Technical Screw on MOON caps

Question regarding peoples' experience using screw on (not Dzus-fastened) Moon discs with either (or both if you have experience with both) steel or aluminum wheels-- is one more advantageous for street use? I would *assume* an aluminum wheel (lets say 15"x7") would flex less than a steel wheel, and might be a better match for the aluminum Moon discs?

 

I had them on a 73 PU back in the late 70's I drilled and tapped the holes 10/32 and I also used a small rubber washer under the screw head because they would wear and wallow out the hole . I ran them about 90,000 miles that way . PTA to add air .

Most the spun steel disks I saw and I have a set now were Ansen made not Moon .
In about 1981 I went to CP perfomance in Santa Rosa CA and biught a set and it was the first set of spun disks they had sold in the over 8 years . They got me Ansen as they were cheaper and available. I think they were $20 each at the time and I could not afford American torque thrusts . I was about the only guy running them on the street in the early 80's it seemed .

I wanted them after I saw a set on the 55 ( think it was a 55 ) Chevy on the TV show CHIPS were they dragged out a old race car to solve a case or some BS . Wish I could re watch that episode .

 

CHiPs episode gasser 55 chevy??? | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
seems I was not the only one who remeambers the car and the show LOL

Bing Videos

 

One thing not mentioned…….Moon discs are VERY inconvenient for add air to a tire. If trying to look racy today more at Bonneville are using Dzus fasteners especially on steel wheels. On my avatar the rears are steel 16’s and the front aluminum 15”

 

Couple of things here . . .

As I remember (?), Moon will "rent" you a jig to simplify the Dzus lay-out . . .

And, some folks have moved the air valve holes to the inside of the wheels to simplify checking air pressure -- yes, that may need jacking up the car to rotate the wheel to a place for access, but not having to screw and unscrew the screwed type getting looser each time.

 

I like @DDDenny 's idea of using beauty rings. Tig the moon caps to the rings (no visible hardware), and just pound them on with your fist or rubber mallet. Done. Easily removed for airing and tire replacement. No holes in your wheels. Easy to change the look of the car if you tire of the moon discs. Why wouldn't you?

 

Have you ever seen a set of Moon caps that some ham fisted moron installed by "banging" them on. Not mine but I've seen it and it's not pretty!

 

They did make snap on discs for awhile (like hubcaps). I ran the screw on Moons on my '60 Elco for years as a daily driver in the early 90s......did suck a little to check the air. I still have a set of new 15" spares for the original 15" on my Elco, that I still have.

 

I remember the jig you could “rent” as well to weld your tabs in the correct location… that’s been 10-20 yrs. ago… guessing‍♂️

 

The first time I ran my car at Bonneville, I had drilled and tapped the wheels for buttonheads. Leaked down overnight. I then put studs in the holes and tack welded them on the bead side of the wheel. No more leaks, but I now have problems with them loosening, even just after one run. So far, I have just left them off.

 

They still offer the Dzus weld jig, if you want to go that route: https://www.mooneyesusa.com/product-p/mdjig.htm

 

Moon-Eyes still has them and sells in their catalog. I bagged 2 stainless 15”, took them apart and Dzus them on my son’s 40 Chev on the rear.

 

(Lancer + Moon + small center caps + olds flipper)


Hello,

As teenagers, there was a weekly gathering at our Westside of Long Beach house. There was a backyard “Rumpus Room” building far away from the main house. So, teenagers can hang out and be as loud as teens usually are when gathering.

Before the hot rod garage build, with casement windows all around and double door opening. Then after our hot rod build days started, My brother and I made a plywood garage door to open and a Willys Coupe could be rolled in parallel to the concrete pad.

So, while the teens gathered in the old “rumpus room” with seating, that was fine, but the front driveway and street parking was packed with old sedans and a fast 34 Ford 5 window coupe. Afterwards, when the garage door was set up, the interior seating was taken out and now everyone sat on the front grass under a tree or on the front steps to see the friendly, “car show and hubcap exchanges.”
Picture a cool teenage hot rod sitting in place with other teens sitting on the front porch, grassy shaded area under the center located lawn tree with everyone criticizing the look on each hot rod that drove up into the two strip driveway spot.

The driveway was the center of the teen car show. But, as they stayed later, I earned money washing the cars that had to park on the street under the Jacaranda trees. Those are known for dropping gooey flowers and sap of sorts. So, a wash was always needed. Yippee!

Before we decided on Moon Discs for the 1951 Olds Sedan, we tried the standard, cool, 4 prong, Dodge Lancer Flipper hubcaps, Baby Moons, and the old, 3 prong Chevy Fiesta hubcaps. Our friends had one set of these hubcaps on each of their cars, so borrowing them just for looks was the order of the day. Besides, who could resist my mom’s cooking for a free lunch spectacular?

Money was tight, so to finally purchase any set of hubcaps was important that we got it right with our first selection. This was before any cameras were around and we just had to remember which one stood out the most. A short cruise down the street was done by everyone joining in on the fun hubcap exchange day.

All hubcaps were exchanged and driven down the street, except for the Moon Discs. At the time, the only version was the screw mount type and not the hubcap style clip on model. So, we took them off a friend’s wheels and taped them on our car. Instantly, that was the choice. It looked race ready, fast and with the lowered rake, Olds, a cool cruiser. The other hubcaps gave it a cool street look, but these Moon Discs just made it look like it was moving at a fast pace even when standing still.

That was the final choice.

The one thing we learned about the Moon Discs: You can’t use sharp pointed screws to install them, even if some drag racers told us that those screws keep the tires from moving upon acceleration. They leak ! So, tubes and flat tipped screws solved the problem.

Even after we sold the 1951 Oldsmobile sedan to a friend moving up from his mom’s Chevy, he kept the Moon Discs on for several more years.


Note:

These days, it is still the same for sharped tip screws vs the flat ones provided. But, not all Moon Discs are the same. The original ones that needed removal if the air inlet valve access was necessary have the screw holes as far outside as possible. Snap on discs leave the standard rim width showing and don’t look as nice as full original Moon Discs. But, they do allow air pressure checks without removing the whole disc.

But, tire technology has improved and if drilled correctly as instructed and the appropriate screws installed, that should not be a problem. We have two daily drivers with great tires and have never checked air pressure since 2013. No leaks, drives well and handles great. So, choose your tires well. Low cost may not be the answer.

The newer Dzus fastener discs have the larger holes farther in toward the center. So, they are quite obvious on any attachment. But, of course, YRMV