Magnumn 500 Center cap question

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Maintenance Restoration and Repair
1

I have a 69 Cougar with modern basic 15’ Magnum 500 wheels. I understand original NOS Cougar center caps found on the styled steel wheels do not fit, however is there an adapter or a fairly easy way to mount these center caps to the modern Magnum 500’s? Thank you

2

Not sure if this is what you’re looking for:
https://www.cjponyparts.com/center-cap-adapter-plate-for-legendary-moray-wheels-mustang/p/LWHCR/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16090449066&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlOC6jOeljQMVlACtBh3RPS81EAQYAyABEgLuFfD_BwE
and here at WCCC:
https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/16890/30956/adapter-plates-center-caps-legendary-gt9-wheels-repro-1967-1968-1969-1970-1971-1972-1973-mercury-cougar-ford-mustang.html?sessionthemeid=26

3

Oh wow. This looks promising. Hopefully this adapter will work. Thank you.

4

blaineja,
I don’t think those adaptors will work with your NOS Cougar center caps to any Magnum 500. As I recall the center hole is too big on the Magnum 500 wheels for the Styled Steel Wheel center caps to clip in to. The WCCC adaptors are for reproduction caps that bolt on with a plate holding the cap on.
I think you could sell that set of NOS caps and buy several sets of reproduction caps ment for those wheels and pic a color you might like better.

5

I was looking into those adaptors and I was fearing what you just said. I have a set of correct styled steel wheels that need restored so I’ll just hold on to the center caps for them. Thanks.

6

For Christmas, I bought my 70 cougar the 15inch steel magnum rims with Goodrich tires mounted and balanced from CJ Pony parts. The tires and rims fit well, but I then purchased the Scott Drake walking cougar center caps off E-bay. These centers use a rear retaining plate screwed to the front bezel. The center hole of the magnums is larger, but the Scott Drake parts will work for the rear. On the fronts, I found the center’s rear retaining plate and screws hit the spindle grease cap and will actually push the center cap away from the rim center. I had to add a 1/4 inch wheel spacer in the fronts but luckily there is enough stud length. The torqued lug nuts have about 9 full threads of engagement.

7

I used soup can lids over the caps that come with the repro center caps and that has worked well for 20+ years. I also needed a spacer to clear the front dust caps.

Steve

8

Interesting idea.

Thanks Steve.