79/80 Alum Road Wheel Center Caps

What center cap do you like the best?

  • A: smaller cap that shows more of the wheel itself.

    Votes: 4 36.4%
  • B: larger cap that hides the center but ads more chrome.

    Votes: 7 63.6%

  • Total voters
    11

droptop

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After searching for over a year and a half for nice center caps to no avail, I have decided to go another route and would like your opinion on the 2 options that I have came up with. Both are Chrysler products, but both had to have some modifications to get them to work. Only draw back to the small cap is that it may or may not be centered. The larger one centered itself in the opening and should have no chance of a wobble while spinning.

1.jpg


2.jpg


3.jpg


4.jpg
 

Aspen500

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I like the 2nd option. Downside is you'll have to drill holes in the wheels to attach them (they do bolt on from behind like Rallye wheel caps?)
The 1st option, how is that attached? If it goes in from the back of the wheel, it won't fit over the center hub of the rotor or axle shaft. Just thinking out loud:cool:
 

droptop

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I had to drill 3 holes and counter sink so the bolt heads didn't interfere with the mounting surface. The thickness of the wheel was good enough to allow this procedure. The smaller ones were attached with RTV and do not interfere with mounting but that is why I am afraid it would not be centered correctly and might wobble while rolling.
 

4speedjim

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First I LOVE these wheels! IMO the most attractive factory wheel ever.
The gold is just perfect with the polished aluminum. Chrome lug nuts and its perfect.
After an hour of deliberating, the wife asked what I was so intently studying. Car porn of course. So I showed her the two choices and in two seconds she made her choice.
Turns out we both agree. We both like the look of #1 best.
That much chrome (#2) doesn't work well with the polished aluminum and gold.
On the grey wheel it looks great. Put these (#1) on a red or med to dark blue car and it will be stunning.
 

BudW

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Would be nice if they came in 15's (or 16's or 17's . . .)
 

droptop

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I have came up with option 3. These are the center caps from the original wagon wheels from the 80. I think that I like them the best. What do you all think?

image.jpg
 

Oldiron440

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After looking at all of them again do you have a picture of the OEM cap?
 

droptop

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These are the only pictures I could find that shows the original center caps.
plymouth_volare_road_runner_sport_wagon_1979-jpg.jpg
2ebzno4-jpg.jpg
 

Oldiron440

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I sure like the wagons
It's hard to see the center caps on the wheels.​
 

droptop

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these maybe?

Those are option 3 pictured above attached to the wheel. I like these the best and considering that I have an extra set of 4, this is what I am going to go with. Now all I have to do is get off the computer and refurbish the other 3 wheels. LOL.
 

droptop

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Thanks for everyone's input on this decision.
 

bbeep79

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Here are pictures of the OEM centers for these wheels. I lost one from my car in the late '80s, and never thought about having extras until then, and went into a panic mode. A friend of mine at a Dodge dealership parts department did a search for me, and I bought four of them, putting one on the car and keeping the rest. When I replaced that one, I found the others had worn loose, so I put a small bead of silicone caulk around the center and wheel after they were snapped in to hold them tight so as not to lose another one. At the time, I think I paid about $40 each, and thought that was outrageous!
No, I don't have any for sale, but I think if someone has access to plastic manufacturing equipment, they could be reproduced.
1979 Wheel Center.JPG
1979 Wheel Center 4.JPG


1979 Wheel Center 2.JPG


1979 Wheel Center 3.JPG
 

BudW

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This dome fits most all ’70 and ’80’s Chrysler wheels, Part Number 3699011.
3699011 Dome.jpg

There are two different versions/styles that I know of. The early ‘70’s version – like the ones that fit my ’70 Chrysler 300 look different – but will still fit fine.
1970ChryslerHurst300wheels.jpg



3580364 Dome.jpg

This dome (what I refer to a half dome because ½ is missing) originally fit the extra heavy 15” urethane wheels that came on Mid ‘70’s B-body’s (part number 3580364).
15 Urethane Wheel.jpg

They also fit the rare steel 8-spoke 14” F-body wheel.
2016-3-20_13-53-10.jpg

I’ve not been close to the 8-spoke F-body wheel, so not sure if the dome from above will fit it, or not.

As far as to which one looks best as a substitute for the Aluminum 14” wheels – It would be best to have access to one of each type of dome and do a side by side comparison.
Somewhere in the back of my gray matter, I was thinking there was a cap from an Omni/Horizon wheel that fit and looked OK – but I can’t remember any more than that.
BudW
 

XfbodyX

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Option 2 discredits the rims they were meant for and imo to people who know this might see it as a cheesy cop out to finding the proper part.

Why ruin such a wonderful design (your rims). Id keep looking, of have someone good with a lathe make some oem looking ones.
 

BudW

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or have someone good with a lathe make some oem looking ones.
The original caps have not been available, new or used, sense the mid to late ‘80’s – but getting someone to make something with a lathe is a very good idea. It would be nice to have one to use as a template, first.

The problem with plastic wheel items – especially those that contact the wheel close the lug nut area is heat. A lot of hard heavy braking will cause the plastic to soften. Then a small pothole later, the softened plastic falls off.


The same thing with a few other Chrysler products. I had a ’92 Shadow America with black pop-on plastic caps.
1992_dodge_shadow_america_hatchback_2___door_2___2l_1_lgw.jpg

2012FRMWC.jpg

Back in the late ‘90’s, the caps were hard to find – for the same reason. I have a few spares in my garage that I need to get out and sell – but I did a deep search for caps for it in the late ‘90’s and didn’t come up with a lot.

Dakota aluminum wheel caps are another one that comes to mind.
92 Dakota.jpg

A decent wheel but without caps, they look very odd/off. My neighbor has a ’92 Dakota he bought new. He gave up looking for replacement caps many years ago.

Getting something made from metal and/or having a better method of attaching it to wheel would be a lot better option.
BudW
Note: all pictures were swiped from internet.
 
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