FMTV Steering Wheel center Cap

[Keith Knight]

My original "ugly" center cap!

My solution!
Make a die set to stamp a new center cap out of 24 gauge 304 stainless steel, powder coat it flat black and have it laser engraved.
Here are the results Old cap, freshly stamped cap, WWII Army logo, and Air Force logo.

Installed Cap with my logo.

I did one with the original Stewart & Stevenson logo but my first attempt didn't turn out to my satisfaction.
I'm going to do the S & S logo again until I'm satisfied.
I'll post pictures when I get them done.

 

[mkcoen]

Mine is completely missing so I'd be interested in one if you were thinking about selling them.

 

[Masspilot]

i want one also but wabt the army logo on it if you can do one

 

[tennmogger]

Neat idea. FMTV owners are a talented bunch, he he. Add another original logo please! tnx.

 

[BRob18E]

I would be interested also

 

[Lmtv772]

Awesome job, Keith
lit looks great

 

[Oxyacetylene]

I think you could sell a few for sure. I thought about just cutting a disk to replace my old original one, but your stamped one looks great! How about a "Steel Soldiers" one?

 

[Keith Knight]

I'll definitely make them for you guys. I'm still sorting out the original logo art work. After that I'll be able to put a price on it soon.

 

[DanM7890]

How is your truck so clean!!

 

[Lmtv772]

How is your truck so clean!!

its a 2003

 

[Keith Knight]

Thanks for the compliment. It is a 2003 and the cab is spotless...for the the most part! I bought it from Gov Planet as a non runner with all fluids drained. I'm suspicious that it may have been a victim of hurricane Katrina flooding. The cab was good but everything else had rust more so than normal. BUT with a lot of time and TLC I refurbished the entire chassis and so much more. Here's a few pictures.

Yes I'm a Proud Owner of my M1078, FMTV, LMTV, 2.5 Ton...........

 

[f8617]

Nice!

 

[mkcoen]

Amazing amount of work. And here I'm complaining about redoing the hydraulic pump.

 

[DanM7890]

Wow my mouth dropped!

 

[1951M1078]

Very well DONE ! I will buy you a beer ! or two ?

 

[combat32]

Wow! I have seen new ones that don't look that good.

 

[Keith Knight]

Ok, I'm finally getting the second batch of center caps done, hopefully the Stewart & Stevenson laser etching will turn out perfectly this time around.

 

[Keith Knight]

So the second batch was destroyed when they were at the powder coaters and the powder coaters shop burned to the ground. Crazy bad luck! But the third batch is all done and looks good.

These are completely hand made one at a time by me and in small batches of 12.
I start off with 24 gage 304 stainless sheet. Hand cut each one with tin snips into a rough circle.

The left over scrap.

Then I stamp them in the Die tool I made on the shop press.

Then I have to turn them down to the proper OD (Outside Dimension) on the lathe using a special jig to hold them during this process.
Next they get Powder coated and laser etched at a small business that specializes in powder coating YETI cups and and laser etching them.
While that is getting done I make a large washer out of black delriin, which is a type of plastic.

The purpose of the washer is to add thickness to the center cap so it matches the thickness of the original cap and it stays nice and tight in the steering wheel.

Here are some of the finished Center Caps. They can be custom logoed.
If you are interested email me at keith@innovativemachineworx.com

 

[mkcoen]

Email sent!

 

[TNriverjet]

Email inbound.