Hubcap restoration

[Bill Rose]

Anyone have a source for cleaning up hubcaps? I found a fairly nice set of 68/69 dogs, but they have some small dings and need a little more work than I can do with the buffer I have. TIA

[budnate]

be very carefull with them they have a finish that will burn right off in a nano second and then look ugly grey at you...work the dings out and gently wet sand any mars/road rash nicks with 1000 wet/dry and polish with good old turtle wax chrome stuff...not a expert but have tried messing with a few and they turn out pretty nice.

Bud.

[CamarosRus]

Curious if 69 DOGS are Stainless Steel or Aluminum?????
I've had some 70 Bow Tie Baby Moons that are Stainless, polished to a better than new look......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/70%20L78%20Camaro%20Misc/70dish.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/70%20L78%20Camaro%20Misc/BabyMoon.jpg

[MosportGreen66]

If they are aluminum call up SK Speed in Long Island, NY and get some Brooklyn Ball Buster.
Best aluminim polish on the market. It WORKS on EVERYTHING!

[Bill Rose]

It never knew that some hubcaps were made out of aluminum. This explains why they are difficult to restore. I thought they were all stainless steel. Thats why they would turn grey if they're not polished correctly. I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Thanks guys, for the tips...

[budnate]

all the dogs I have had are stainless and there tougher than $%#@, you really work hard to reverse any dings.

[CamarosRus]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Wheels%20Rings%20Caps/Ring3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Wheels%20Rings%20Caps/Ring4.jpg

[Charley Lillard]

Chuck.....what is under that blue tarp ?

[Bill Rose]

Bud.. A fellow Chevelle guy (Tom Rightler) gave me a set of dogs like the ones you sent me a pic of. Are they stainless steel or aluminum?? I thought they were alum cause they're so light.

I've found stainless to be easier to work with than aluminum even if it is much harder. I've had good results with restoring things like stainless windshield moldings, but aluminum, I'd rather find nos if I can.. They often anodized aluminum to protect it. A process that can get expensive...

[CamarosRus]

Charlie, Under the blue tarp is a totaled scrap iron Toyota
Corrola, that has to go away, after removing a good engine,trans,etc

Thanks for asking and caring!!!!

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
Charlie, Under the blue tarp is a totaled scrap iron Toyota
Corrola, that has to go away, after removing a good engine,trans,etc

Thanks for asking and caring!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

So.........what kind of motor and tranny does she have in her? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Mr70]

Very nice informative pictures Chuck S. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[budnate]

they are stainless...but they have some kind of finish on them...I have accidently wet sanded through a couple trying to smooth out a rock nick...then they have this real grey look almost like steel..

I tried to hand polish the spots but it did not help, I did not jump on a polishing wheel with them...

like I said total amateur on this end but have saved about 10 of them with a 350 balancer and a small ballpeen hammer....

I think they were flashed with something like the valve covers...turn them over and you will see the grey finish I am talking about...are yours "Canada" stamped caps???

[Bill Rose]

I see a small round stamp on the back but can't read more than what looks like a Ca. Could that be the Canada stamp you mentioned. They are grey on the back. I think the finish looks like the anodizing that is used on aluminum. Or some sort of clear coat?
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/dogs.jpg

[camarojoe]

They are sometimes very tough/impossible to restore completely... usually the dents along the outside edge are totally un-removable. These caps are very easy to find, but very difficult to find in perfect condition. Almost every one of them that is not NOS will have some sort of gouge or dent in them somewhere... I have already sorted through stacks of 25-40 caps and not found a single dent-free one. It seems like everyone must have removed these from the wheel with a pick axe or an air chisel. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif