Aero hub caps

[Weather Spotter]

I am thinking about making aero hubcaps from pizza pans.



How should I attach them?

If I have to screw them into the steely how should I do that?

I want the mod to be removable, and I want it to keep the wheel balanced.

[Weather Spotter]

I got my pizza pans today after church:


I also got some bolts that will work with my tap (5/16 x 18).

I was thinking of using the ridge in the middle of the tire to mount to:




does this look like a good mount point?

How many bolts should I use? 3,4,5?

[NeilBlanchard]

Where did you buy the pans?

I'd use 3 bolts.

[Weather Spotter]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Where did you buy the pans?

I'd use 3 bolts.

Walmart, $3.97 each!

What is the best way to center them?

[cfg83]

Weather Spotter -

I am working on a successor to my serving trays that use pizza-pan *covers*. They have a lip. I measured the outer diameter, measured the diameter of the lip, and cut successive squares out of construction paper :



Since I have a 100mm 4-lug configuration (same as Honda Civics), I was able to use a square. If this worked for you, then your 5-lug wheel would need to use a pentagon.

That said, I haven't tested the result of this centering method yet.

Another mount point might be the circular holes in the steelie. You have 16 holes, so that implies a "4-point" mount system. I would experiment with this "pancake-hardware" method :

- Long bolt
- Washer bigger than circular hole
- Wheel
- Another washer bigger than circular hole in wheel
- Nut to hold "sandwich" in place
- Pizza pan
- Outer nut to hold pizza pan on.

There are a lot of problems with this. The circular holes aren't flat in relation to the pizza pan cover, so "truing" the long bolt will be a PITA. Also, if you screw it on too much, I could easily see the pizza-pan deforming.

PS - Those pans might rust quickly, so maybe a Rustoleum treatment is in order.

CarloSW2

[Weather Spotter]

I looked at the 16 hole option, the angle is very bad to work with.
I do not think that I can use the 5 wheel lugs as they are inset several inches.

As for rusting, I plan a full coating is some primer and paint!
Which looks better silver or black for the paint color?

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

does this look like a good mount point?

How many bolts should I use? 3,4,5?

Yes. When I made covers for my electric car I used 4 1/4"X20 screws in the top of the ridge as shown below. I had to number the wheels and covers because the holes ended up in slightly different locations on each wheel.

[Weather Spotter]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Yes. When I made covers for my electric car I used 4 1/4"X20 screws in the top of the ridge as shown below. I had to number the wheels and covers because the holes ended up in slightly different locations on each wheel.

How well does the wheel balance for you?

I think if I use a template I might be able to swap them out (if I take my time and work it out).

Did you cut holes for the valve stems?

[Weather Spotter]

Did you use lock tight or anything on the bolts to keep them from coming off?

[Patrick]

I made my covers out of a flat piece of fiberglass shower enclosure. I cut holes for the valve stems. On my wheels it turned out that the top of the ridge was in plane with the inside of the lip of the wheel, so flat stock fit perfectly.

I didn't use any locktight to hold the screws in, I just tightened them up with a screwdriver. No issues with balancing. The screws are so close to the center of the wheel that a slight difference in location doesn't matter. Just make sure that all the screws are the same length.