Duct tape wheel covers and other possible cheap alternatives

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Not bad!

I may be experimenting with temporary duct tape wheel covers until I get my timing belt replaced next week...we'll see if the weather dries up here first though.

[California98Civic]

Hey, I am experimenting with foil tape, weed barrier, and plastidip for this exact purpose right now. Over several posts in my build thread you can see my idea and progress. Build thread is in my signature below. I would love feedback/questions. Don't think I should just duplicate and repost here, so here is just one photo.

[Xist]

How about something like this: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...orn-14306.html

I did not like the idea of pizza pans, so I went with pizza separators, but I wanted to try the attachment method someone else on here promoted. Unfortunately, it did not work well for me.

Do I want to reuse the separators with superfluous holes?

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Xist

How about something like this: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...orn-14306.html

Looks like too much work lol.


How about using 1/2" thick (can be shaved down at the edges insulation foam board? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Co...-36L/100320356
Pros: cheaper than coroplast and possibly more durable than duct tape covered cardboard?

[Xist]

You could find coupling nuts that fit your lugs and then you would not need to drill them, but I cannot find any that fit my Hondas.

You could also put fiberglass and resin on cardboard.

[freebeard]

You could just pay more for gas. But is that the point?

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Xist

You could find coupling nuts that fit your lugs and then you would not need to drill them, but I cannot find any that fit my Hondas.

Lol, I had the same issue when I searched for those, couldn't find them.

Originally Posted by Xist

You could also put fiberglass and resin on cardboard.

That expensive idea rather defeats the purpose of ecomods for saving money..

Originally Posted by freebeard

You could just pay more for gas. But is that the point?

Why would we want to do that?


But it still doesn't answer my question!

[Xist]

Originally Posted by freebeard

You could just pay more for gas. But is that the point?

That's been done before!

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Lol, I had the same issue when I searched for those, couldn't find them.

Someone with their own tools could make their own from a single piece of steel. That would impress me.

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

That expensive idea rather defeats the purpose of ecomods for saving money..

Not all modifications need to look like the gorilla tape on the front of my Accord. Some look nice, but why don't you go ahead and strap foamboard to your wheels and report back in week. Tell you what, I will even buy you the foam so you can show us how well that works.

[freebeard]

But it still doesn't answer my question!

Which one? Caulk? Foam board?



Have you laid a straight edge on that wheel to see if it is convex or concave overall?

Four holes for the lugs will lead to stress risers and failure. One hole can't eat away at itself. And if the wheel is convex, then a fairly large hole will center on the wheel.

Instead of caulk, wrap the edge with tape. Cut the circle by pinning the center and rotating the sheet material against a tool.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Xist

Not all modifications need to look like the gorilla tape on the front of my Accord. Some look nice, but why don't you go ahead and strap foamboard to your wheels and report back in week. Tell you what, I will even buy you the foam so you can show us how well that works.

I just might, if I can find some thin enough. Right now I'll be experimenting with cardboard first. My timing belt is being changed right now and should be done in a couple of hours. Then it's time to go home and make 3 more cardboard discs for testing (I made one last night)

Originally Posted by freebeard

Which one? Caulk? Foam board?

Foam board, sorry. Not sure if it's durable enough or if there are other concerns since I haven't seen many others use it and yet it seems like an even cheaper alternative to coroplast.

Originally Posted by freebeard

Have you laid a straight edge on that wheel to see if it is convex or concave overall?

The wheels are slightly concave, but mostly flat, which makes them nice for mounting.

Originally Posted by freebeard

Four holes for the lugs will lead to stress risers and failure. One hole can't eat away at itself. And if the wheel is convex, then a fairly large hole will center on the wheel.

Wait, are you saying having 4 lugs is bad? Or something else? Sorry.

Originally Posted by freebeard

Instead of caulk, wrap the edge with tape. Cut the circle by pinning the center and rotating the sheet material against a tool.

Good idea with the tape, kinda what I was planning doing with my cardboard prototypes, I just don't know if the tape will survive the weather.

For the discs I used a tape measure to measure out the diameter with the center laid against a penciled in point, then rotated the tape measure and added dots. I then connected the dots to something that was probably a "60-gon" so when I cut it, it was basically a circle.