I need to replace the dinged fuch wheel caps on my 2.0L. I'd like to replace them with NOS but they're hard to find. Are the aftermarket caps currently available a close match that I can get by with until I find originals? If so who makes the best / most accurate?

I think 914 rubber has them.

Yes, it appears they do. Timely for me, as I'm in need of some. Thanks!

There are also some vendors on TheSamba who sell the billet aluminum repros, if 914R doesn't have them or aren't what you want.

Words of advice on the originals -

1. Save them for shows & Concours only, & watch them like a hawk - they're now almost unobtanium!

2. Carfully remove & remount them yourself for any tire or wheel work, cuz they're very thin & get buggered up easily!

The billet & other repros are thicker & more sturdy, & the ones which accurately reproduce the original look/profile are indistinguishable until you get up close.

Happy Holidays!
Tom
///////

I ended up purchasing ISP Fuch center caps and guess what.....way too tight and don't fit over the front grease caps. Hopefully I'll be able to return them. I selected these because the finish appeared better then the photos of the caps that 914R has on his website. Can anyone vouch for the finish of the 914R caps? The one mint condition original cap that I have has a mirror chrome finish when fully polished....the 914R caps appear to be a dull aluminum finish. Is this true and will they fit over the grease caps?

I just installed a set of 914Rubber center caps and the finish is different than chrome but the caps are much stronger as they are made out of aluminum.

I can send a picture if you like.

I have the 914Rubber wheel caps. They match the Fuch wheels very nice. They have a little bigger lip around the hole so it hides most all of the screwdriver marks that any PO may have done. No problems with fit.

Before and after pics in this thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...p;hl=wheel+caps

Funny,
When I 1st made them I had the same problem, but mine do fit once the machining was correct. Mine are a "dull" finish as we do a brite dip with a clear anodized finish to seal the finish. It 's possible to strip and polish them regardless of where you buy them.

914Rubber caps are extremely good quality and they are very strong.

Sweet. I just got mine in the mail from 914Rubber but haven't opened them yet (along with the group buy door filter "thing").

914Rubber: the king of parts that take 10 seconds to install but immediately make an impact, cosmetic or otherwise.

Thanks Mark. I just placed the order for your caps.....I'm looking forward to receiving them!

Is there a chance you could make a set of 4 that fit the early Minilites? The ID of the center hole appears to be 3-1/16", with the same requirement to clear the front bearing cap. If you're using a CNC machine, perhaps just reprogramming it to cut the larger diameter may not be cost prohibitive for me for a one-off set (although Minilite caps seem to be impossible to find, so maybe that might be a viable product for you).

New center caps from 914Rubber installed and they look great...an excellent product at an excellent price. I was also able to detail the wheels inside and out and threw the lug bolts into the media-tumbler for a quick detail. I'm very happy with the results.

Those look killer. Nice job, Mark!!!

Nice car too, Cal.

I would not say no, but there are several diameters that I had run in the past, and found out the actual time it took to set these up and do them was loosing me a ton of time and money. If you want to start a GB thread I would be happy to supply if we can get a common size, and say 10 (identical) sets to help spread out the cost.

I was finally able to replace the current center wheel caps that I bought from 914Rubber with the new polished version and they look great....very close to the original in appearance. I'll be selling old ones on the FS threads.

Very nice. They look just like my original caps which I bought new a few year ago. The wheel bolts look great also - how did you refurbish them?

The lug bolts have been re-silver zinc plated. They've held up very well. I just have to be careful when removing the wheels.....the plating can scratch very easily.

The biggest problem with the OEM is that they are plated. This leads to galvanic corrosion. They are simply going to corrode in place unless you can isolate them, or use a similar material, which is what I did.

Adding thickness to the plating in zinc should hold up for awhile, if and when it fails simply get redone.

PS thanks for the nice pics

FYI,

All OEM 914 caps are stainless. Here is a side by side photo of my original one along side your first generation caps.

I need to purchase an extra set of your generation #2 caps with a finish similar to the OEM.

Good Stuff.
Tom