Ever see 15 inch P01 Wheel Covers on a Longhorn?

[Already Gone]

I saw this yesterday and had to share. I looked at this longhorn and saw the P01's and thought that doesn't look right, 15 inch wheel covers on a 16.5 inch rim. But there it was and factory installed. The centers say GMC as well. Anyone ever seen this before? The truck is an Oshawa build Canadian 1972 GMC truck sold into Canada and the spid says " Z62 Custom Deluxe Equipment " and there is no mention of wheel covers on the spid. the serial # is TCE2421......and the model number on the spid is CE26034.... Would those wheel covers been part of the Z62 Package?

[68350]

It looks like the wheel covers are either installed on the trim ring of the 16.5" wheel or has some type of spacer. I can see the actual hub cap is only a 15" and then it has another ring of some sort. These wheel covers were never made for anything but a half ton

[special-K]

Could it be the truck has 8-lug 15" wheels? I had aftermarket (wagon wheels) 10 x 15s on an 8-lug truck before. Probably OEM-type were also available. Wheel covers fit on most any 15" steel wheel. What size tires on that one? The wheel covers were always listed on the SPID because they were always an option.

[Already Gone]

Tire size is 16.5 You being the GMC man and it sounds like you haven't come across this before.

[DeadheadNM]

Wheel covers were an upgrade I believe and as such should be called out on the SPID. 1" spacers exist and do seem to be in use on this truck. Look at the rim of the wheel cover - seems wider but that's the spacer.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

...15 inch wheel covers on a 16.5 inch rim. But there it was and factory installed...

Established how?

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Established how?

Because the man that is in the truck in the pic is the original owners son and was a teenager and was with his Dad when he picked up the truck in 1972 and those wheel covers were on it. Maybe because they are not on the spid they could have been dealer installed. I've never seen anything like this before and it seems like maybe you haven't either. You are the first person to state you find anomalies from plant to plant on these trucks. Have you ever seen this setup before Tim?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

.... they are not on the spid they could have been dealer installed.

That would be my guess. Just my opinion, nothing more and nothing less.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Because the man that is in the truck in the pic is the original owners son and was a teenager and was with his Dad when he picked up the truck in 1972 and those wheel covers were on it. Maybe because they are not on the spid they could have been dealer installed. I've never seen anything like this before and it seems like maybe you haven't either. You are the first person to state you find anomalies from plant to plant on these trucks. Have you ever seen this setup before Tim?

No I haven't but I don't see many Canadian trucks either.

To me the wheelcover also appears to be stacked on a trim ring or some adapter. The edge deformation supports two pieces.

Since the truck at the trim level should have had, as standard, hub caps (and not appearing on the SPID) it would seem these were added post factory.

Has me wondering if in this case the truck was actually new or a demo, possibly even used. The latter two could be plausable causes for the change.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

No I haven't but I don't see many Canadian trucks either.

To me the wheelcover also appears to be stacked on a trim ring or some adapter. The edge deformation supports two pieces.

Since the truck at the trim level should have had, as standard, hub caps (and not appearing on the SPID) it would seem these were added post factory.

Has me wondering if in this case the truck was actually new or a demo, possibly even used. The latter two could be plausable causes for the change.

Okay, I know this to be factual because I knew the original owner of the truck and first saw it in 1975 at his Texaco Service Station. He was a frugal guy and went to a small town Saskatchewan dealer to order the truck because he saved 3/400 by doing that. The owner passed away 10/12 years ago and his wife inherited the truck and I am dealing with the son as his Mom is in a Nursing Home now. The son was in his teens in 1972 and went with his Dad when he ordered the truck and when he went with him to pick it up from the dealer when brand new those wheel covers were on the truck. I agree you would think because there is nothing on the spid it would have the dog dish hubcaps but it doesn't. So it was never a demo, used truck or changed hands. They could have been a GM Parts accessory and added at the dealer before delivery. Considering the number of 1972 trucks with 16.5 rims and the fact that most trucks with rims that size were used for work I could not see the aftermarket making a trim ring for the P01 to attach onto a sthey wouldn't have sold very many. As it sits now we don't have a solid answer on this and who knows maybe 6 months from now some thing will pop up and give us an answer. If I buy the truck ( he wants lots for it ) I can pull the wheel covers off and see exactly what is there.

[SS Tim]

Here is an example period part from Ford ('72 E300 van and F250-350 trucks) that actually did just that, adapt a 15" wheelcover to a 16.5" wheel.
http://www.fordification.com/hubcaps...t/d2tz-1210-a/

So it is likely something is like this on the truck in question. However the lack of SPID reference (to me) makes it unlikely "factory". Are there any fleet equipment codes on the unseen SPID. If you are serious about the truck do a GM Canada doc package on it.

[Already Gone]

Are there any fleet equipment codes on the unseen SPID.

I've seen the spid and know how to read one and there are no fleet codes.

[jocko]

wow, that's just wacky! Have never seen anything like it. very interesting.. I would say that, even if purchased new and the guy you know is the original owner that this almost had to be a dealer add on. There's nothing on the SPID to indicate it was from the factory and PO1s were an upgrade option like Pete mentioned. Dealer would have had ready access to GMC PO1s lying around too. Also, the fact that the adapter ring has the opening for the valve stem - which would appear to leave the stem hidden behind a bumped out cap - and that is how these look to me (no valve stem and the division between cap and ring seems pretty clear to me) leads me to believe the factory would not do this (i.e. no exposed valve stem). But who knows. I do think it is very plausible that the dealer did this to make this truck stand out a little before the original owner ever walked through the door. So, to him, the truck came like this "new" - which it did. But "came like that new" doesn't mean it rolled out of the factory that way either. Dealers were a little more inventive back then, that's what I'm thinking - all part of the local marketing wars. That's my bet anyway, who knows!

