I have a 50 shoebox that I want to put custom wheel covers on. I seem to be running into a problem with fitnent issues. It is not fitting my wallet nor the wheels. I don’t want to keep buying wheel covers for them not to fit. I am running ford wheels although I don’t know the year they are 15” wheels So far I have gotten and tried: 1956 Cadillac wheel covers. Much to deep but they have the right look. 1953 Oldsmobile hubcaps with spinners. They have the right look as well but they are also too deep, just not deep as the caddy covers. 1955 Olds wheel covers fit Fine. But not really the look I want to go for. I don’t want to buy anymore until I know they fit. Some others covers I like are 1957 Lincoln Premier wheel covers 1957 Dodge Lancer covers 1959 Dodge Lancer covers(I really like) 1949-1954 Polara covers
Maybe you could change the wheels… I think 50’s mopar 15 inch steelies would probably accept those wheel covers. 49-56 ford steelies not so much, due to their design / offset
Maybe a picture of the wheel without a cover might help folks decipher wat you have and suggest options
My dad used steel for his 52 covers, held up fine with good primer. Just depends how often you drive it.
I will get a shot of the wheels when. I get back in town. I have heard all caddy wheel covers are finicky and really only like to be on caddy wheels
As you are learning all wheels as well as Hubcaps are not created equal. Like all things in the world of changes, do your homework before you open your Wallet. When choosing a hubcap first study the Wheel it was intended for. Then compare it to what you're wanting to put it on. There are so many variations you can't list them all. Some wheel hoops have a deeper drop to catch the hubcap fingers in. Some have deeper centers than others for a reason. Then the obvious is the bolt patterns often won't let you use the intended wheel. Your next move is to build a wheel or make a different choice in covers. I choose to build an appropriate wheel, so I also like the fit. For my 51 I chose 57 Chrysler hubcaps simply because I liked the look and they were not a common used one. Because of bolt pattern I had no option but to build a wheel plus I needed to not rub my fenders at full turn stop. An appropriate wheel center was found and a hoop that worked with the cover. Then the back spacing began. Without the center welded but trued you do test fitting for fender spacing. Once that looks good then test fit the hubcap. I have learned that wheel's flex some and the way I drive 1/4" seems to be a good gap space to keep from spitting off a cover. Find the contact point, use some modeling clay to check gap. Once happy weld them up. Make sure to spin balance them without a tire on. Once you have lead weights in place you add a little weld if needed and grind to correct weight and you're done. Yes, it's a day's work but what isn't? 20 years and over 85K miles and haven't lost one yet and I still like looking at it. I call that a win. Being Kool isn't always a Nutz and Boltz deal.
The 55 Olds caps look much better if you put an aftermarket chrome bullet over the center. My avatar picture has these on it. I have since changed out to '57 Cadillac hubcaps (kinda pricey but look great) with bullets over the middle covering the plastic Cadillac insert. Both of these caps will fit the Ford 15" wheels.
I had the same problem with the fronts on my '51, fitting '56 Olds covers. I had some old Ford 6.5"x 15s that just allowed the deep Fiesta's to fit.
I've got 15" Ford wheels and the Lancers from Mooneyes on my car. I did have to bend the "tangs" with a dead blow hammer all the way around the cap to get them to fit inside the rim to get them on.
The Jalopy Journal
