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View Full Version : Center Cap Dilemma


Jeffylou87
03-16-2010, 04:27 PM
Ok, so as some of you know I'm a little weird when it comes to the small things I do to my car. I found a set of these:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i59/jeffylou87/f4ca3295.jpg

If you guessed that those are police interceptor center caps, you're right. They have the right lug pattern, and they look pretty dope on my steelies.

The problem is that you need collared lugs like these to secure the caps:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i59/jeffylou87/7ad2aa82.jpg

The only thread size that they come in are 1/2" with a 3/4 head. See a problem here? The stock lugs on an 8G are M12x1.5. Completely different thread.

I have the new lugs (collared 1/2"). What can I do? Can I get them re-threaded? Is it safe? Where can I take it for that? Also, I have searched to see if they make an M12x1.5 collared nut, they don't.

I'll take some installed pics in a little bit and post em up.. They look really good, especially with my police lights flashing.. What sucks is that they won't stay on without the collared lug nuts. So I put them on just to take some pics.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i59/jeffylou87/948d214d.jpg
mrg7243
03-16-2010, 07:03 PM
JW wondering why do you have police liights???
RedGalant2k1
03-16-2010, 07:39 PM
All you 'should' need is a properly size hex head on the lugs either 19mm or 3/4". I'd suggest you check some hardware stores, they may be able to help. And you could rethread them, but the problem is that 1/2 threads are larger than 12x1.5mm. Therefore you'd have to add material to the lugs, THEN tap them with a 12x1.5mm tap.
2002BlackDragon
03-16-2010, 09:27 PM
I know that this is of topic, but what yr interceptor has the same lug pattern? I have a 2000 Crown vic police car that my wife drives and i had no idea that the lugs were the same!
Jeffylou87
03-17-2010, 12:15 AM
I do get what youre saying Dave. I'll try and see if I can find a larger head size so that the caps stay secure. Thanks

I have police lights because I drive an emergency vehicle. I have first aider plates and I'm an EMT.

Black dragon, I'm pretty sure the crown vics are 5x114.3
RedGalant2k1
03-17-2010, 12:20 AM
I do get what youre saying Dave. I'll try and see if I can find a larger head size so that the caps stay secure. Thanks

I have police lights because I drive an emergency vehicle. I have first aider plates and I'm an EMT.

Black dragon, I'm pretty sure the crown vics are 5x114.3

Yes, Crown Vics, Ford Rangers, Ford Mustangs, Ford Fusions, Ford Explorers are all 5x114.3 (5x4.5). Although the Crown Vics, Rangers, Mustangs (04&earlier) have a mid-offset wheel setup (+20mm-ish).
Khanaar
03-25-2010, 08:20 PM
Random google search had me stumble upon this thread, and I'm basically doing the same thing to a 2010 Ford Fusion. Anyway. the ford focus 2005-2010 has a collared lug nut you can get from ford that is M12x1.5 that looks just like the one used on the ranger/crown vic for hub caps just like that. and works fine as long as the cap fits in the wheel itself. only thing is, those nuts from ford are probably going to be chokingly expensive at like 10 bucks a piece, but you might get lucky, i dont know the price off hand.
Jeffylou87
03-25-2010, 09:31 PM
Thanks for the info!
mrg7243
03-25-2010, 10:08 PM
dude thats tight, im going into emt class sometime this summer, down here they are called rapid responders, but we can only have white and orange flashers, and cant go over the speed limit to get on scene. Sorry for the OT post