Racing Hubcaps or Aerodynamic Hubcaps

TheForce · 04-26-2006, 06:47 PM

Finally took a picture of my mudguards and my caps. Mudguards should not be a problem with hurting fuel mileage because the caps push the air around them.

But i dont care about that anyway. The mudguards and the caps look good and that all I care about.

talonts · 04-27-2006, 12:50 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Apr 26 2006, 05:47 PM) [snapback]245776[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Finally took a picture of my mudguards and my caps. Mudguards should not be a problem with hurting fuel mileage because the caps push the air around them.

But i dont care about that anyway. The mudguards and the caps look good and that all I care about.

[attachmentid=3118]
[/b]

Jay,

What length rivets did you use? I'm assuming you used 3/16" rivets. All the rivets I have currently are either too short or way too long.

My hubcaps arrived today, I have drilled the extra 3 holes in each and have all the holes in the trim rings, but the bolts/nuts I used to hold the pizzapans on will interfere with the rim a bit, so I'll have to rivet them.

I'm assuming the washers you used on the rivets were the specialized rivet washers that may or may not have come with your rivets?

I'm dropping by Home Depot tomorrow with a trim ring and hubcap to get the right length rivets, but it would be nice to verify my thoughts on the "right" length.

BTW, these hubcaps are the same brand I bought for my 71 Mustang in college in the late 80s, I can't believe they're still around! And obviously their QC on size is still an issue, as I see from your original pics that your Mike's hubcaps pretty much sit flush with the edge of the trim rings, while mine are about 1/8-3/32" smaller in radius than the trim rings.

darelldd · 04-27-2006, 01:16 AM

Probably my only concern with doing this mod is how the wheels (front especially) will be caked with brake dust that won't be as easy to clean off. Brake dust is hell on clear-coat. I wash my wheels off quite often, and it'll just add one more step of removing these covers to clean an area that I don't even see. Am I a slave to fashion? Only time will tell... I still greatly appreciate you sharing this with us!

TheForce · 04-27-2006, 09:17 AM

Here are the rivets I bought at lowes.

Rivets

They are 3/16 by 1/4inch long. I had to buy the washers seprate. 50 rivets per pack and 30 washers to a pack. WTF? They were even the same brand! Its just like buying hotdogs and hotdog buns.

I plan on changing to stainless steel rivets when I can find them.

I bought the 15 inch caps and my caps are about the same size as my rings or 1/32 larger or smaller but they fit well.

I'm washing my car about 1 time a month and I take off the caps to wash out the brake dust. Its not that hard really. So far theres not much dust in there but I dont use my brakes that much anyway. Mostly regen until I hit that 7mph or below mark and then I come to a quick stop.

Hope this helps eveyone.

Bob Allen · 04-27-2006, 05:21 PM

Where do the valve stems go? Looks like you'd need to take the hubcaps off to check your tire pressure, which is inconvenient enough to encourage not checking tire pressure. I think they do look cool, but I'm skeptical about the mileage claim.
Bob

TheForce · 05-11-2006, 07:29 PM

I would like to say I took my car up to 97MPh

today and the hub caps are still holding strong.

I'll never go that fast again unless i'm on a drag strip or race course. The car felt a little too lose for me at those speeds.

Yes you have to take the caps off to check the air pressure but I fill my car with gas, wash the car, and check air pressure once a month so its no big deal for me. Increased mileage or not i'm keeping mine on. I seen an improvement but your mileage may vary.

Cheap! · 06-15-2006, 03:09 PM

My hubcaps shoud be here today. Thank you for the post. Here is my goal.
[attachmentid=3809]

TheForce · 06-15-2006, 03:28 PM

Your welcome. Looks nice! Where are you going to get your wheel skirts?

Cheap! · 06-15-2006, 05:02 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Jun 15 2006, 02:28 PM) [snapback]271777[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Your welcome. Looks nice! Where are you going to get your wheel skirts?
[/b]

I'll Make them from sheet metal or foam covered in resin and painted to match

Notice the skirts don't come down all the way...I've been looking at the curve of the sides of the Prius. If I made a full skirt it would have to puff out at the bottom and I'm not sure I want to do that.

TheForce · 06-15-2006, 05:43 PM

Please post pictures when you get them finished. I would like to see how they look.

04-27-2006, 09:17 AM	#24
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,744 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 169 Times in 123 Posts Friends: 22	Here are the rivets I bought at lowes. Rivets They are 3/16 by 1/4inch long. I had to buy the washers seprate. 50 rivets per pack and 30 washers to a pack. WTF? They were even the same brand! Its just like buying hotdogs and hotdog buns. I plan on changing to stainless steel rivets when I can find them. I bought the 15 inch caps and my caps are about the same size as my rings or 1/32 larger or smaller but they fit well. I'm washing my car about 1 time a month and I take off the caps to wash out the brake dust. Its not that hard really. So far theres not much dust in there but I dont use my brakes that much anyway. Mostly regen until I hit that 7mph or below mark and then I come to a quick stop. Hope this helps eveyone. __________________ 2006 Prius Barcelona Red Package #7. Picked up 2006/01/02 Converted to Plug-In on 2008/08/12 with Hymotion L5 *Hybridfest 2007 & 2008 Peoples Choice Award * *Hybridfest 2009 Peoples Choice Best of Show Award * For a list of my mods visit http://www.jaygroh.com

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04-26-2006, 06:47 PM	#21
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,744 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 169 Times in 123 Posts Friends: 22	Finally took a picture of my mudguards and my caps. Mudguards should not be a problem with hurting fuel mileage because the caps push the air around them. But i dont care about that anyway. The mudguards and the caps look good and that all I care about.

04-27-2006, 01:16 AM	#23
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 5,336 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 18 Thanked 44 Times in 32 Posts Friends: 12	Probably my only concern with doing this mod is how the wheels (front especially) will be caked with brake dust that won't be as easy to clean off. Brake dust is hell on clear-coat. I wash my wheels off quite often, and it'll just add one more step of removing these covers to clean an area that I don't even see. Am I a slave to fashion? Only time will tell... I still greatly appreciate you sharing this with us!

04-27-2006, 05:21 PM	#25
Bob Allen Captainbaba Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,262 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Where do the valve stems go? Looks like you'd need to take the hubcaps off to check your tire pressure, which is inconvenient enough to encourage not checking tire pressure. I think they do look cool, but I'm skeptical about the mileage claim. Bob

05-11-2006, 07:29 PM	#26
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,744 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 169 Times in 123 Posts Friends: 22	I would like to say I took my car up to 97MPh today and the hub caps are still holding strong. I'll never go that fast again unless i'm on a drag strip or race course. The car felt a little too lose for me at those speeds. Yes you have to take the caps off to check the air pressure but I fill my car with gas, wash the car, and check air pressure once a month so its no big deal for me. Increased mileage or not i'm keeping mine on. I seen an improvement but your mileage may vary.

06-15-2006, 03:09 PM	#27
Cheap! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,157 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 4	My hubcaps shoud be here today. Thank you for the post. Here is my goal. [attachmentid=3809]

06-15-2006, 03:28 PM	#28
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,744 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 169 Times in 123 Posts Friends: 22	Your welcome. Looks nice! Where are you going to get your wheel skirts?

06-15-2006, 05:43 PM	#30
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,744 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 169 Times in 123 Posts Friends: 22	Please post pictures when you get them finished. I would like to see how they look.