New Aftermarket steel wheels..ABSOLUTELY NO HUBCAPS FIT?!?!

[SpoolBug]

So...this is interesting/intriguing and a warning for others..

I bought 2 OEM style steel wheels (4 lug) for my 69 Type 1 from Summit...primed them, painted then cleared them..looking nice..

Then I go to mount my new hubcaps on them and..yeah no way, tried some grease etc and it wasn't even close..

I tried to modify the hubcap and no dice.

So then I researched a little and apparently you have to use a special hubcap from CIP1..well OK ordered those and same deal..slightly closer but no luck.

Looking at the wheel it looks like the nubs on the rim are longer than the stock ones (which look like a small bump).

So long story short..NO HUBCAPS MADE..will fit on these VW Beetle steel wheels...

DOES ANYBODY..know what modifications need to be made to make any hubcap work?

I'm thinking of grinding the nubs down.

Please any input would be great

[Jimbug57]

I bought 2 stock wheels from cip1 and the hubcaps fit -

https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D6622%2DMB

I don't know if it' worth trying to return the Summit wheels or not.
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Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!"

[Q-Dog]

What does Summit have to say about them?
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[SpoolBug]

Yeah apparently CIP1 sell's 2 different brands, one has the **NOTE: These hubcaps must be used..as stock one's don't fit** (with a link)..me thinking "hey maybe the alt hubcaps would work with the ones I got"..but nope....

Seeing as I have the wheels painted and tires mounted I didn't want to have to buy new ones and do it all again..

There has to be a way to modify the rim to work

Why would they produce wheels that no hubcap fits...

[Glenn]

Aftermarket.... 50% fits 40% of the time.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[SpoolBug]

This is more like 0% fit..if I could get any to fit I'd be happy.

I wonder what the issue is?..seems like a super simple process..the rear OEM's fit every hub caps like butter..

DAMN...so it's gonna be buying new one's, priming, painting, clear and unmounting and re mounting tires all because the freaking numbs are miss-manufactured..llllaaarrrdd...help us

Summit discontinued them...seeing as I painted, mounted etc. they wont return..HA

[Jimbug57]

If the problem is diameter you could try cutting a slit 6 or 7 mm's long at a 90 degree angle to the mounting surface at 4 equidistant points along the rim.

I'm reaching I know, but...
_________________
Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!"

[Glenn]

[baldessariclan]

Yeah, aftermarket crap parts often end up eating a lot of spare time, patience, $$$, etc. *sigh*

Maybe try carefully grinding down those "nubs" on the wheels a little, bit by bit, until you can finally get the hub caps to pop over them? Just an idea -- might be worth a try...
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[Glenn]

I suggest finding a set of good used 4 lug wheels. That should take about 30 seconds.

Media blast them then powder paint them and move on to the next project.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[baldessariclan]

I totally agree with Glenn on that -- fastest and cheapest way (in the long run) is almost always to just "do it right" the first time. You can pretty much rest assured that OEM stock wheels in good condition are going to fit and work exactly as intended. But aftermarket parts -- who knows? It's a complete crap shoot with lot of that stuff...
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[Chris333]

Since we're talkin'. What is the best was to pound hub caps on without denting them?

I have the correct tool to take them off.

[Tim Donahoe]

Assuming you have later stock wheels, you get them somewhat seated on three nubs, then use your palm to tap the EDGE of the fourth nub down.

Tim
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[vamram]

I had good results w/these from CIP1. Maybe I was part of the luck "50% 40% of the time."
https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC-C10-6622
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[baldessariclan]

[ricaroo]

Do you know who manufactured the rims for Summit, maybe contact them for replacement...

Rick
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1971 Standard Beetle 2 dr Sedan 1600dp

[chicagovw]

You may be able to use the center hub and lug nut covers as used on late base model Mexican Beetles. I believe several suppliers sell them.

[Antonio Trejo]

You can try plastic chromed center wheel caps too.
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