The Ford Barn

Chris Marshall · 11-26-2012, 08:38 AM

I just brought home a new toy - a '40 pickup with an older amateur restoration. Not a show car, but will end up being a driver. It's been sitting for over 10 years so of course the brakes are stuck, fuel system needs cleaned, etc. This truck has hubcaps, inner wheel covers, and outer trim rings. I've not seen a set of the inner wheel covers before. I'm concerned about denting/bending the inner wheel covers when removing the hubcaps as any prying will be against the wheel covers. Is there anything special here or am I just worrying too much?

Picture of the wheel with covers:

Picture of the pickup:

Cecil/WV · 11-26-2012, 08:44 AM

My '40 pickup doesn't have any extra trim, but I can remove the caps by using a plastic squeegee and working it around the edge and it comes off with out any damage. The tapered edge lets me shove it in and gradually shove the cap outward until it comes off.

mike42 · 11-26-2012, 08:46 AM

Nice truck to sit around for 10 years ! Wow....sweet ! How many miles on it. I would love to find one like that. I have a '40 Sedan that sat around for about that long, but always wanted a pickup.

I use masking tape or duck tape in the area of wheel that I'm going to prey on to pop the trim and cap. Seems to work well and no marks. Just do it slow.

Thx....Mike42

TomT/Williamsburg · 11-26-2012, 08:54 AM

I wrap a towel aroung the end and shaft of a screwdriver, pop the trim ring, then tap gently to pop the cap off. Before putting it back on I always put a little grease on the rim nipples to make next removal easier.

Flat Ernie · 11-26-2012, 10:47 AM

Tougher with the trim rings. I like them - even if they're too 'flashy' for some. Perhaps you may need to take a wide flathead screwdriver, heat the tip and bend it down so you can pull straight out rather than pry....

Mart · 11-26-2012, 11:14 AM

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Lots of late model cars have a plastic wedge/prybar on the other end of the wheel nut wrench for popping the center caps off. I just changed a wheel on my 01 Focus today. that plastic wedge would work well in that application. Wrecking yards are probably full of em. You might even have one already on another car.

Mart.

Mike in AZ · 11-26-2012, 12:03 PM

very nice pickup....Mike

Chris Marshall · 11-26-2012, 02:09 PM

Thanks for all the kind comments regarding the pickup. I've had a project '40 pickup for almost 30 years and haven't gotten to it. When this one became available, it was a much faster road to having one of my "top ten" vehicles running/driving. The project truck will likely be for sale soon!!

TomT opened my eyes on this. I thought the center hubcap held the inner trim ring in place, but that is apparently not the case. Since the inner trim ring comes off before the hubcap, it's simply a matter of carefully popping off the inner first. I appreciate all the helpful insight.

RPM · 11-26-2012, 03:30 PM

The hupcap is what holds the inner beauty ring on. I use an old brake adjuster tool and beginning at 12 o'clock, I insert (or wedge it) straight down between the cap and ring. Then I gently pull the tool outwards while holding cap with my other hand. The cap will POP right off. There will be very negligible damage to the inboard flange of the inner beauty ring, but it will be covered by the cap when everything is reinstalled. PS__the inner ring has some razor sharp edges that can cut pretty deep if not careful. Ask me how I know. RPM

Fibber Mcgee · 11-26-2012, 04:20 PM

Who on earth would let that sit..... that truck is to beautiful to sit,she needs to be shown off. That's like being married to Betty Grable and making her stay home everytime you go out.

4dFord/SC · 11-26-2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPM

PS__the inner ring has some razor sharp edges that can cut pretty deep if not careful. Ask me how I know. RPM

I'll second ttthat-sttill having troble using fingers after installinnng mine

Chris Marshall · 11-27-2012, 08:08 AM

As a followup - I pulled one of the hubcaps and inner trim rings off yesterday evening. Getting the hubcap off without denting/scarring the inner trim ring is a delicate operation to say the least. I used a wide blade screwdriver with a leather work glove as a cushion on the inner trim ring to pop the hubcap. As an education to those that haven't seen or installed these inner rings (including myself) the inner goes on the wheel first and is held in place by clips on its outside diameter. The hubcap goes on the wheel last and overlaps the inside diameter of the inner trim ring by roughly 1/8". FWIW these are late 70's/early 80's Argentina reproduction parts. Originals may fit differently? A couple pictures:

