome finish hubcaps that are about ding free...I have not really priced them for chrome service but considered maybe painting them later for the 58 truck someday..who knows..long way off yet Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 The P15 hubcaps have a chrome "skin" over them..........I think back in the old days you could get a new skin and replace the old. They were crimped all around the circumference. I found a skin which had come off a cap just this weekend in the back seat of a P15 we were getting some parts from. I usually use liquid chrome cleaner, then liquid wax from Meguiars to protect and shine the caps. Mine are not perfect either, but I only use them on rare occasions when I get in the mood to revert to steel wheels. I did repaint the picture and lettering on mine with Testors red model car paint. Quote
White Spyder Posted March 24, 2013 Report Posted March 24, 2013 Well I found out that the trim rings on the Chrysler are chromed too! Repair will not be possible without re-chroming. Not cheep. I recently got a quote of 250.00 to chrome my hood ornament 4 hubcaps and 4 trim rings, no telling how much they will cost. Quote
Scruffy49 Posted March 24, 2013 Report Posted March 24, 2013 Did Roberts quit carrying hub cap skins? I know they used to be listed in the print catalog... Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 24, 2013 Report Posted March 24, 2013 bling is getting very expensive these days...and will only go up from here...is it just me, but consider some of the replacement bumper for the so-called popular cars..full size, steel no core, chromed...110.00 makes me question the actual chrome cost... Quote
Scruffy49 Posted March 24, 2013 Report Posted March 24, 2013 Chroming is still pretty cheap in Mexico, Taiwan and red China... most of the aftermarket stuff comes from/through one of the 3. There was a really stellar chrome shop in Surrey B.C. that did show grade triple dip for less than 1/2 of USA prices. Not sure if he's still in business or not. You can get stainless trim rings cheaper than chromed ones. I'm doing that for my factory 16s (and my headlight rings, one is chrome, one is stainless, swapping with the motorhome stainless versions... our 60s motorhome uses 40s headlight rings, go figure). Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted March 25, 2013 Report Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) I don't know if I would bother to have trim rings chromed or not. Depends on what and how rare they are. Several places sell the rings. Not sure how it goes with chroming a hubcap. They have quoted me around $300 to re-chrome a P15 front bumper at a shop up towards St. Louis, MO. Have had positive comments about their work. The big chrome place in Nashville (triple show chrome plating) said more like $1200 for same simple bumper. Part, or most, of the reason for high prices on chrome I think relates to requirements of the E P A. Edited March 25, 2013 by BobT-47P15 Quote
White Spyder Posted March 25, 2013 Report Posted March 25, 2013 Please pass along the name of the shop in St. Louis and where I might find the trim rings. Quote
Scruffy49 Posted March 25, 2013 Report Posted March 25, 2013 Trim rings? Start with: Robert's, Wheel Vintiques and Night Prowlers. Throw in Sacramento Vintage Ford for good measure, they have full wheel covers also, including stainless Lancer versions. I've seen and purchased cheap generic trim rings from Pep Boys, Autozone, Advance and O'Reillys for other projects. Usually around $11-20 each for chromed aluminum ones. Quote
White Spyder Posted March 25, 2013 Report Posted March 25, 2013 Found some rings at O'Riley's but they turned out to be too narrow and leave the rim exposed between it and the hub caps. On to another source. Quote
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