The Ford Barn

flatheadfan · 10-17-2015, 09:09 AM

There seems to be an endless number of stories of misfitting repo parts. Let me add another one to the list.

I have a '36 and several of the hub cap clips are broken off. No-clips, no hubcaps. Fortunately, several suppliers sell 68-1034 clips ('36-'39). They are not cheap but neither is losing hubcaps. I got a set and installed them on two different wheels needing clips. I used rivets that came with the set. On went the hubcaps. A short drive later and off came two hubcaps.

Further examination found the problem. The original clips were made of spring steel.They held a hubcap to the wheel as if it was welded to it. The repo was thin stock steel (think tin can), not spring steel. They can be easily reshaped by hand. You won't be able to do that with an original. Thinking this was just an aberration, I ordered another set from a different supplier and received the same repo junk.

Does anyone have a viable substitute that will work?. I tried some early VW clips but the configuration is not right.

Tom

10-17-2015, 09:09 AM	#1
flatheadfan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,218	Another case of the repo blues There seems to be an endless number of stories of misfitting repo parts. Let me add another one to the list. I have a '36 and several of the hub cap clips are broken off. No-clips, no hubcaps. Fortunately, several suppliers sell 68-1034 clips ('36-'39). They are not cheap but neither is losing hubcaps. I got a set and installed them on two different wheels needing clips. I used rivets that came with the set. On went the hubcaps. A short drive later and off came two hubcaps. Further examination found the problem. The original clips were made of spring steel.They held a hubcap to the wheel as if it was welded to it. The repo was thin stock steel (think tin can), not spring steel. They can be easily reshaped by hand. You won't be able to do that with an original. Thinking this was just an aberration, I ordered another set from a different supplier and received the same repo junk. Does anyone have a viable substitute that will work?. I tried some early VW clips but the configuration is not right. Tom