"36 Dodge hubcap question

[jpage]

I have four '36 Dodge hubcaps that I'm eventually going to replate. I was looking at them today and I noticed that 2 of the 4 have a slightly different size font on the DODGE. All the letters are the same style and size except for the width of the letter grooves. 2 of the caps appear to have slightly wider grooves where the letters are recessed. They do appear to all be original caps as the backing caps are the same. Does anyone know of any changes to the printing during the year or could it just be a die issue/ The difference is quite subtle and I doubt that anyone would notice.

[Guest DodgeKCL]

1936 was a change year for Dodge hubcaps. Prior to '36 the hubcaps had spring loaded fingers on them that snapped into the edge of the wheel opening. The wheel opening had nothing on it. In '36 the cap lost all the clips and springs. The wheel opening now had 'buttons' on it that snapped into the edge of the cap. However from what I've seen '34,'35','36 and '37 caps are all visually the same. But there is also a subtle difference in the edge of the edge of the wording. Some caps had the edge flush with the cap face and some had the edge raised about a 1/4" where the 'V' is. There is some discussion as to what vehicles used what version. They otherwise look the same from 10'. The word DODGE and the line around the edge are insert in black. Some say,for instance, you Yanks had one version on your cars and the other on your trucks. However because of the lower volume we Canucks used only the raised 'V' type on all our cars and trucks. However I've found both types on fleamarket tables in Canada. However at some 80 going on 90 years anything could be floating around now. That's what I know ,with some assurance, about middle 30s Dodge caps. I also have some caps on my wall made by the aftermarket industry. One is 1934 and says 'PLMMMMMTH' instead of Plymouth. I also have a cap for a 1934 Dodge that says "DOOOE" instead of Dodge. I have one for a Ford that says 'FOOD'. These were all made by unlincensed manufacturers and sold aftermarket. I hope all this has given you some peace of mind in that anything was possible back then. You may just have caps from different suppliers to Chrysler and they were good enough for those days.        

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Great explanation KCL.

Could you post some pics of the hubcaps in question. It's interesting the variations that were around.

I've seen people advertise hubcaps for 34 that are not 34's, and visa versa.

Ian

[36 D2 Coupe]

Hi Dodge KCL - Could you clarify what you mean by a raised V? From my experience, the Canadian Dodge caps had a smooth moon or dome profile while the American dodges had the raised V. The Canadian caps also had the locking tabs on the caps and a ring on the rim to lock to whereas the American Dodges had a smooth rolled inner rim on the cap that engaged spring tabs on the rim .

As far as the subtle differences jpage has noticed, I haven't really looked that hard so there may indeed be small variations from different suppliers. I've had my car since '66 and only discovered that the American caps were different when I ordered one from the US years ago and was surprised to find the raised V style that did not match what I have.

jpage - let me know how you make out with the plating. I still have that road to travel.

[Mpgp1999]

Looking to buy 36' dodge hubcaps

[jpage]

Thanks for all the replies in info. I think that the difference is just in the manufacturing and it's not really a big deal. I was just curious. I've found alot of differences between cars built in the same year, I guess subtle changes during the model year.

[Guest DodgeKCL]

I've been told that the Canadian caps had the raised "V". Who's right? 

 When looking for '35 caps for my KCL I became somewhat of an 'expert' on caps of that era. I found that from 10' you could not tell a 1935 from a 1936 or later. I must of looked at 200 caps over 10 or more years. The only difference was when you turned the cap over and saw whether it had clips or not. No clips, it was post 1935. I have seen a restored 1937 Dodge 4 door convertible (RARE CAR!) and I cannot tell the caps from my '35 KCL except I know that the attachment system is different. Also I found that the 'height' or 'depth' of the round 'bump' on the caps were different!! They fit the same '35 opening with their clips but they were higher or lower. Where in the hell did they come from? The clip system died in 1936 so they were all 1934 or '35 caps. Another anomaly?

  Sorry I cannot post any photos anymore. I've not been able to for about 5 years. I contacted the site admin. but he's no help.         

