356C Wheel Hub Caps

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Craig Colaluca
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356C Wheel Hub Caps

#1 Post by Craig Colaluca »

Hello all
Got new hub caps for my Outlaw 62 which has C wheels (disc brakes). My formerly owned B car had metal clips that held the hub caps to the wheels.
Looks like these C wheels just do pressure fit? It’s super tight trying to install them and I’m not sure I can get these things on without pounding with a rubber hammer. Wheels are either painted or powder coated and trying to install them is chipping away the wheel finish where the mounts are. No worries about that as long as they go on and cover the scratches. Pound them on?
Thank you!
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Last edited by Craig Colaluca on Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:50 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#2 Post by Vic Skirmants »

There are three raised areas on the wheel that hold the hubcap. Place the hubcap under one of those areas and smack the cap with the palm of your hand opposite of that raised area.

Craig Colaluca
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#3 Post by Craig Colaluca »

Thanks Vic. It’s so tight a palm smack won’t do the trick. It would have to be rubber mallet. Just wanted to be sure that’s how it went before I proceeded. Thank you sir.
Last edited by Craig Colaluca on Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
76 911S Coupe
91 964 C2 Targa
92 964 C2 Coupe
76 BMW 2002 (my handsome son’s car)
66 Mercedes 230SL Pagoda (my beautiful wife’s car)
Greenville, SC

Geoff Fleming
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#4 Post by Geoff Fleming »

I recently changed hubcaps on my SC and found, to my surprise, the newer, ( but not new), hubcaps require much more force to snap into place, whereas the ones I had used for the past twenty years were quite easy to attach.
Since my car is not concours quality, I did use a rubber mallet but also found that adding a little grease to the three raised areas on the wheel also helped. Never needed more than a palm slap in the past.
Maybe a bit of work on the inner ridge of the hubcap with a file or emery cloth might make installation easier. Just don't over-do it.

Craig Colaluca
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#5 Post by Craig Colaluca »

Thanks Vic and Geoff I’ll give this a go tomorrow.
76 911S Coupe
91 964 C2 Targa
92 964 C2 Coupe
76 BMW 2002 (my handsome son’s car)
66 Mercedes 230SL Pagoda (my beautiful wife’s car)
Greenville, SC

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Eric McKinley
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#6 Post by Eric McKinley »

I had a similar problem myself when I got the wheels powdercoated, they became more difficult to install, chipped the powder finish.

This did not look good, then came the problem of getting them off when there was a need, wedging a tool at the side and levering.

It all leaves a mark.

I stripped and painted, left the hubcaps off, not everyones taste but I have grown to like it, my wife asks when they will be finished.

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Harlan Halsey
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#7 Post by Harlan Halsey »

+1 On a little film of grease on the ears.

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C J Murray
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#8 Post by C J Murray »

There are only 3 points of contact. The hubcap will start to distort from use as the portion not contacting the wheel will move to allow more room where the contact is being made. Start with 2 of the contact points engaged and rotate the hubcap and you should find a clock position where the cap is closer to being seated than in other clock positions. Hit the cap with your palm directly over the 3rd contact point and it will pop right on. Often they rattle a bit when installed and if you twist them to a different clock position they will tighten up.
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#9 Post by Vic Skirmants »

C J Murray wrote: Sun Nov 10, 2019 9:06 am There are only 3 points of contact. The hubcap will start to distort from use as the portion not contacting the wheel will move to allow more room where the contact is being made. Start with 2 of the contact points engaged and rotate the hubcap and you should find a clock position where the cap is closer to being seated than in other clock positions. Hit the cap with your palm directly over the 3rd contact point and it will pop right on. Often they rattle a bit when installed and if you twist them to a different clock position they will tighten up.
That may be true for the current reproduction ones, but originals don't do that.

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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#10 Post by C J Murray »

Vic Skirmants wrote: Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:06 am That may be true for the current reproduction ones, but originals don't do that.
These were originals and did do that as did the repros that I just installed onto my beautiful chance of a lifetime car listed for sale in the classifieds.
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'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion

Craig Colaluca
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Posts: 308
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Re: 356C Wheel Hub Caps

#11 Post by Craig Colaluca »

A little grease, some rotation, and a whack way outside what seems like a good idea and on they went! Thanks to all!!
76 911S Coupe
91 964 C2 Targa
92 964 C2 Coupe
76 BMW 2002 (my handsome son’s car)
66 Mercedes 230SL Pagoda (my beautiful wife’s car)
Greenville, SC

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