Swapped some hubcaps around today...

T

Todd Merrifield

Still not 100% correct, but closer, and free. It was actually much more difficult to do than you would think, since I don't have the correct wheels for these hubcaps. I just used the adapters I made to mount them to the billet wheels that they usually go on. Eventually I'd like to find the correct steel wheels for these caps.


Before:

hcbefore.jpg



After (sorry about the out of focus pics, it was raining so I snapped them quick):

hcafter1.jpg


hcafter2.jpg


hcafter3.jpg


I've been invited to exhibit the ambulance at a fire station open house, and the more modern hubcaps have sort of bothered me for a while so I thought I'd at least attempt to get the correct ones on there.
 
Wow

Todd...how long have you had this rig? I recall a guy asking me to advertise it on my website several years ago...he had bought it to tow a matching pickup truck...and eventually flipped the idea when he found out how valuable the ambulance was. This is one awesome vehicle! Good luck with it and thanks for posting all those photos!
Kevin
 
Yeah, the new caps look good. They are more "period" looking. I have the same hubcaps as your old ones (with the Chevy bowtie) on my '87 Suburban.
 
Kevin Lynch said:
Todd...how long have you had this rig? I recall a guy asking me to advertise it on my website several years ago...he had bought it to tow a matching pickup truck...and eventually flipped the idea when he found out how valuable the ambulance was. This is one awesome vehicle! Good luck with it and thanks for posting all those photos!
Kevin
Click to expand...


I bought it from Ken in 2006. He had moved to Dublin Ohio, and his neighborhood had restrictions on how many cars you could have sitting in your driveway. It wouldn't fit in his garage so he put it up for sale in various spots around Columbus. I had my eye on it for over a year, and finally made him an offer on it.

What is your website, by the way?
 
I agree a lot better. the deluxe hub caps and trim rings do dress it up. if I remember that set of GMC's it would have been a painted flying saucer cap with GMC painted red or black. the cap would pop over a set of bumps stamped on the inside of the wheel. but then It might be the next body down to. they fit in there with the Apache series of chevys. of course around here most had the split rims with 6 ply tires in a 650 x16 and they were missing all but one cap. :eek:
 
I always see these on restored trucks with split rims. They are held on by clips that were originally spot welded to the wheel (probably why they went missing a lot). I have one rim here on a trailer that these caps fit perfectly. It is not the correct bolt pattern though.

Originally they were on eight lug wheels and were body color or painted:

jogmc02.jpg


Not sure how many lugs this is, but this is what I am looking for in a wheel:

gmchc.jpg
 
You're running 15" rims 5 lug 5 on 5" now right Todd? Let me look... I may be able to help you out, still have all 4 of the original hearse rims & tires off of the 1951 Superior that are the 5 on 5" lug pattern with clips to hold on a center cap.
 
Dwayne Brooks said:
You're running 15" rims 5 lug 5 on 5" now right Todd? Let me look... I may be able to help you out, still have all 4 of the original hearse rims & tires off of the 1951 Superior that are the 5 on 5" lug pattern with clips to hold on a center cap.
Click to expand...


Wow, that would be great! Didn't even think of that. I could probably find something cool to trade you for them. Yes, to the best of my knowledge I am running 15", 5 on 5 wheels. I can't remember if the current ones are 7" or 8", but I think they are 7" wide.
 
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