SVO Center Caps

[SVO4Turbo]

Are the center caps on the factory wheels made of metal or plastic? I don't have them in my possession at the moment so I can't check. Also, do any of you know of anyone making replacements for the factory center caps?

I sent my wheels off to get chromed....sent a picture of an SVO wheel and everything to obtain a quote. Nothing mentioned about the center caps which are clearly there. Price is bid at $600. Now, after I've shipped the wheels to them, they bring up that there are plastic center caps on the wheels, and those are going to cost $40 each to have chromed since they are plastic. F that. I'm not going to bend over and take it simply because I sent the wheels.

So far, not happy... www.chromeprosplating.com

Thanks for listening to my rant.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Yes, the center caps are plastic.

EDIT: my bad. I was wrong. I grabbed an 85 200SX Turbo center cap, which looks amazingly similar. They both have that spun stainless outer cover.

[SVO4Turbo]

Thanks Pat. Since they are plastic, couldn't you just use that chrome spray paint on the plastic center caps? I'm just looking for suggestions. If your suggestion is "pay it and now you know", I'd like to hear that too. $160 just seems crazy for 4 little 2" caps.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

You were willing to pay for the wheels to be chromed and you committed to that. Just pay for that and leave the center caps as they are. You could find NOS center caps for a lot less than $160.

BTW, have you checked out the "paid member" features here at SVOCA? Paid members get a deal at Wheel Worx.

[SVO4Turbo]

Do you think the caps would look good with Chrome wheels?

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by SVO4Turbo
Do you think the caps would look good with Chrome wheels?

I wouldn't pay $160 to have them chromed.

A guy sold me 4 NOS ones at last year's Reunion for just a couple bucks a piece. God bless him. The paid members here hang tough!

[SVO4PWR2]

i just checked my wheels....my centercaps are metal of some sort...i even took a magnet to them, there was a weak magnet pull.

plus when i polished my rims i did the centercaps with a light sandblast and then hours of buffing.

-RICH-

[SVO4Turbo]

Originally posted by Pat_in_L.A.
I wouldn't pay $160 to have them chromed.

A guy sold me 4 NOS ones at last year's Reunion for just a couple bucks a piece. God bless him. The paid members here hang tough!

I meant the factory looking center caps with chrome wheels.

SVO4PWR2 - That's odd that yours are metal. They look like you have them polished to mirror shine.

[Rob Hughes]

Yea, mine (2 sets) are stainless I believe...maybe different years got different caps.

[svobud]

All of mine have been made of metal.

[SVO4Turbo]

Thank you all for your input. It appears I need to have a discussion with them. I can't help but wonder if this sort of "bait and switch" is a normal practice. Pretty hard to back out after you've made the investment of shipping them the wheels.

Thanks Again.

[indiana dave]

I don't think they did a bait and switch... It's common to quote something, then discover something else that may need more $.
I would tell them to scrap the centercaps, and go to Ford and order some for an 80's Tempo. Same thing. I believe brand new ones would look fine with chrome wheels.
If you search this site, you can confirm the application. I'm pretty sure it was the Tempos.

[SVO4Turbo]

I agree that I won't be spending the $160 and will try another application, but I do think they should have at least asked the question. I sent them a closeup of an SVO wheel. I guess I try to do my business in an informative manner, to avoid situations like this. It's really not the $160, but more the principal.

Thanks for that info Dave, I had no idea that there was another source for these caps. As usual, this site proves to be helpful.

I'll make sure I post pictures when they are completed, and hope this post helps others who are thinking about going through this process.

[SVO4Turbo]

I couldn't find any info on the center caps for a Tempo on this site, but I started doing a bit of searching and I think you're right. Do they look like what you see in the picture http://www.automotive.com/1985/65/fo...s/15827782/32/

or here...

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/317238

[KevinK]

I bought new center caps at Ford 6-7 yrars ago. They cost $40 + each witha discount. Not cheap but it was a new part and not a used one.