Hub caps

464Saloon
464Saloon Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Are the hubcaps for 1954's specific and were the Hornet Specials any different that other 54's? My car pitched the right front cap on the freeway and I was not able to recover it. Would figure as I had repainted the centers and polished it and it looked almost new. No idea how it happened,the clips are still there and strong. Had just got back from a 200 mile trip the day before and they stayed on.

Comments

  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    If you are using radial tires, that probably had something to do with it. I went to center hub caps after I put radials on my 48 because of the same problem. Never lost a hub cap with bias tires, but when I went to radials, they kept falling off. It's funny how those things turn into flying saucers after they spin off like that, isn't it? Never can find them.

    Jason
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I don't think the hubcaps are any different on the 54's. As Jason mentioned, the use of radial tires may cause this. With radials, the rims do flex a bit but shouldn't sling a hubcap unless you're plowing into a turn. Before you throw another hubcap, you might want to investigate a way to discretely secure the caps to rims.
  • 464Saloon
    464Saloon Senior Contributor
    The perplexing thing is that they made it to Arizona and back last year and another 700 miles this year and they were fine. All on radial tires. Now I noticed at low speed like turning into a driveway they seem to creek a little like the clips were a little loose. So I pulled both fronts off and tweaked the clips a little for more tension. That seem to due away with the creak but the next day the one flew off. I know that some of the center designs (badge insignia) are different so that is what I need to know so I can obtain a replacement.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    I beleive the badge design for the Hornet Special hub caps was the same as the one on the full disc cap used on the '54 Hornet. Seems strange that a design change was made in the badge in mid-year, but that's the way I remember it



    Jerry

    53jetman
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    According to the Master Parts Catalog, the 1954 Hornet Specials and Super Wasps hub-caps had a unique part number.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    FYI

    Regarding losing hubcaps (beauty rings) and annoying creaking, I put 3 or 4 spots of GE clear Caulk (the expensive $5 tube outdoor Siicone type) on the back side when installing to eliminate the problem.



    I experimented with caulk when I got a set of wire caps that creaked and tossed then never stopped using on other vehicles. It Gels up & adheres well but yet is removable when needed....
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Ol racer... great tip.

    Another method I have seen used is to take a short piece of cable and crimp eyelets to the cable. One eyelet should have sufficent diameter to go over a lug bolt the other end will have a smaller diameter which will be riveted to the internal cap lip.

    Good Luck
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    464Saloon wrote:
    Are the hubcaps for 1954's specific and were the Hornet Specials any different that other 54's? My car pitched the right front cap on the freeway and I was not able to recover it. Would figure as I had repainted the centers and polished it and it looked almost new. No idea how it happened,the clips are still there and strong. Had just got back from a 200 mile trip the day before and they stayed on.
    Hi---As far as I know 54 Hornet caps were unique to that year only & were the same as the special. My 54 Hornet with bias tires has thrown one before after it started to walk on the rim. At that point, I should have tweaked the clips for better grip & I think that would have eliminated the problem. 54s seem to have this happening more than any other step-downs witnessing the amount of them showing up on e-bay.---Cliff Minard.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    54 Hudsons had three regular caps and two wire cap options. The Wasp came with the small caps with red diamond centers as the standard cap. The Super Wasps had a cap that was bigger in diameter and carried the same blue background crest as the Hornet or large caps. The Super Wasp cap had a series of concentric ribs around the center. As stated the full wheel cover was standard on the Hornet. The Hornet wheels for this year had stops welded to the rims that kept the full size caps from rotating and in turn cutting off the air valve and or flying off. As with all Hudsons the owner could option up his car with any of the non standard caps.

    The wire wheel options were made by vendors and there was a choice of two center medalions, the blue background or the red diamond.
  • 464Saloon
    464Saloon Senior Contributor
    Well apparently mine were the origional Hornet Special caps. I stll have no idea how it got off looking at the clips. Where can I find another one?
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