VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 490 Hub caps

When tryng to find good hub caps for my 490 1922 model, I discovered that thread dimensions were different, 2 1/8 inches on the front and 2 1/4 inches on the rear wheels. Could this be original? The car was made in Oshawa, Canada and has the chassis no. 9A57344.

2 1/8 " threads on the front are for 1916-1920(21?) 1922
uses the larger 2 1/4" threaded hub caps.

Your front hubs may have been changed to earlier models, or model T Ford hubs , which are more common.

Thaks for your information, Jack. I have both aluminium and plated brass caps. Do you know what years they are for?

Einar

The plated brass caps are correct for 490's. brass caps were
used up to 1928.Should be a hexagonal shape.
They are nickel plated originally
There is a slight difference in the insignia(bowtie) area ,as some years had a plain background, and others had a texture.

Aluminium caps will depend on the shape , Hexagonal or octagonal
and the thread diameters
Earlier cars such as FA and FB had aluminium caps, also some aftermarket caps were aluminium aswell.

My 1916 has brass caps, no logo stamped and the plain circle in the centre is painted black. They are pretty heavy compared with the aluminium ones to models, from may be 1920 and up.

It must have been a big variety of hub cap models, but the brass ones are presumably to the oldest models.

It is very difficult to get a substitute cap if you loose one, so fasten them tight with an oil filter wrench (with a rubber band grip), before driving.

Solan,
Your hub caps may be Cast reproduction replacements from Vintage and classic Reproductions in Queenland AUSTRALIA.
They probably used one of your original one's as their sample.

They make and sell these for 490's and other chev 4 cylinders.

http://www.vintageandclassicreproductions.com/Chevrolet.htm

Thanks for the possible clarifying comment. I know the nice company you mention, and could ask them or the seller about this. I did not think they were replacements as the car has kept the majority of original parts, except top and interior clothing. One of the reasons I bought it, and the main: My grand grand father bought a new Touring 490 in 1919, as he could afford this compared to a T-F**d. Guess how many hours I "drove" the car inside the garage when I was spending school holidays on the farm my father came from?

I have only seen pictures of the hub caps (1916-18) without the logo. When did they start to use logo on hub caps? After the 490ties?

Hubcaps are shown in the 1916-1917-1918 parts catalogue as
having no Bowtie logo in the centre of the cap. Part no H-258

1924 combined parts book shows hubcap part no.H-258 with bowtie logo and chevrolet script.( for 490 models)

From watching the auctions on ebay 1919 had the bowtie logo,but with no texture to the background, 1920 and onwards has the bowtie logo with the textured background.

Also replacements sold for 1916 onwards would have had the replacement with the logo, as the factory would have stopped the manufacture of the earlier type.

Next time you have a hubcap off , you can look inside to see if they have a cast finish inside , or a smooth pressed surface inside.

The cast hubcaps are only shaped on the outside, whereas an original hubcap (which are pressed brass) show the embossing reliefs on the inside as well.

The 1920 hubcap i just looked at has a clear bowtie on the inside.

Are you also aware that the front wheel rims are(supposed to be) 30 x 3", and your back are 30 x 3 1/2" ?, measure them some time??

Thanks, I will check later. I have not checked the front and rear wheels, but have tires 30 x 3 1/2" on all, at 60 psi. A bit bumpy on bumpy roads, but safe around sharp corners.

Dave P. told me he has white tires (as shown on many original pictures from 1916-18) on his 1916, but I do not want to change from black. The vital part is to drive on fresh rubber.

Also "Vintage and classic reproductions" was owned by a long time member of the VCCAA , Queensland branch of the chev club down under, Used to the "Vintage kickplate company"