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OK, i know it sounds strange, but here me out....
My 16x7.5" speedlines USED to have a full set of caps, but one got lost - came off on the road somewhere. bummer. now, i can't find another centrecap, but i figure i can MAKE some....
we start off with a standard mk3 style plastic c'cap, one that fits on the standard mk3 steelies. just so happens that the outer edge of the lug-holders, the bits on the inside of the caps that typically clip over the wheel bolts to hold the caps on, perfectly centre the cap within the hole in my speedlines.
now, the lug-holders certainly dont go deep enough to secure the cap to the lugs, otherwise this would be less of a DIY, and more of a "this fits" type thread.
the old c'caps used a threaded part to screw into a threaded section of the speedlines hub. the threaded section is only about 10mm long and goes in from the outer end of the hub.
thanks to SAE standards, this thread is a 2" pipe thread, which also happens to be standard for HDPE agricultural piping...
now, it also happens that bunnings sells a 2" water tank pipe coupler, which has some nice big moulded bits on it that seemd to fit my purpose, and enough 2" plastic thread to suit my needs:
now to the steelies centrecaps - take to them with a 50mm hole-saw and arbour. because of who we are, we want to keep the vw logo in the middle:
trim the swarf off with a sharp knife:
then use a grinder and flap-disk, or similar implement, to sand the outer edge of our badge to a taper, like so:
now take the nice moulded plastci nut, and cut at an angle, the inner threads out, so as to accept our badge:
using some quick set epoxy (i've used loctite epoxy in the ready to go syringe type applicator) glue the badges into the caps:
now, all thats left is to screw the threaded pipe into the wheel hub, and make sure its firm. then, push the bored out cap into the wheel, over the thread, and finally, screw the completed cap center onto the thread, holding the whole assembly in place -
for anyone who has threaded center-caps, i'm sure you'd be able to work out something similar if you feel so inclined
My 16x7.5" speedlines USED to have a full set of caps, but one got lost - came off on the road somewhere. bummer. now, i can't find another centrecap, but i figure i can MAKE some....
we start off with a standard mk3 style plastic c'cap, one that fits on the standard mk3 steelies. just so happens that the outer edge of the lug-holders, the bits on the inside of the caps that typically clip over the wheel bolts to hold the caps on, perfectly centre the cap within the hole in my speedlines.
now, the lug-holders certainly dont go deep enough to secure the cap to the lugs, otherwise this would be less of a DIY, and more of a "this fits" type thread.
the old c'caps used a threaded part to screw into a threaded section of the speedlines hub. the threaded section is only about 10mm long and goes in from the outer end of the hub.
thanks to SAE standards, this thread is a 2" pipe thread, which also happens to be standard for HDPE agricultural piping...
now, it also happens that bunnings sells a 2" water tank pipe coupler, which has some nice big moulded bits on it that seemd to fit my purpose, and enough 2" plastic thread to suit my needs:
now to the steelies centrecaps - take to them with a 50mm hole-saw and arbour. because of who we are, we want to keep the vw logo in the middle:
trim the swarf off with a sharp knife:
then use a grinder and flap-disk, or similar implement, to sand the outer edge of our badge to a taper, like so:
now take the nice moulded plastci nut, and cut at an angle, the inner threads out, so as to accept our badge:
using some quick set epoxy (i've used loctite epoxy in the ready to go syringe type applicator) glue the badges into the caps:
now, all thats left is to screw the threaded pipe into the wheel hub, and make sure its firm. then, push the bored out cap into the wheel, over the thread, and finally, screw the completed cap center onto the thread, holding the whole assembly in place -
for anyone who has threaded center-caps, i'm sure you'd be able to work out something similar if you feel so inclined
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