Edited May 25, 2015 by DodgeKCL (see edit history)

[30dodge35]

If you want to go by the advertisement for 35 ,the caps were smooth, no raised V

These are harder to find for the trucks I think the raised V was used on cars

Some have V complete around Dodge others are partial only on ends

Vintage dodge reproduction in Australia makes a hubcap

7 inch inside

Mine are 6 7/8 ID 8 1/2 OD on 17 inch rims

Edited May 26, 2015 by 30dodge35 (see edit history)

[Guest DodgeKCL]

test

Edited May 26, 2015 by DodgeKCL (see edit history)

[earlsworkshop]

This is an interesting topic because I was just looking into the same thing.

This is the center of the wheel of my 1936 Dodge D2 4 Door

As you can see, there are spring-clips in the center for the hubcaps.

 

This is the outside view of hubcap listed on Ebay for a '36 Dodge

This is the backside view of hubcap listed on Ebay for a '36 Dodge

 

This is the outside view of hubcap listed on Ebay for a '34 OR '35 Dodge

This is the backside view of hubcap listed on Ebay for a '34 OR '35 Dodge

 

From what I have seen, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the '34, '35, or '36 hubcaps unless you turn them over.

At any rate, these hubcaps are NOT chromed. They have a thin skin of stainless steel that is crimped all the way around the plain steel hubcap. They can easily be polished to a chrome-like shine.

However, you can not remove any dents by hammering on the inside. To get any dents out, you have to uncrimp the skin, carefully tap out any dents, then crimp it back on.

Not impossible, but very time consuming.

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2015 by earlsworkshop (see edit history)

[jpage]

The outer skin is not stainless. It's chrome over thin brass sheet which makes it ductile enough to form but very susceptible to damage. The skins do have to be removed for repair and replating.

[Ian_Greenlaw]

I currently have about 10 1934 hubcaps I m going to restore. I've removed the skins and have started restoration....not easy I can tell you !!! They are brass as I have a few I've got back to the original material. Very hard to remove without splitting the crimped over bits. A restoration guy suggested I grind the backs to remove the crimping area that way the skin can be removed. Restore the skins.....yeah sounds easy doesn't it !!!!, then adhere the skins to the backing plates after rechroming.

['41 Dodge LL]

In response to the aftermarket caps, I have one that says Doooo. I missed that funny spelling at first because the letters are parallelograms that are just missing the tails of the letters and such. Funny.

[countrytravler]

1937 Dodge Humpback

Edited July 4, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[Spinneyhill]

They are brass as I have a few I've got back to the original material. Very hard to remove without splitting the crimped over bits.

The brass has work hardened by being bent and over time as it works slightly as the wheels rotate. There must be a way to anneal it before removing the skin. It would also need annealing again before reattaching.

 

So, how does one anneal brass sheet?

[countrytravler]

Updates

[jpage]

No, we never did get a definitive answer for the original question. I guess some questions on these cars will never be completely answered. Thanks to all who replied, some interesting stuff!

[countrytravler]

No, we never did get a definitive answer for the original question. I guess some questions on these cars will never be completely answered. Thanks to all who replied, some interesting stuff!

Are you working on a 36 Dodge car or truck?

[countrytravler]

1937 Dodge Truck Chrome Hub Cap

 

1937 DODGE TRUCK HUB CAP - Although this basic design was used from 1935 thru 1938 model years, there are differences . . . even within a given model year. For example, there are 1937 Dodge truck hubcaps with a larger diameter opening (on the backside) than 1937 Dodge car hub caps, thus they are not interchangeable. A guide for selecting the correct size hup cap, as measured from the backside, is as follows:

● 1936 Dodge Truck & Car = 7.0" I.D. and 8-3/8" O.D.

(for artillery wheels, trucks = 10 spokes, cars = 14 spokes)

● 1937 Dodge Half TonTruck = 7-1/4" I.D. and 8-15/16" O.D.

(smooth back, no clips on hubcap - for solid steel wheels);

● 1937 Dodge Passenger Car = 7-1/4" I.D. and 9-15/16" O.D.

(smooth back, no clips on hubcap - for solid steel wheels).

● 1937 & 1938 Dodge 3/4 & 1 Ton Truck = 8" I.D. and 9-1/2" O.D.

(smooth back, no clips on hubcap - for solid steel wheels).

[jpage]

Working on a four door touring sedan.