11-26-2012, 08:38 AM	#1
Chris Marshall Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Overbrook, Ks Posts: 167	Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question I just brought home a new toy - a '40 pickup with an older amateur restoration. Not a show car, but will end up being a driver. It's been sitting for over 10 years so of course the brakes are stuck, fuel system needs cleaned, etc. This truck has hubcaps, inner wheel covers, and outer trim rings. I've not seen a set of the inner wheel covers before. I'm concerned about denting/bending the inner wheel covers when removing the hubcaps as any prying will be against the wheel covers. Is there anything special here or am I just worrying too much? Picture of the wheel with covers: Picture of the pickup:

11-26-2012, 08:44 AM	#2
Cecil/WV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gerrardstown, WV Posts: 2,303	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question My '40 pickup doesn't have any extra trim, but I can remove the caps by using a plastic squeegee and working it around the edge and it comes off with out any damage. The tapered edge lets me shove it in and gradually shove the cap outward until it comes off.

11-26-2012, 08:46 AM	#3
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,628	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question Nice truck to sit around for 10 years ! Wow....sweet ! How many miles on it. I would love to find one like that. I have a '40 Sedan that sat around for about that long, but always wanted a pickup. I use masking tape or duck tape in the area of wheel that I'm going to prey on to pop the trim and cap. Seems to work well and no marks. Just do it slow. Thx....Mike42

11-26-2012, 08:54 AM	#4
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,752	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question I wrap a towel aroung the end and shaft of a screwdriver, pop the trim ring, then tap gently to pop the cap off. Before putting it back on I always put a little grease on the rim nipples to make next removal easier.

11-26-2012, 10:47 AM	#5
Flat Ernie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 74FL Posts: 323	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question Tougher with the trim rings. I like them - even if they're too 'flashy' for some. Perhaps you may need to take a wide flathead screwdriver, heat the tip and bend it down so you can pull straight out rather than pry.... __________________ Daddy always said, "If yer gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough" and I'm one tough sumbitch! T5 Tech

11-26-2012, 11:14 AM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,239	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Lots of late model cars have a plastic wedge/prybar on the other end of the wheel nut wrench for popping the center caps off. I just changed a wheel on my 01 Focus today. that plastic wedge would work well in that application. Wrecking yards are probably full of em. You might even have one already on another car. Mart.

11-26-2012, 12:03 PM	#7
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question very nice pickup....Mike

11-26-2012, 02:09 PM	#8
Chris Marshall Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Overbrook, Ks Posts: 167	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question Thanks for all the kind comments regarding the pickup. I've had a project '40 pickup for almost 30 years and haven't gotten to it. When this one became available, it was a much faster road to having one of my "top ten" vehicles running/driving. The project truck will likely be for sale soon!! TomT opened my eyes on this. I thought the center hubcap held the inner trim ring in place, but that is apparently not the case. Since the inner trim ring comes off before the hubcap, it's simply a matter of carefully popping off the inner first. I appreciate all the helpful insight.

11-26-2012, 03:30 PM	#9
RPM Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 413	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question The hupcap is what holds the inner beauty ring on. I use an old brake adjuster tool and beginning at 12 o'clock, I insert (or wedge it) straight down between the cap and ring. Then I gently pull the tool outwards while holding cap with my other hand. The cap will POP right off. There will be very negligible damage to the inboard flange of the inner beauty ring, but it will be covered by the cap when everything is reinstalled. PS__the inner ring has some razor sharp edges that can cut pretty deep if not careful. Ask me how I know. RPM

11-26-2012, 04:20 PM	#10
Fibber Mcgee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Callahan Fla Posts: 1,152	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question Who on earth would let that sit..... that truck is to beautiful to sit,she needs to be shown off. That's like being married to Betty Grable and making her stay home everytime you go out. __________________ Wanted, a car with a " Dynaflex Superflowing Unijet Turbovasculator which is Syncromeshed to the Multicoil Hydrotensioned Dual vacuum Dynomometer. "

11-27-2012, 08:08 AM	#12
Chris Marshall Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Overbrook, Ks Posts: 167	Re: Hubcap removal on '40 pickup - question As a followup - I pulled one of the hubcaps and inner trim rings off yesterday evening. Getting the hubcap off without denting/scarring the inner trim ring is a delicate operation to say the least. I used a wide blade screwdriver with a leather work glove as a cushion on the inner trim ring to pop the hubcap. As an education to those that haven't seen or installed these inner rings (including myself) the inner goes on the wheel first and is held in place by clips on its outside diameter. The hubcap goes on the wheel last and overlaps the inside diameter of the inner trim ring by roughly 1/8". FWIW these are late 70's/early 80's Argentina reproduction parts. Originals may fit differently? A couple pictures: