When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Someone said these were pace car wheels. I don’t know if that is right or not but they are one of the reasons I love my new Vette. Here’s the problem. I had a flat rear tire. I went to take off the center cap So I could pull the tire only to find out they were put on with silicone caulk!!! I checked the other rear tire and it was the same story! I pulled both of them off cleaned them up, got the tire fixed and now I need to put them back. The set screws were still there so I backed them out and went to work!! 2 hours later neither center cap is back on the car. I cussed, I prayed and I yelled!! Nothing helped. Here I am with this tiny little Allen wrench trying like hell to tighten these dam set screws!!
There has to be an easier way!!! Any and all suggestions are welcome. Now I think I know why the previous owner used caulk!!!
These are aftermarket center caps. They consist of the top Knockoff cap and then the standoffs. The top knockoff cap is screwed onto a standoff and locked in place by the top set screws. The wheel end of the standoff fits into the hole in the wheel center by being pushed in, and then locked into place by the lower set screws. To get a good fit install the standoffs to the wheels with the wheel off so you can get access to the set screws from behind. Install the wheel onto the car and install and torque the lug nuts. Lastly screw the knockoff cap onto the standoff and lock into place with the set screws underneath each leg of the cap. Screwing aluminum to aluminum so use anti seize onto the threads.
hope this may help you out. Good luck
here is a link to 78 pace car.. https://www.zip-corvette.com/78-pace...SABEgLelfD_BwE
I went on ebay to find an OEM NOS cap for my 79, had to silicone on a mess.. and still went into a ditch somewhere..
I got repro cap gm authorized and the damn thing fit nice.. never again NOS center caps..
As others have told you, they are not GM center caps. GM never used an aluminum wheel center cap with a spinner on it. In fact Federal law has prohibited automakers from using spinners on wheels since 1967. The spinners were strictly an aftermarket part, and not something ever available from Chevrolet.
As far as using silicon to secure the cap, that's a pretty common trick among owners of Corvettes with factory aluminum wheels. The stock, plastic center caps, just pop on, and are not secured in anyway to the wheel. It's quite easy to loose the center caps, and a thin bead of clear silicon will keep them in place.
1980 Vette Center Caps
