The Official 356Talk Forum

This is just a head's up to anyone who wants to get really anal when replacing hubcap clips on drum brake wheels. While searching the Samba classifieds a while back, I stumbled on an ad for "Porsche" hubcap clips and bought a few sets. These are now being sold by Dario Calandra and differ from the usual "VW" clips available from commercial vendors in that they have the up turned end which Porsche wheel manufacturers originally supplied with their wheels. The accompanying picture shows the difference between the typical VW clip (left) and these new clips (right). These clips are spring steel, are plated and include rivets. They run $4 each, $20 for a set of 5.
So, if you are interested, here is the link to the Samba ad: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... d=2346893

Disclaimer: I have no connection to the vendor or the product; just passing along the information to those on the list who might be interested.

Thanks for the info, Bob! Always good to know sources for correct parts.

Mike

Thanks Bob! I've been looking for these (and collecting old originals) for a long time. Nice to see correct reproductions made now.

James

Hi guys. How difficult is it to replace the clips and new rivets? Any special tools needed? Thanks, Mark

I’m having some wheels redone and will need to redo them with a patina look for a patina car.

I’m not planning on attaching hubcaps but want the clips on.

I’d like the most authentic look. Can original clips be reused? Are these identical?

mark bibler wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:51 am Hi guys. How difficult is it to replace the clips and new rivets? Any special tools needed? Thanks, Mark

Drill the rivets out and install new rivets with a tool like this:

https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.as ... 11-601-000

Thanks Bruce! Can’t go wrong with “Original German Quality or Equivalent” tools. Carbs/dizzy doing great...thanks. M

As far as I can determine, these clips are dead ringers for the originals. They are plated, but I am unsure if the originals were plated or black oxide finish.

Installation of hubcap clips is not difficult, but takes some patience. You will need to have the rivet "buck" (pictured), which is available from a number of vendors.
In addition, you will need:
1) a strong vise
2) a substantial hammer to flatten the rear side of the rivets (which need to be flush with the back of the wheel)
3) a helping-hand friend

This is a 2-person job and you will need a helper to hold and steady the wheel while you pound the rivets.

Bob Cannon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:09 pm As far as I can determine, these clips are dead ringers for the originals. They are plated, but I am unsure if the originals were plated or black oxide finish.

Installation of hubcap clips is not difficult, but takes some patience. You will need to have the rivet "buck" (pictured), which is available from a number of vendors.
In addition, you will need:
1) a strong vise
2) a substantial hammer to flatten the rear side of the rivets (which need to be flush with the back of the wheel)
3) a helping-hand friend

This is a 2-person job and you will need a helper to hold and steady the wheel while you pound the rivets.

4) EAR PROTECTION

I have five original wheels that all needed hubcap spring clips for my ’57, and this is the method that I developed.

First and foremost is safety preparation. I made sure that I protected my eyes and ears, as I was banging on metal (photo 1). Clips break off with age and use, and have to be drilled to start, then punched out, and sometimes cold-chiseled off as well (photos 2a, 2b).

I used two vises to position the wheel so that it sat level and on the mounting tool that held each spring clip and its rivet, parts (and tool) that I had purchased from Stoddard. Primer went on all parts as well as mounting holes (photo 3). Note the rivet tool in the foreground-right, with clip and rivet positioned.

Using the two vises as a level platform, it is ideal to have an assistant hold the wheel while also out of the way. As seen in the photos:
• Position the wheel (photo 3b). Note the rivet shaft in the hole.
• Set a pocket in the rivet using a punch (photo 4b).
• Spread the rivet pocket a little using a body hammer/round-tip punch (photo 5).
• Peen the spreading rivet head using a ball-peen and mini-sledge (larger peen spreads better) (photo 6). Be sure to hammer with conviction.
• Check your clip to make sure that it is secure; hammer some more if it isn’t.
• Grind off any rough edges before priming your work (photo 7).

I adjusted my spring clips using an adjustable pliers and bending them back (safety glasses!). When released, they had about a 3/16” space between clip edge and wheel as original (photo 8). Then I test-mounted a hubcap to ensure that I could both install and then remove the cap. This requires a special tool, and luckily I have an old VW one with a shiny chrome cap that mounts in the jackpost when not in use. Cool little item!

That little VW hubcap puller that I bought at a Hershey swap meet so many years ago was something that I used on the baby moons of my '57 VW until I transitioned to a '57 356 with baby moons as well. Works like a charm and stows in the jack receiver on the side.

Ron, hitting a hammer with another hammer is a major no-no. Years ago I was helping my boss doing that and I said to him that what we were doing was dangerous. He said not to worry but a minute later a 1/4” square chip flew off one of the hammers and totally disappeared inside my lip. I still have a scar and have been very thankful it wasn’t my eye!

An air chisel gets the clips off fast! Just place it behind the head of the rivet at an angle on the old clip face... (not under the clip) taking care to brace yourself for when it breaks loose so you don’t scratch the rim with the chisel. Watch out where you are doing it... because once it’s loose the little rivet will sail across your garage. I toss a rag over it and the chisel tip. Wear eye protection and ear plugs. Once the head is off... a punch will easily punch out the remainder. As to installing the rivets... I clamp the rivet tool in my vise and set it up with a clip and the rivet... then set the rim down over it... balancing the rim on the rivet in the tool and holding the rim level with my left hand I then then just use a medium size ball peen hammer with my right to slowly peen the rivet down. I’ve done dozens of wheels like this.