Is This Correct?

[R W Burgess]

This wheel hub pictured in Cedar Rapids this past weekend was chrome plated. Is this correct?

Wayne

[West Peterson]

Yes, but I think what you see is actually a cover, and not the hub itself.

[R W Burgess]

Well, I did not question it at the time, since this was before the judging actually started. No point in making car owners nervous before the team shows up.

Wayne

[Packard32]

West, as to correctness, wouldn't it depend on the model? My 901s are black, and show no signs of ever being chromed.... B

[West Peterson]

Why one would order the optional hub cover then paint it black??? The reason for the cover is to add bling. If one wanted the hub a certain color, they'd just paint it, rather than put a painted cover over it????

[R W Burgess]

Here is the balance of the Packard pictures. Yes, it looks like there is certainly some bling going on.

Follow this link to the balance of the Cedar Rapids pictures. Cedar Rapids Special Fall Meet - AACA Photo Gallery @ Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Forums

Wayne

[West Peterson]

Here is the balance of the Packard pictures. Yes, it looks like there is certainly some bling going on.
Wayne

Not much, actually. Just the hub covers, whites, sidemounts, mirrors and the stone guard is all I see.

[JD in KC]

My knowledge of Packards comes to a screeching halt at the year 1941. Were the chromed acorn nuts standard when that engine was built?

[Restorer32]

They were standard in 1932 for sure.

[West Peterson]

Yes, I believe so. I'm not sure when the chromed acorn nuts became an option (as opposed to standard equipment), but I know that by 1940 they were optional even on the top-of-the-line cars.

[R W Burgess]

I was surprised to see the grey/silver paint on the bottom of the block. It simulated an aluminum lower block. It looked great but did confuse me.

Wayne

[jrbartlett]

I was surprised to see the grey/silver paint on the bottom of the block. It simulated an aluminum lower block. It looked great but did confuse me.

Wayne

It wasn't to simulate an aluminum lower block. The crankcase, which was separate from the cylinder block, was in fact aluminum, and most restorers paint them an aluminum color both to prevent oxidation and reduce oil penetration. As for the cylinder head bolts, they came from the factory nickel plated, I think from the mid-'20s on. Packard was very proud of the dressy appearance of their engines -- or so I've read. Regarding the hub covers, they were commonly chrome plated, and even some disc wheels were chromed.

[West Peterson]

I was surprised to see the grey/silver paint on the bottom of the block. It simulated an aluminum lower block. It looked great but did confuse me.
Wayne

James is right. The cylinder block is just under the head. The silver bottom is the crankcase, and is made of aluminum.

My question to Packard32, and maybe to James and Jeff as well. Why would the optional wheel hub covers be anything but plated? Would they have ever been painted? If a customer wanted color, the hub, itself, would be painted. Packard32, are you sure your car has covers? Or is it the hub itself that is painted?

[Restorer32]

Not sure of the year of the car in question. According to the parts book " wire wheel hub shell covers" were used on the 7th series cars with wire wheels while for the disc wheeled 7th series cars only a "hub cap" is listed. On the '32 900 with discs a plated and painted 1 piece hub cap was used that looks like 2 pieces but actually isn't.

[West Peterson]

The car in the OP is a 1930 Model 733.
The "approved accessories" book lists "Chromium-Plated Hub Caps and Hub Sleeves. It is the "Sleeves" that Wayne was asking about in the OP, not the caps. There would be NO reason for the sleeves to be painted.

[Restorer32]

I'm saying that the parts catalog does not list hub sleeves for the 733 with discs. Only thing they list for the 733 with discs is hub caps. If the sleeves were an option not listed in the standard parts catalog I agree they likely were always plated.

[West Peterson]

I guess what confuses me is your parts catalog stating "wire wheel hub shell covers." What the heck are they talking about?

[Owen_Dyneto]

West, wire wheel shell covers are what's often referred to as "Ace" covers, Ace being one of the makers of them. I just posted pictures of several Packards with the wire wheel shell covers on PackardInfo.

[Restorer32]

Ahh, I see. I call those "full wheel covers". I have a set of 17" and kind of like the look of them and wish I could justify using them on my 900. If you look at the '32 Accessory Catalog it shows the sleeves and they are clearly plated though I suppose a dealer would have happily painted them if you wanted though I fail to see the point.

[alsancle]

Not much, actually. Just the hub covers, whites, sidemounts, mirrors and the stone guard is all I see.

Don't forget the red paint. Nice car in any event.

[West Peterson]

If you look at the '32 Accessory Catalog it shows the sleeves and they are clearly plated though I suppose a dealer would have happily painted them if you wanted though I fail to see the point.

That's what confuses me about Packard32's statement. Why would someone buy the covers, only to paint them????

[Packard32]

West, where I'm adding on to the garage, I can't easily get to the car. When I can, I'll look again and see.... Any of us can get things cornfused...haha....B

[Dave Fields]

The point to painting chrome wheel covers, although I suppose the dealer would just remove them, is to reduce chrome on a car bought by aconservitive owner, the type of owner PAckard catered to. It is documented that wood interior trim was painted black on orders of customers. I question thefender colors, aswell as the top material, although it may not be as white as it appears in the photos. I also question the seat color, both interior and rumble seat, and there appears to beno pin striping on the body. Thecar appears to be done in one color, I would expect at least three colors on the car. I appriciate keeping the chrome off the sidemounts, an no auxillary lights. I like wide whites, but I don't think they add to this car as the paint is too bright. Here is the color layouts for Packard in the years discussed. Color Chip Selection Remember, Packard did not have model years, but were sold as series. Packard sold the car as a 7th series, 133"wb. But we call them by manufactured year. We all do it, although nottechnically correct.