Wheel Options – Wires? Hub Caps?

[jhbyrd]

You are right BDriver I am getting very acquainted with this little Jewel. Hey…what about spoke wheels to fit VW kits,  anyone know wheere to purchase. Mine are rusted and I don’t think cleaning would do alot of good.

[Peter C. King]

Keep in mind that the original TD used disk wheels with oval vents around the rim. Wire wheels were an option. There’s nothing wrong with ‘original’ wheels.

[Paul Mossberg]

BDriver is right about TDs having steel rims as stock…except that the original TD had multiple round holes around the rim.

They look oval, but that is because of the perspective and the curvature of the wheel itself.

http://www.simoncars.co.uk/mg/slides/w_MG%20TD%20Midget%2019 51%20wheel.jpg

I wish they were oval. Stock VW rims would look more original 😉

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Peter C. King]

Here’s a thought.

1. A flat chrome hubcap that would fit a VW wheel.

2. An MG logo that could be applied to the hubcap.

Faux original steel MG wheels for a fraction of the cost of wires.

We are talking about replicas of original cars.

Why not replicas of original wheels?  

 

[Paul Mossberg]

That is exactly what I did for my Duchess:

https://tdreplica.com/forum/uploads/PMOSSBERG/2004-12-30_ 122337_P5223306_lo.JPG

https://tdreplica.com/forum/forum_photos.asp?PMOSSBERG

PMOSSBERG40752.0187152778

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Peter C. King]

Wow. Very pretty. I like the wheels too.

Are those VW hubcaps?

Where did you find the MG logos?

How did you attach them?

Who’s to say that original TD wheels don’t really have oval vents? They appear oval when you look at them from any angle but straight on to one hole at a time.  

What do the front engine cars do for replica stock steel wheels?

 

[Paul Mossberg]

Those are VW wheels and VW hubcaps (with no center logo).

The wheels are painted in the correct MG TD silver, available from Eastwood. The description talsk about wire wheels, but this is the correct silver for the steel wheels:

http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=mg+gray+wheel+paint

The wheel medallions are reproduction MG TD wheel centers, bought ’em from Moss Motors. Sxcroll down to row #19, medallion onyl $8.95 each.

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexI D=32854

Drill a hole in the center of the hubcap. They attach with a cotter pin. You’d need to add some soft “washers” (for lack of a better term) between the cotter pin and the back of the hub cap for a tight fit. term.

The holes in TD wheels are round. Like you said, they “appear” oval, but that is because they are stamped through the curved surface of the wheel.

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

Here is a longer discussion on this topic.

https://tdreplica.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=795&P N=8

I still cannot find the stock “nipple” hubcaps without VW or Empi logos. 🙁

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Paul and for those interested in a VW hubcap WITHOUT VW logo so you can attach the MG wheel medallion, here’s a supplier I’ve use a number of times. Gonna get my hubcaps from them when its time.

http://airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/trim-brite-work/chr ome-hubcap-311601151-d

Hope this helps a little bit.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Marc Lipsius]

I’ve been looking for those or similar for a while. I now have 4 wire wheel steel hubcap covers for my car, the PO “lost” one on the road, and you can’t buy just one, you need to buy 4 or 5 in a set.
My car has the VW 15″ wheels with the round holes in them. but how do you know what years they are from? Aren’t they all the same? Airheadparts.com has 3 different prices for what seems like the same hubcap, but for different years.

[Mike]

Paul,

I have admired your TD for some time. The wheels and caps look great….Allen, thanks for the hubcap link. I have been searching for the no logo caps for sometime. I am ready to do away with the fake wire wheel look, but until you posted this link all I could find were the  VW and Empi logo.

Mike

[Paul Mossberg]

Thanks newkitman!

Those are the ones you need to come close the an original style TD cap.

There is another approach. The earlier five bolt VW rims used a set of spring clips to hold the hub caps. They were originally riveted to the wheel. You could use them, on a four bolt wheel. And use reproduction original TD caps.

