VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 Chevrolet Hubcaps Original vs repop

I purchased hubcaps from oldchevytrucks and they are lighter, smaller in circumference and embossed logo is thinner. Does anyone sell good repop hub caps or is this type the only ones available?
Thank you
Michael

I doubt if you will find any better reproduction hubcaps.

My experiences with reproduction parts are such that I am no longer disappointed because my expectations are so low.

Typically there are no more than 2 actual sources for a reproduction part, often only one. There are many places where you can buy the part but they all buy from the same one or two sources.

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned in the last 10+ years is how difficult it is to find good parts for these old vehicles. I now spend at least a fourth to a third of my time searching for and researching parts. My strong preferences are for NOS, original, or salvage parts that can be refurbished.

point taken, but i am hopeful that chevsofthe40s has a more correct cap. Chevsofthe40s cap weighs 2lbs while the ones i received weights less then one pound ea. Attached is a comparison. I will have my caps repaired if that is possible.

Be thankful you can buy repops that are at least kinda close. Rusty is right that there is usually only one source as these are low volume items.

Try finding one year only Canadian Pontiac Hubcaps that fit 1938 Chevrolet wheels.

Hi Mike,

I expect that Chev of the 40’s has the same cap. The weight they list is the shipping weight. They probably get that number by rounding up to the next higher pound. That way they make sure they cover the shipping costs.

I took one of the original hub caps off my ”˜37 this afternoon while I was in the shop. I wanted to compare it to the pictures of the reproduction caps I was seeing on the internet. I do not have access to a scale right now so could not weigh it.

One big difference is that the originals are double wall construction. There are actually two-layers of steel in the cap. The chrome layer is crimped to the outside diameter of the full stamped hub cap. I would love to see the tooling and process they used to produce those!

Right now I also have 4 original hubcaps (2 painted and 2 chromed) for an Advanced Design 1/2 ton pickup. Those are also dual layer construction.

My 38 Town Sedan has nice original caps but my 38 Master Sport caps are original but banged up. I wonder if I can have the originals restored. Has anyone had double walled hubcaps restored?

I looked into it probably close to 15 years ago. The company I found would dismantle the hubcap and then make a die for the outer shell that has the pattern and stamp a brand new outer shell and then affix it onto the repaired inner shell. Basically make a new custom hubcap.

It was crazy money - approaching $1000 per hubcap. Don't even think I kept the contact info...gee I wonder why. I believe it was in Australia.

It's possible that's it's gotten cheaper by means of a new method or you might find someone who just does stainless work and could rework outer shells. Stainless repair still gets expensive as it's hours of hand labour...

Hubcaps are a low priority after my drive today, brakes are terrible

I would like to find a set of those replacement hubcaps that they could not spell out the name correctly for my 37,I had one many years ago but no clue where it went to.

I love those knockoff hubcaps! They could not legally copy logos so some aftermarket companies got pretty creative and they often look pretty darn good from 20' away. I have some pontiac ones like that - instead of the indian head, there is a less detailed blob lol.

I would try the Filling Station in Oregon

I agree that it is worth a phone call to The Filling Station. Their catalog description indicates it is a 2 layer design.

The description from Chev of the 40’s is inconclusive.

I have a NOS 1938 Hub Cap, it weighs 1 pound 3.2 oz. according to my postage scale.
The Filling Station for the most part does there home work.