Another case of the repo blues

[flatheadfan]

There seems to be an endless number of stories of misfitting repo parts. Let me add another one to the list.

I have a '36 and several of the hub cap clips are broken off. No-clips, no hubcaps. Fortunately, several suppliers sell 68-1034 clips ('36-'39). They are not cheap but neither is losing hubcaps. I got a set and installed them on two different wheels needing clips. I used rivets that came with the set. On went the hubcaps. A short drive later and off came two hubcaps.

Further examination found the problem. The original clips were made of spring steel.They held a hubcap to the wheel as if it was welded to it. The repo was thin stock steel (think tin can), not spring steel. They can be easily reshaped by hand. You won't be able to do that with an original. Thinking this was just an aberration, I ordered another set from a different supplier and received the same repo junk.

Does anyone have a viable substitute that will work?. I tried some early VW clips but the configuration is not right.


Tom

[Sixseven]

I would suggest making your own. I have formed spring steel in my workbench vice with repeatable success. Buy the flat stock strips use an original for a pattern and go for it. Here is one potential supplier of spring steel stock: http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...l-prod390.aspx

Check Grainger as well.

[Karl Wescott]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#spring-stee...-stock/=zepzp3

[barnfind08]

Just buy some n.o.s. ones.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by barnfind08

Just buy some n.o.s. ones.

Easier said than done. NOS ones are about as rare as rocking horse turds.
How about checking with the Volkswagen parts guys to see if they have the ones in spring steel?

[35fordtn]

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I am sure barnfind08 stocks them. If not we have 2 NOS ones. I am hoping to have some made this winter from spring steel.

[Barry-ct]

Flatheadfan- I sent you a Pm about NOS clips.

[Kahuna]

Find a used wheel and take them off

[JM 35 Sedan]

Maybe someone has a damaged, or otherwise unusable, '36-'39 w/5 wheel that still has some good spring clips attached. They can easily be salvaged by carefully removing the rivet. I had about 10 or 15 that I got this way, but they went quickly to folks here who needed them .

[GaryU.]

Sending some to flathead fan that I removed from a damaged wheel. It was easy to drill off back of rivet and tap out remaing piece. Did this back in June and knew that somebody would need them eventually. Will be in mail on Monday to him.

[flatheadfan]

Thanks Gary!

Tom

[39topless]

Originally Posted by GaryU.

Sending some to flathead fan that I removed from a damaged wheel. It was easy to drill off back of rivet and tap out remaing piece. Did this back in June and knew that somebody would need them eventually. Will be in mail on Monday to him.

Great story. Now it's flathead fan's turn to pay it forward. A wonderful position to be in.

[J Franklin]

Did anyone notify the suppliers of the mild steel problem?

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Did anyone notify the suppliers of the mild steel problem?

It's a problem with translation.

[V8COOPMAN]

It's a problem with doing something right in the first place......not the cheap-ass or half-assed way! DD

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

It's a problem with doing something right in the first place......not the cheap-ass or half-assed way! DD

Same thing.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

It's a problem with doing something right in the first place......not the cheap-ass or half-assed way! DD

OMG, Please come over to the Model A Forum and say that. There's guy over there that think we should be counting or blessings to have repo parts,even if they don't fit and are unusable.

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Same thing.

Not always, there companies that reside in the same country we do and speak the same language that make crap.