unthinkable just happened

[harmony]

Great day for my first outing after 5 months of work on the old girl.  Except for a couple test drives during the week.

So I went for about an hour and a half cruise.  Only to discover when I got back that I was missing a hubcap.  I remember going through a couple bad sections of road, which with bias ply tires, you always remember.  The good thing is that I discovered it when I got back and it was there when I left.  It was one of my regular scenic routes that I take.  I got in my other car and retraced the route with my eyes stuck on the side of the road, but I didn't find it.  There are a number of deep ditches along the way so it's probably in one of them.  I had my name and number on the inside of the hubcap and these days pretty much everyone out walking has a phone on them so if it was visible on the side of the road I would probably got a call by now. It's suppose to be another nice day tomorrow so I think I'll get in my daily driver and pull over every mile or so and walk it both sides of the road, then drive another mile and so on.  It was the front right hubcap so It's probably on the right hand side of the road, but I might as well check both sides.

The picture I sent along has a beauty ring around the hubcap.

[FarmerJon]

Sucks, but not really unthinkable, I was expecting something tragic.

If you haven't come up with a cap by April I will try to find you one or two at Carslie.

[harmony]

1 minute ago, FarmerJon said:

Sucks, but not really unthinkable, I was expecting something tragic.

If you haven't come up with a cap by April I will try to find you one or two at Carslie.

You're quite right, I'm still very happy that the trip went flawlessly and everything worked and no drips on the floor when I got back and I was thrilled that the clock was working and right on time.  But it's just one of those things I often think about and periodically I smack them with my fist to make sure they are on tight. 

[harmony]

4 minutes ago, FarmerJon said:

Sucks, but not really unthinkable, I was expecting something tragic.

If you haven't come up with a cap by April I will try to find you one or two at Carslie.

That's really nice of you.  Thank You.  Sure thing, a spare is always a good thing.  The 10 inch ones look identical.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Isn't the hub cap inside diameter  opening   7-1/4" on your Windsor?

Eight cylinder car  caps are 7-3/4" as I recall...

I might have one but need the inner cap diameter...

[harmony]

1 minute ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

Isn't the hub cap inside diameter  opening   7-1/4" on your Windsor?

Eight cylinder car  caps are 7-3/4" as I recall...

I might have one but need the inner cap diameter...

I'll check tomorrow on the inside measurement of one of my other caps.  Thanks for the offer.

[Oldguy48]

It never occurred to me to put my name, and info on the inside of the hubcap.  That idea is brilliant.  I've never lost a hubcap, (P15, 10" caps) but I'm gonna do that before the car show season, and the Plymouth comes out of hibernation..  Thank you for the idea!!!

[harmony]

22 minutes ago, Oldguy48 said:

It never occurred to me to put my name, and info on the inside of the hubcap.  That idea is brilliant.  I've never lost a hubcap, (P15, 10" caps) but I'm gonna do that before the car show season, and the Plymouth comes out of hibernation..  Thank you for the idea!!!

A friend of mine taught me that trick.  This is a true story.  He was cruising the USA somewhere arounds Pittsburg I think for an annual Oldsmobile meeting.  He has a 63 Starfire.  With pretty unique hubcaps that are made up of 3 different pieces.  Somewhere along the way, he realized he was missing a hubcap.  He lives near me on Vancouver Island about as far west in Canada as you can get.  When he got home a few weeks later there was a message on his answering machine ( pre cell phone times)  Someone had found it and called him.  He arranged to have it shipped to him and it arrived with very little damage to it when it came off.  Crazy story, right.

 

I use that ink marker stuff.  So it looks a bit like a felt marker, but it has paint in it.  It goes on super thick and heavy.  They use it for making wood in lumber yards or Auto wreckers also use them.  If auto parts stores down there don't carry them, I think building supply stores would have them or Harbor Freight

Edited March 6, 2022 by harmony

[MarcDeSoto]

I have a Chrysler after market hubcap that is like new, but it is odd.  I guess Chrysler could sue an aftermarket producer of their hubcaps, so this says something like "CHRRYSRR" , but in its fancy script, you won't notice that it's wrong.  I once asked two guys to examine this hubcap and tell me if it was factory or aftermarket.  They both said that had no idea how to tell!  Another thing you can do to keep your hubcaps is to bend the clips in a little bit so they are held tighter.  

Edited March 6, 2022 by MarcDeSoto

[Dan Hiebert]

My experience with losing one of these hubcaps is that they tend to roll along with the car for a good distance if its relatively smooth (short-ish grass, decent shoulder, etc.)  Thicker roadside, they fall over quicker.  The several times I've lost one, it stayed on the same side that it came off of.  (Always same cap, same rim.  Since fixed.)  Good luck with the hubcap hunting!

[harmony]

23 hours ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

Isn't the hub cap inside diameter  opening   7-1/4" on your Windsor?

Eight cylinder car  caps are 7-3/4" as I recall...

I might have one but need the inner cap diameter...

Yes, you're right  Mine are 7 1/4" inside opening dia, and 11" outside dia.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Ok 7-1/4" ...six cyl caps...mine are most all eight cylinder 7-3/4" capsnbut I will look and see if I have any of the C38 six caps and PM you.

Edited March 7, 2022 by Dodgeb4ya

[harmony]

11 hours ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

Ok 7-1/4" ...six cyl caps...mine are most all eight cylinder 7-3/4" capsnbut I will look and see if I have any of the C38 six caps and PM you.

Thank you, that would be appreciated. I spent 4 hours of wearing down my foot leather yesterday checking out the ditches but no sign of my escapee.  But I'll keep at it until the blackberry bushes start turning green, and the weeds start pushing up.