The Ford Barn

REByar · 10-09-2022, 06:26 PM

I had my rims painted and new tires added. I had chrome hub caps. But somehow between the paint shop vendor and the shop that put the tires on the rims my hub caps walked off. I ordered new chrome hub caps from Bratton's but they contacted me that they were out of stock and did not have a delivery date. I checked Snyder's and they list they are out of stock. My question: is there a difference in look between stainless steel and chrome?. Both Mikes and Bert's have the stainless steel hub caps. The other option is to wait until the chrome hub caps are back in stock.

Your advice would be most appreciated.

Conaway2 · 10-09-2022, 08:10 PM

I went with stainless hub caps when I restored my roadster 35 years ago. The hubcaps still look very good. Prior to that I bought chrome plated ones and had to polish/buff them after 2-3 years to remove rust - even after I had sprayed them with clear lacquer before I installed them. I could keep the chrome ones looking OK for a driver car, but they required the buffing periodically.

Good luck !
Jim

bruceincam · 10-09-2022, 09:42 PM

Strainless

jak · 10-10-2022, 06:35 AM

be careful with the stainless ones. Brattons stopped carrying them years ago because they had issues with them not being deep enough and the axle shaft would hit the cap.

Joe K · 10-10-2022, 06:50 AM

Unless you're into a "point" car I would go with stainless. Certainly check a new hub cap against an original if possible.

The 1928-29s in particular were mostly into "nickle" plating - which the test of time has not favored well. Chrome plate is an improvement life-wise. But as some have said even chrome is none too thick or done too well.

All that said, Ford would and did favor "Allegheny metal." And part of the point of restoration is to have a "nice looking car" - and hopefully done in a manner which will stay that way.

Currently re-doing a steering column in the two tooth "gemmer" pattern for my 29CC pickup. This was done by me back in the late 1970s with the then available "chrome" plated spark/throttle rods thinking these would be an improvement life wise over the original nickle plate. These now (40 years later) look exactly like the spark/throttle rods from a barn-fresh part. They simply don't stay "looking good."

Not every vendor sells the stainless steel spark and throttle rods. Being these are as closely associated with "fingerprints" and appearance (visual right in front of the driver) I am replacing these now in stainless for a "driver" car.

And yes, I have successfully made the mental transition from "point car" possibility (think $) to "have fun and have a nice looking driver."

Ford would have favored both I think.

Joe K

Ruth · 10-10-2022, 10:28 AM

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REByar, May I ask what year hub cap we are discussing here?

REByar · 10-10-2022, 06:42 PM

Ruth,
I don't think I said in my original post. I have a 1928 Tudor.

Gary Karr · 10-10-2022, 09:36 PM

Your 1928 Tudor originally had stamped steel hubcaps, not stainless. Some of the new reproduced 28/29 hubcaps are stamped stainless steel. If that's all that you can get new, and you can't wait for the steel caps, go with stainless. You'll never have to re-plate them.

31a · 10-10-2022, 10:05 PM

Stainless works for me

Gene F · 10-12-2022, 05:54 PM

It always amazes me how these things grow legs, and no one knows any thing about it. And we see who is now on the treasure hunt...

10-09-2022, 06:26 PM	#1
REByar Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ft.Mill, south carolina Posts: 52	Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless I had my rims painted and new tires added. I had chrome hub caps. But somehow between the paint shop vendor and the shop that put the tires on the rims my hub caps walked off. I ordered new chrome hub caps from Bratton's but they contacted me that they were out of stock and did not have a delivery date. I checked Snyder's and they list they are out of stock. My question: is there a difference in look between stainless steel and chrome?. Both Mikes and Bert's have the stainless steel hub caps. The other option is to wait until the chrome hub caps are back in stock. Your advice would be most appreciated.

10-09-2022, 08:10 PM	#2
Conaway2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 601	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless I went with stainless hub caps when I restored my roadster 35 years ago. The hubcaps still look very good. Prior to that I bought chrome plated ones and had to polish/buff them after 2-3 years to remove rust - even after I had sprayed them with clear lacquer before I installed them. I could keep the chrome ones looking OK for a driver car, but they required the buffing periodically. Good luck ! Jim

10-09-2022, 09:42 PM	#3
bruceincam Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 167	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Strainless

10-10-2022, 06:35 AM	#4
jak Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 279	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless be careful with the stainless ones. Brattons stopped carrying them years ago because they had issues with them not being deep enough and the axle shaft would hit the cap.

10-10-2022, 06:50 AM	#5
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Unless you're into a "point" car I would go with stainless. Certainly check a new hub cap against an original if possible. The 1928-29s in particular were mostly into "nickle" plating - which the test of time has not favored well. Chrome plate is an improvement life-wise. But as some have said even chrome is none too thick or done too well. All that said, Ford would and did favor "Allegheny metal." And part of the point of restoration is to have a "nice looking car" - and hopefully done in a manner which will stay that way. Currently re-doing a steering column in the two tooth "gemmer" pattern for my 29CC pickup. This was done by me back in the late 1970s with the then available "chrome" plated spark/throttle rods thinking these would be an improvement life wise over the original nickle plate. These now (40 years later) look exactly like the spark/throttle rods from a barn-fresh part. They simply don't stay "looking good." Not every vendor sells the stainless steel spark and throttle rods. Being these are as closely associated with "fingerprints" and appearance (visual right in front of the driver) I am replacing these now in stainless for a "driver" car. And yes, I have successfully made the mental transition from "point car" possibility (think $) to "have fun and have a nice looking driver." Ford would have favored both I think. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

10-10-2022, 10:28 AM	#6
Ruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Glide, Oregon Posts: 1,339	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) REByar, May I ask what year hub cap we are discussing here? __________________ Ruth "Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread" Last edited by Ruth; 10-10-2022 at 11:43 AM.

10-10-2022, 06:42 PM	#7
REByar Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ft.Mill, south carolina Posts: 52	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Ruth, I don't think I said in my original post. I have a 1928 Tudor.

10-10-2022, 09:36 PM	#8
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,487	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Your 1928 Tudor originally had stamped steel hubcaps, not stainless. Some of the new reproduced 28/29 hubcaps are stamped stainless steel. If that's all that you can get new, and you can't wait for the steel caps, go with stainless. You'll never have to re-plate them.

10-10-2022, 10:05 PM	#9
31a Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: College Station, Tx Posts: 326	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless Stainless works for me

10-12-2022, 05:54 PM	#10
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,978	Re: Hub Caps- Chrome or Stainless It always amazes me how these things grow legs, and no one knows any thing about it. And we see who is now on the treasure hunt...