CENTER CAP T SLOTS

[plasticpig72]

The "T" slot Wheels for my 1976 3000M are away being cleaned, painted + polished.
So i need to tidy up the Center caps. They are painted black with a stick on TVR.
For me they are as original painted black but i have seen on other cars polished.
How would they have been when my 3000M left the Factory.
Also if painted should they be matt, satin or gloss.
I'd like to get this right so if you can help please
Alan

[phillpot]

Few years ago...............

Mr. Venn said:

T slots, came in 2 different versions (both then, in plain silver powder or polished with the the T's black )...the centres changed from a radius cut down to the lower face during end of 1977 and THEN, the join between the two face has a 90 degree angle... this is when the polished version has a black centre too, SO, late polished wheels have the black centre.
Adrian@

If the wheels are gloss black I'd presume the centres would be also to look "right" ?

[Slow M]

The above reference was to “wheel centers,” not center caps.

Alan, yes, flat black, round, blue stickers.

B

Edited by Slow M on Saturday 13th October 04:06

[phillpot]

Oops confusing centres with centre caps!

[plasticpig72]

Thanks,
flat black and blue stickers.
I imagine for the stickers from Adrian or DG.
Alan

[plasticpig72]

I've just looked at lots of "Ms" and most of them have polished Center Caps. I suppose it depends if you like a lot of bling on your car or it's easier to polish than keep repainting them.
You could always get them Anodised Black which is much more resistant.
Alan

[Slow M]

plasticpig72 said:

I've just looked at lots of "Ms" and most of them have polished Center Caps. I suppose it depends if you like a lot of bling on your car or it's easier to polish than keep repainting them.
You could always get them Anodised Black which is much more resistant.
Alan

Alan, the appropriate primer will help to have to not repeat the painting process too frequently. One can of Zinc Chromate primer, available at any aircraft supply house, and most Aluminum supply places will do the job. It’ll act as an adhesion promoter. Failing that, Zinc Phosphate is in second place.

If you polish, and don’t clear coat, you’ll keep polishing, and clear coat, on polished metal, chips easily.

Anodizing is probably the best option, qualitatively, but it’s costly, and not permanent (look at Porker parts, that require re-coating, after ten years), and you may want to specify coating thickness, for longevity.

Best,
B.

[plasticpig72]

Many thanks for the input.
In the past i worked in the Aerospace industry and we used Hard Anodizing that's why i thought of it.
When you do work for the MOD you don't look at costs just the results.
I'll just wait for the "T" slots to come back from refurbishing and see if they have polished the centers or painted the centers black.
Alan

[plasticpig72]

Wheels have come back from refurb with lots of bling.
Rims polished, Centers polished, Backs painted Black and inside "Ts".
So the Centre Caps i will repaint Matt Black and get Blue TVR Stickers.
Well pleased
Alan

[MattT350T]

Have you any pics Alan to show.... :-)

[plasticpig72]

[Slow M]

Perfect!

[plasticpig72]

I've got some new Stick on Labels and i wonder if the Dia of them changed at some time.
The Labels still stuck on the Hub Caps are 41 mm Dia and the new Labels are 38 mm Dia.
Could someone tell me if they ever changed in Dia please.
Alan

Edited by plasticpig72 on Sunday 16th December 13:55

[plasticpig72]

I've got some new Stick on Labels and i wonder if the Dia of them changed at some time.
The Labels still stuck on the Hub Caps are 41 mm Dia and the new Labels are 38 mm Dia.
Could someone tell me if they ever changed in Dia please.
Alan

Edited by plasticpig72 on Sunday 16th December 13:56

Edited by plasticpig72 on Sunday 16th December 13:58

[Andrew Gray]

plasticpig72 said:

I've got some new Stick on Labels and i wonder if the Dia of them changed at some time.
The Labels still stuck on the Hub Caps are 31 mm Dia and the new Labels are 27 mm Dia.
Could someone tell me if they ever changed in Dia please.
Alan

27mm on mine i khow that for many years thats what DG supplied that size however there where certainly 31 fitted and most cars from the factory probably.
Here is mine with the 27mm maybe some later cars had 27mm and the ones that went to DG in the 80s where 27 i dont know but happy with 27mm although some will not be.
I am sure some will find fault however they where quick enough to buy all that DG had well after 2015?

Andrew

[plasticpig72]

Hi Andrew,
i see the Centre Cap is polished and it looks like it is tapered. So where the Sticker goes on is a smaller Dia.

On my Cars they are parallel so where the Sticker goes on is a larger Dia.

So it would seem: Parallel Cap painted Black Sticker 41mm Dia.
Tapered Cap Polished Sticker 38mm Dia.
I wonder if that would give the reason for 2 different Dias.
Maybe it just depended on what the Operator laid his hands on first.
Alan

Edited by plasticpig72 on Sunday 16th December 13:59

[Andrew Gray]

It was interesting recently i was at the NEC and Mike Bigland who designed the T Slot wheels was there with his car on display.
He had no stickers on at all and said because he preferred them without.
However that got us discussing the sticker colors and i guess like us all memories fade however he said he could not remember blue stickers only the black and wondered did that happen after his time.
Maybe if someone who has owned there car since new with blue stickers can confirm,
They certainly do work well on certain colored cars blue yellow and white cars are the ones that come to mind.
Unlike some i have learned to never say never when it comes to TVRs and one of the reasons we love them so much

[plasticpig72]

+1 So in the end we can just do what turns us on.
Thanks Andrew
Alan

[anonymous-user]

There’s a set of OE blue on eBay at the mo for £1200 so they did blue ones?

[plasticpig72]

Can you give me the reference please
thanks
Alan