Fitting Torq-Thrust Center Caps

[Gyrhead]

Ok... so here we go again. I'm trying to get the stock Bullitt center caps to fit over the stock SVO dust cap and as we all know that ain't gonna happen in their factory configuration.

I've read a few post where people have ground down the relief Ford oval inside the plastic center cap, along with mashing down the dust cap, along with cutting an 1/8" off the axle stub, but it seems that all of these methods have their drawbacks.



-Grinding the relief oval from the inside with the goal of removing enough material will soon result in plastic breakthru into the exterior logo IMHO That would look sucky.
-Mashing down the cap is ghetto and if you inspect the metal dust cap from inside, you can see the friction witness mark of the stub axle rubbing against the stock dust cap. Mashing it down does not fix the overall length of the axle and while the center cap may fit better closer to the outer edge of the hub, it still won't clear the shaft
How in the world can I cut the stub axle without heating it up enough to lose temper and should I even do this?
Run without the dust caps and grind down the oval "a little". Again this is more ghetto than #2


What sayeth you purveyors of SVO precognition. You fountains of 2.3 familiarity...you gurus of Kranefuss ken?

[MikeFleming]

No need to make it harder than it needs to be. Install some 1/4" to 1/2" (6-13mm) wheel spacers. Keep an eye on stud length - might need lonner studs.

[dagenham]

OK, I dont understand why the bullit wheel caps do not fit when the mach 1 wheel caps have no issue at all.
I know about the mach 1 wheels for sure because I have a set on my car without that issue at all.
Are the centers possibly deeper on the mach wheels???

[Mike S]

I recall a post where someone used two caps to make one. They cut the face off of one cap and glued to the second effectively making a spacer to clear the grease cap.

[DominicL]

OK, I dont understand why the bullit wheel caps do not fit when the mach 1 wheel caps have no issue at all.
I know about the mach 1 wheels for sure because I have a set on my car without that issue at all.
Are the centers possibly deeper on the mach wheels???

Mach 1 wheels are different offset. Less - offset (stick out further from hub) I believe. The Mach 1 wheels were on my 85 when I bought it in the beginning of 2006. The rears rubbed on quarter panel lip with passengers in car. 05, 06 Bullet wheels are ok in rear. In the front however, besides the front center cap issue, I had to remove and install the bullet wheels with a jack under the a arm. Otherwise the suspension droop would cause the wheel to hit the strut. While I did not notice it, I'm sure with the right pothole, the wheel would rub the strut. Spacers, as suggested above fix all the issues. I have 3/4 inch spacers in front now to clear the coilovers. So far zero issues but I only drive on the weekends! :cool:


Dominic
'85 2A Weekend driver soon to be tastefully modded
'70 914/6 Street, Autocross, soon to be track driven
'89 boy racer Civic Autocrosser in Street touring trim

[stickman73]

I was one that used two center caps to make one, I was running a set of 06-07 GT rims on the SVO, I jut took them off to use my stock ones again.. I will provide picks if I can find them.

I took one center cap and used a dremel to take out the entire center of one cap and then the other I just used the dremel to take off the bottom portion of the cap...where the metal ring goes, after that I used JB weld to put the two together and and sanded it and color matched the paint with a Dupli-Color rattle bomb. mine came out great. very easy job. I hope I can find the pics so I can post them.

[brsvo]

Stickman if you run across the pics post them!!!