I have been looking for someone or somewhere that restores these things and come up empty. So I decided to take one with curb rash and dents all over it and see if I could knock out some of the dents. I used a variety of tools to get into the tight spots and almost left it worse than i started, so I gave up frustrated. A friend recently gave me a couple more caps with curb rash on them, but they had nice spinners. So I decided to try again to see if I could repair the dents and straighten them out. This time I designed and built some crude tools that would help in my effort without making new damage.
I still have a few more adjustments to make and maybe a jig to hold the cap in place but I am getting close, other than the curb rash, I think the cap turned out fairly well. I am going to continue playing around with these things to I get them closer. Not sure yet if it is possible to sand and polish out the scratches but I have loads of time to try.
Yeah these are a challenge aren't they Lawrence. I've filed, sanded, and polished some curb rash out and was quite pleased for the first effort. I have a friend who is a very good welder and he offered to teach me to weld stainless and fill in some of the worst gouges but I haven't had a chance to try. I sold the farm and bought an NOS one on ebay last year and then found one as nice for a lot less at the Tradex swap meet this year. I have a bunch of them waiting for me.
CdnGMfan said
Dec 4, 2017
I have a bunch of mag-style wheel covers. The construction is stainless steel rims with cast metal centers. They are heavy and seem to suffer from road rash badly, perhaps because they are larger or because they are heavier and can fly off. Wheel covers generally are made of stainless steel which remembers all the scratches. If you are desperate you could try bending any tangs to disassemble, then polish with progressively finer compound. Deep scratches, there are places that restore wheels that would be equipped perhaps to handle them. Wheel covers are different than wheels in that the material can't just be polished down through scratches, unless you don't mind them being thin.
I have been looking for someone or somewhere that restores these things and come up empty. So I decided to take one with curb rash and dents all over it and see if I could knock out some of the dents. I used a variety of tools to get into the tight spots and almost left it worse than i started, so I gave up frustrated. A friend recently gave me a couple more caps with curb rash on them, but they had nice spinners. So I decided to try again to see if I could repair the dents and straighten them out. This time I designed and built some crude tools that would help in my effort without making new damage.
I still have a few more adjustments to make and maybe a jig to hold the cap in place but I am getting close, other than the curb rash, I think the cap turned out fairly well. I am going to continue playing around with these things to I get them closer. Not sure yet if it is possible to sand and polish out the scratches but I have loads of time to try.
Maybe this post should be in the hobby section.
(see before and after photos)
You're a better man than I. When I had my 65 Canso SD I had the original caps and wanted to restore them. It didn't take me long to give up. Next to impossible to get to most of the dented areas.
Pontiacanada said
Dec 5, 2017
They are hard because of the double-wall around the lip, but I've managed to pop a couple '64 CS caps back into shape. I haven't tried to polish them yet.
canso_SD said
Dec 5, 2017
they are a sonofagun aint they, I have 2 sets of these ,spent hours tapping and straightening the set on my car now, and there still not all that great imo..
4SPEED427 said
Dec 5, 2017
It seems to me I looked and there really is no good way to take it apart is there?
jmont64 said
Dec 5, 2017
No, on the 64s it is next to impossible. The outside wraps right around the ring.
ROSIES CAR said
Dec 6, 2017
Hi again all Jarel you were right you can file and sand these things. But they require a lot of filing to remove the deep gouges and I was getting worried that I was grinding too deep so I let up. It did not turn to bad, there's still some small marks on it and it's far from perfect.
A little while back I looked at taking one apart but soon realized that if i could unwrap the edge of the ring I would stand little chance getting it back together as nice as factory. I have three more of these beat up and scraped caps to practice on, so I am going to refine a few tools and try some other methods and have some fun.
Hello All
I have been looking for someone or somewhere that restores these things and come up empty. So I decided to take one with curb rash and dents all over it and see if I could knock out some of the dents. I used a variety of tools to get into the tight spots and almost left it worse than i started, so I gave up frustrated. A friend recently gave me a couple more caps with curb rash on them, but they had nice spinners. So I decided to try again to see if I could repair the dents and straighten them out. This time I designed and built some crude tools that would help in my effort without making new damage.
I still have a few more adjustments to make and maybe a jig to hold the cap in place but I am getting close, other than the curb rash, I think the cap turned out fairly well. I am going to continue playing around with these things to I get them closer. Not sure yet if it is possible to sand and polish out the scratches but I have loads of time to try.
Maybe this post should be in the hobby section.
(see before and after photos)
I have a bunch of mag-style wheel covers. The construction is stainless steel rims with cast metal centers. They are heavy and seem to suffer from road rash badly, perhaps because they are larger or because they are heavier and can fly off. Wheel covers generally are made of stainless steel which remembers all the scratches. If you are desperate you could try bending any tangs to disassemble, then polish with progressively finer compound. Deep scratches, there are places that restore wheels that would be equipped perhaps to handle them. Wheel covers are different than wheels in that the material can't just be polished down through scratches, unless you don't mind them being thin.
You're a better man than I. When I had my 65 Canso SD I had the original caps and wanted to restore them. It didn't take me long to give up. Next to impossible to get to most of the dented areas.
They are hard because of the double-wall around the lip, but I've managed to pop a couple '64 CS caps back into shape. I haven't tried to polish them yet.
Hi again all
Jarel you were right you can file and sand these things. But they require a lot of filing to remove the deep gouges and I was getting worried that I was grinding too deep so I let up. It did not turn to bad, there's still some small marks on it and it's far from perfect.
A little while back I looked at taking one apart but soon realized that if i could unwrap the edge of the ring I would stand little chance getting it back together as nice as factory. I have three more of these beat up and scraped caps to practice on, so I am going to refine a few tools and try some other methods and have some fun.
The beauty of dog dish (as opposed to wheel covers I believe) is that they should fit any size wheel?
Asking if that is all 4 or just one does not seem to matter lol
Yeah , I never asked because it didnt matter.