[ratty69]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Here is an example period part from Ford ('72 E300 van and F250-350 trucks) that actually did just that, adapt a 15" wheelcover to a 16.5" wheel

This.

On Fords is the only place I've ever seen them, and they used them into the 80s. When I was into Fords I used to toss them and replace with dog dish caps.

[CG]

If you know the family and are working with the son on buying it, I'm assuming you can see it in person anytime. Would the son care if you popped off a hubcap just to see what's underneath?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Tire size is 16.5 You being the GMC man and it sounds like you haven't come across this before.

The adapters would have been my next guess. I have never seen them used, that I've known of, but have heard of them. No truck came from factory with PO1s that weren't an option listed on the SPID and GM didn't offer these. Even the Cheyenne Super/Sierra Grandes came with chrome hubcaps with the wheel covers being an option. Just as there is the Sliver Book provided by GM for aftermarket upfit to their customers, an item not found in there could have been added by the dealer either at the customer's request or just because they think it looks good and will make a truck more attractive. The Silver Book may have offered Reading utility beds while a customer may have preferred another brand not listed. That body could still be arranged by the dealer to be part of original invoice and financed in the same auto loan. This is a dealer upgrade just as saddle tanks were. At least that's how it appears to me with what I know.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Here is an example period part from Ford ('72 E300 van and F250-350 trucks) that actually did just that, adapt a 15" wheelcover to a 16.5" wheel.
http://www.fordification.com/hubcaps...t/d2tz-1210-a/

So it is likely something is like this on the truck in question. However the lack of SPID reference (to me) makes it unlikely "factory". Are there any fleet equipment codes on the unseen SPID. If you are serious about the truck do a GM Canada doc package on it.

Squarebody Suburbans also had a feature like this. We used to throw them in the back (as a single package containing four adapters) along with the package of PO1 wheel covers.

Sadly I do not recall an RPO code or part number. They stuck with me because at the time I was interested in creating a similar setup to adapt a 14" wheel cover to a 15" wheel.

K

[SS Tim]

Think this is it Keith?
From my 73-78 parts catalog. Not listed in my illustration catalog though.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Squarebody Suburbans also had a feature like this. We used to throw them in the back (as a single package containing four adapters) along with the package of PO1 wheel covers.

Sadly I do not recall an RPO code or part number. They stuck with me because at the time I was interested in creating a similar setup to adapt a 14" wheel cover to a 15" wheel.

K

Thank you Keith.. We all learned something new again. Seeing they didn't show on the spid do you know if they would be on the build sheet?

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm betting the dealer had these caps from another new truck and installed them via the buyer's request. Dealers did what they could to please their customer back then from the stories I've heard from older folks that still have their rides from the 60's through early 70's. That sure is a nice truck from the pic you posted though.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Thank you Keith.. We all learned something new again. Seeing they didn't show on the spid do you know if they would be on the build sheet?

Even if there were some obscure adapter used before 1977 by GM, the P01 Wheelcovers should be on the SPID if shipped with the truck. Especially since Oshawa's given to listing items not normally listed on US assembled trucks.

Most hubcaps, wheelcovers and many mirror options were shipped loose ("loose equipment") as Keith describes.
But in the case of factory provided options they would be listed on the build sheet and in most cases the SPID too unless included with another option.
Base build items, like hub caps, would be listed on the build sheet but only rarely on the SPID.

As example, a Cheyenne without conflicting option or upgrade shipped with painted hub caps. A Cheyenne Super shipped, again in most cases, with chromed hub caps. But neither lists hub caps on the SPID.

So if you have, say, wheelcovers or camper mirrors listed on the SPID they were provided by the factory but actually dealer installed.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Even if there were some obscure adapter used before 1977 by GM, the P01 Wheelcovers should be on the SPID if shipped with the truck. Especially since Oshawa's given to listing items not normally listed on US assembled trucks.

Most hubcaps, wheelcovers and many mirror options were shipped loose ("loose equipment") as Keith describes.
But in the case of factory provided options they would be listed on the build sheet and in most cases the SPID too unless included with another option.
Base build items, like hub caps, would be listed on the build sheet but only rarely on the SPID.

As example, a Cheyenne without conflicting option or upgrade shipped with painted hub caps. A Cheyenne Super shipped, again in most cases, with chromed hub caps. But neither lists hub caps on the SPID.

So if you have, say, wheelcovers or camper mirrors listed on the SPID they were provided by the factory but actually dealer installed.

Tim, your exceptional knowledge of the 67-72's and the info you provide to all of us here on the site is much appreciated and you are well respected because of that but it seems to me that you just have to be right..

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Think this is it Keith?
From my 73-78 parts catalog. Not listed in my illustration catalog though.

Could be.

Having given it further thought - they could have been released for a specific combination of options (rather than it's own separate, stand alone option code).

Said differently - if you got a c20 with a certain tire/wheel and PO1 then it would drive the adapter. If that was the case the part number for the adapter (and wheel cover) would show on the build sheet but only the RPO P01 would show on the SPID.

K

[68panelman]

You could always ask the son if you could pop one off and solve this mystery

[Dieselwrencher]

I don't think there is a mystery. This really looks and sounds like these hub caps were dealer installed. I have a 68 GS400 that had a dealer added stage 1 kit. Good luck finding the documents for this. This is just another example of it wasn't factory and good luck finding the documents/info proving the vehicle had it installed at the dealer. If the dealership still exists, you might have a chance. In my case the dealership has been long gone.