Magnum 500 center cap rant

[SteveO_71]

I dont know if I would trust anything sold by Scott Drake. I recently needed a new center cap for a Magnum 500 wheel. The original center caps have a prong type way of attaching to the wheel whereas the repro ones ( typical ) being sold use a 4 screw and cap type of mounting to the wheel.

Of course, in putting the SD center cap on, the grease cap on the spindle hits the heads of the screws used in the center cap. What happens is, the wheel doesnt really sit straight since the grease cap is moving around on the center cap screw heads. Seems like it should be easier than this.

I dont believe I did anything wrong with the installation so if someone else has dealt with this, please let me know.

Maybe there is a reliable source for center caps because all I seem to find are the SD ones. Im wondering how good the quality of any of the SD stuff is since I've seen other rants about their products, most recently the ragjoint they were selling.

 

[Sheriff41]

You can find NOS Ford center caps for the Magnums on fleebay but they can expensive. If your persistent you can find used ones listed at reasonable prices. I've picked up a few spares this way. Surprisingly, I've seen them listed under steering wheels as horn center caps!

 

[c9zx]

Try looking here. Scroll down to small print item description. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1816077140...fCG4DkyxrwY/lfFOkqRmAvMkk=|tkp:Bk9SR7aL5sWuYg

 

[SteveO_71]

I believe I've seen caps similar to these. The issue is, there appears to be two different heights, shorter vs taller. Ads just seem to mention the 2 1/8 size diameter and not the height.

 

[Mach I Pony]

On another note of the prong type caps. I had a couple , shall we say narrowed at a car show. They were easily removed with a screwdriver. The simple solution to this problem was to install a C-ring, also know as a Jesus Ring inside the prongs. Doing so requires the tire to removed to remove the center cap.

 

[Sheriff41]

Ford had 3 different caps for the Magnum wheels; short (69 and early 70 with 2" hole), medium (70-72 with 2-1/8" hole), and tall (Boss 429s).

 

[lectricegg]

I had used the Scott Drake caps on mine, and even though I didnt hsve the problem with them hitting the grease caps, the machining for the threads was less quality than it should have been. I had caps flying off at highway speed. Thankfully they didnt hit the paint. They were just missing when I got home. Now I have 2 short ones with the prongs on one side and 2 tall caps on the other until I replace them.

 

[kcmash]

Those were a poor design from Ford. I have had NOS Medium ones long ago that came apart within a year. Now I am running the shallow caps on my 71 and they are holding up so far.

kcmash

 

[BushwackerBob]

I had used the Scott Drake caps on mine, and even though I didnt hsve the problem with them hitting the grease caps, the machining for the threads was less quality than it should have been. I had caps flying off at highway speed. Thankfully they didnt hit the paint. They were just missing when I got home. Now I have 2 short ones with the prongs on one side and 2 tall caps on the other until I replace them.

I had the Scott Drake Caps. I always put them on with thread locker after loosing a couple.