Wood Wheel Horn Button Cap

[HOT3O2]

Hey Guys,

I'm in need of a wood wheel horn button cap for a 69 and was wondering if anyone has used any of the repo's that are out on the market. Concerned with the fit and colors of the cap. Thanks for any input.

[bertfam]

A few years ago Trim Parts made a cap with the "correct" pebble grained black background, but looking at their web site, the picture they show appears to be just a flat black background like everyone else. Too bad. They had it right then changed it!!

Ed

[HOT3O2]

Thanks Ed, I appreciate the reply. You see the original ones pop up now and then. I'll just keep looking.

[z28z11]

Rick,

Check out the following pics - side by comparison with an original cap, and one that I thought for years was an NOS cap, but could be the early Trim Parts cap - it has part # 3901314, a secondary number of 3874640 and a "CMD" logo (Trim ?); the original has two numbers, 3945461, and a 27047, with a crest logo with "CM" cast into it, with the outline of what appears to be a state (WI or IL ?). Hard to make out even under magnification, but as you can see it has some age and a little paint problem in the center. Both backgrounds surrounding the Bowtie are "pebbled" as Ed mentioned, colors are identical as far as I can see.

Good luck in your search - these things are getting harder to find.

Regards,
Steve

[z28z11]

Last one -

[bertfam]

I have a theory (with no proof, but typical of what GM has done in the past), that early versions of the "service" cap (perhaps the first run) were exactly like the "assembly line" cap. HERE'S a picture of what I mean. As the years went by, the pebble graining became less and less pronounced and finally ended up being almost just a flat black paint. I think that later version is what Trim Parts based their reproduction on.

Again, no proof, but I've not seen any repop caps (Trim Parts included) that were EXACTLY like the originals.

Ed

[HOT3O2]

Thanks for the pic's Steve. I see what you mean. I'll save those for further referance. And Ed your therory does make sence. I'm sure there were allot of parts done that way.

[Petes L48]

Is the pebble effect found in the metal or the paint?

[bertfam]

Is the pebble effect found in the metal or the paint?

The paint.

Ed

[z28z11]

Is the pebble effect found in the metal or the paint?

The paint.

Ed

[/quote

Is the pebble effect found in the metal or the paint?

The paint.

Ed

A couple of other things that might be a factor as well - considering wear in the pressure casting dies, which manifests itself in details that deteriorate over time (heat cracks, wear, rebuilding and replacement of die segments, updates and part number changes), plus in this case, paint processes that might vary batch to batch. I bought a pair of valve covers (aluminum finned LT1/Z's) under the intermediate part number back in the 80's - the die damage (heat cracks) were really visible under the polishing around the edges - sure enough, there was a part number change shortly after I bought mine, and Presto !, heat cracks disappeared, fresh, smooth castings were on the market again. I think when GM contractors got to the end of a production run, they squeezed processes and dies to the limit to keep from having to spend money to renovate a dead-end process order. Just my opinion -

Regards,
Steve