Another TD replica manufacturer http://www.prototyperesearch.com/, welds screw heads to the VW wheels and uses repro TD caps:

http://www.prototyperesearch.com/products/index.php?album=19 52%20MGTD%20Sports%20Gallery&file=MGTD+Rear.JPG

In either approach, your “circle of rivets” or “circle of screw heads” will have to be exact or you will lose a lot of hubcaps. 

PMOSSBERG40757.9052777778

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[edward ericson]

That’s pretty trick! You can still see part of the VW hubcap ridge though. 

[Paul Mossberg]

Yes.

An original TD hubcap has a smaller diameter than the stock VW hubcap. As you can see, the Prototype Research approach leaves the TD cap sitting on top of the wheel and not over the wheel’s ring.

PMOSSBERG40757.9856828704

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

I just noticed mrlmd’s question regarding “three hubcaps, three prices”

311-601-151 D will fit the four bolt wheel

113-601-151 is for the earlier five bolt wheel and would need the spring clamps that rivet to the wheel (notice the clips/rivets sets come up as recommended accessories)

I suspect 131-601-151 A  is also for the four bolt wheel. Notice the “rim” around the center is slightly different than on 311-601-151 D

If in doubt, ask the vendor.

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Marc Lipsius]

Thanks. I was going to call them one of these days.

That 131 cap is also $3.50 cheaper for each one, but don’t you know it, they’re out of stock now, backorder only. So, if they fit my wheels, I hope they’ll get more in eventually when I want to buy them.

Buying a set of those is still cheaper than getting a fabric cover to put over my spare on the rear to hide that fact I’m missing one wire wheel cover, and I was thinking that’s not really a good idea because it may interfere with the ventilation in the engine compartment and encourage overheating, which right now in Florida with 90-98 degree temps every day is probably not a good idea.
mrlmd40758.036724537

[newkitman]

Not a problem Paul. I was searching through Airhead PArts for an ignition switch and remembered they had those hub caps and that you or someone was looking for a source.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[newkitman]

Found another site that carries the nipple hub cAps withouty logo.

http://www.eisparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Paul Mossberg]

Nice find Allen.

For teh nipple style cap that they are selling, you have to make sure the three slots that are pre-punched would be hidden behind the MG cap-center

http://www.eisparts.com/VW601712.html 

PMOSSBERG40758.5438078704

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

For someone thinking to adapt TD hub caps to their VW wheels using the VW clips or screw heads, these are a GREAT price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MGTD-TF-MG-ZA-ZB-Magnette-New -Chrome-Hub-Caps-/110388537264

PMOSSBERG40758.5452546296

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Bill Gould]

I was looking online for new rubber for my MP Lafer and came across this site, which sells VW parts made in Brazil. Apparently they still stock the wheel covers with blank centers @ 4 for $98.82 (plus shipping):

http://www.vwantigo.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=62&p roducts_id=1664

There’s a currency selection button on the left of the site. Be sure you’re not looking at euros or Brazilian reals. Also, I’m pretty sure they take PayPal.

 

TexAg7140770.0683333333

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[Peter C. King]

Shipping may make the Brazil hubcaps seem pricey until you look at the cost of wire wheels, or even wire hubcaps. Add an MG logo in the hubcap center and the VW wheels that came with the donor car become faux MG steel wheels. Retro Cool. Yup. The cooling holes really are oval. That they appear round from the right angle on the originals is an optical illusion. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[newkitman]

VW Rabbit stock wheels are 15 inch and have round holes. Just don’t know the setback on those.Also will have to pay attention to the spacing of the lugs or lug holes. May or may not fit the beetle 5-bolt wheel. BUT…this could be an option.  

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Paul Mossberg]

Unfortunately, Rabbit Wheels won’t work.

Rabbit five bolt wheel:

http://www.originalwheels.com/volkswagen-wheels/images/volks wagen-rabbit-wheels-69893-b.jpg

VW Type 1 Five Bolt – they don’t call them “wide-fives” for nothing:

http://www2.cip1.com/v/vspfiles/photos/ACC-C10-6626-2.jpg

 

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Crapola!      Or should I say “Shazbot”!newkitman40771.5746412037

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

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