1978 Hubcap removal and install

[drknife]

I am a proud new owner of a 1978 Thunderbird Base Hardtop Coupe. It is missing one hubcap and I am going to order a used one. How do I install and/or remove the hubcaps?

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

[mcm51]

If it's a "wire wheel" hubcap like my '78 had, it's a locking hubcap, remove center plastic piece and you'll see the head of a bolt, I don't remember if it was a special head that took a certain key-way that came with the car or it was just an simple allen head bolt...........

 

[drknife]

If it's a "wire wheel" hubcap like my '78 had, it's a locking hubcap, remove center plastic piece and you'll see the head of a bolt, I don't remember if it was a special head that took a certain key-way that came with the car or it was just an simple allen head bolt...........

Thank you. I will update here with pictures after I try to remove the hubcaps this weekend.

 

[mcm51]

Back in the day I've seen several people simply try to pry that locking hubcap off only to give up, and when I bought my '78, it was missing one of the locking screw/bolt and you could hear the inner piece(that goes under 2 of the lug nuts) slapping against the inside of the hubcap while the wheel was turning........IIRC, the hubcap with the "wire spoke" look is the only one that was locking, they also used a simple/cheap looking hubcap that was not the locking type.........

 

[drknife]

Back in the day I've seen several people simply try to pry that locking hubcap off only to give up, and when I bought my '78, it was missing one of the locking screw/bolt and you could hear the inner piece(that goes under 2 of the lug nuts) slapping against the inside of the hubcap while the wheel was turning........IIRC, the hubcap with the "wire spoke" look is the only one that was locking, they also used a simple/cheap looking hubcap that was not the locking type.........

Attached is a picture of one of the hubcaps. I took a closer look last night and I could not figure out how to remove the center plastic piece. I would love more details about removing the center piece if you have them. I will also try to find a tutorial video. Of If I can’t find a video maybe I will make one.

 

[mcm51]

Yea that kinda looks like what I remember, I just don't recall the big lip around that center piece, I thought that black piece was more flush(no lip) but I could be wrong about that, but I do remember using a very small straight-edge screwdriver, (you know one of those little screwdriver's that has a clip on it and ya carry it in your front pocket), to get that piece out, I remember that center piece being a little flexable, just pops in.......
Been a log time since I saw the hubcaps on my '78 but that does look real close, sadly it looks like someone has already had the tire iron on it(right side), hang on to those caps, they may be hard to find, hopefully you have the piece's that go with the cap, all 4 screws and all 4 piece's that go under the lug nuts, I don't know how hard those pieces are to find, from what I saw back in the early 80's most '77-79 Birds had that old cheap hubcap, only 2 or 3 out of 10 had the spoke hubcap like yours........
I just can't remember if that locking screw/bolt used a special key/tool that came with the car or not, I kinda recall leaving mine in the glove box, either way you'll know what ya got when ya get that cap off..............