Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-07-2021, 10:01 AM   #1
john charlton
Senior Member
 
john charlton's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,304
Default AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

My newly acquired AA truck although mid 29 came with wire wheels but of course no hub caps . I know these are very hard to find. About thirty years ago I sold 5 NOS hub caps to a person in Finland these were still in their "Ford of England" packaging and were stainless steel my 31 English AA has stainless hub caps also . Anyway I could see that the front wheel bearings really do need some kind of weather protection what to do what to do . I thought of cutting down a yoghurt pot or similar and fudging it into the hub .Suddenly a flash of inspiration hit me how about a regular 21" hub cap I knew the hub cap hole was bigger by a little in the AA wire wheel hub and maybe a little tweeking could make it work . The repro stainless hub cap is ideal for this as the tangs are slightly longer and bend easily without fracture . I flatten the tangs with a visegrip and then bend them vertical with a cable stripper this works a treat as the tang root tears a little which gives more length . I enter the cap in the wheel and lay the wheel face down (on the kitchen carpet) and with a drift flatten the tangs in a inwards/outwards direction . Do a trial fit before final setting as if you are off centre you wont be able to move it laterally afterwards .I have seen many wire wheel AA truck pics on the internet and many have no hubcaps and none with my patent fix . I think it looks cool and of course they have the "Ford " script . Hopefully my son will post pics for me .

John in very cold Suffolk County England .
john charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 10:14 AM   #2
john charlton
Senior Member
 
john charlton's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,304
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Thinking about it I cannot be the only one to think of this over the last 90 years or so but I have never seen this pictured . I have wondered why the originals go missing maybe they get damaged during a tyre change if the mechanic cant be bothered to remove them .

John in same place same weather
john charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-07-2021, 10:29 AM   #3
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,486
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

John, I purchased the factory print with the thought of making a small reproduction run of these. I later found a mint set of original hubcaps for $1k and decided that would be cheaper for me on the short term to go this way instead of making some.

Personally, if I were in your shoes, had a lathe, and didn't really care about authenticity, ...I would make a small form out of MDF and do some metal spinning using either brass or stainless to make a close facsimile.
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 10:59 AM   #4
Juggler
Senior Member
 
Juggler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix AZ/Bath UK
Posts: 481
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Pics for Dear Old Dad

Sigh

IMG_1853

IMG_1854

IMG_1855

IMG_1856
Juggler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 11:27 AM   #5
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Great idea! Looks a lot better then an empty hole.
While the early AA wire wheel caps are rare, try finding the caps for the Lincoln style wire wheels used on the ambulances (for example) that were built later on the truck chassis.
__________________
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 03:12 PM   #6
Ray in La Mesa
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: La Mesa Ca
Posts: 1,157
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
KOOL! So simple with a bit of ingenuity.
Ray in La Mesa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 04:27 PM   #7
xmarine
Senior Member
 
xmarine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 125
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

I think I have a set of AA hubcaps.How do I post pics on here?
xmarine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2021, 07:36 PM   #8
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Get John’s son yo do it for you!
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2021, 07:22 AM   #9
Juggler
Senior Member
 
Juggler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix AZ/Bath UK
Posts: 481
Default Re: AA Truck wire wheel hubcaps

Sure why not
Juggler is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:10 PM.