Technical ´39 Chevy front hubs too long for hub caps

Hi,
my name is Lars and i´m currently buying a mildly customised Chevy from 1934. Both axles have been changed to 39/40 (my guessing) for juice brakes. Wheels are original 16" steel rims 6 lug with clips. The front hub sticks out pretty much, so classical hub caps (thinking about baby moons) wont fit. Seller says, it´s missing at least 1/2 inch.
Are there shorter hubs?

Sorry, guess it is a rather easy to fix issue, but only had Fords so far and never came across the problem. Also car is not yet with me, so i cant have a look for myself.
THX for reading
Lars

 

The problem isn't the hub, it's the spindle. You need to use early Chevy hubcaps, but I think you can use any from the mid 30s to 1948 (car), or truck up to the early 60s.

Knowing for sure what brakes, hubs, and wheels it has will help

 

Check with local or Chevrolet vendors as a more pronounced rim was available through the 40's, that is to say a rim center that protruded out farther which provided fitment for caps. I had them on my 31 Chevy with mech. 6 lug huck brakes & 48 15" rims & later converted to 50 bendix units I believe as I recall & 5 lug drums to match the 56 rear bolt pattern.

 

Look for bullet caps they may come in different lengths
https://www.mooneyesusa.com/Chromed-Bullet-Wheel-Cover-Caps-p/aa5.htm

 

I ran into that years ago. had some cool 16" artillery wheels painted and tires mounted for my 38 chev, and same deal with the hubcaps. I always thought the wheels I had were pontiac or some other gm 6 hole with a different offset. sorry, not the answer you wanted !

 

Chev's of the forties?

 

I have 54 Chevy spindles on my 38 Chevy so it's 5 lug not 6. I have to use a spacer between the drum and Cragar mag so the spindle's dust cover doesn't hit the Cragar cap. And I use longer mag wheel lug nuts. Google wheel spacers and you'll see them in several thicknesses.

 

on my 59 truck I have old Shelby aluminum slots, with the screw on center caps. I can't fit the hub dust cap in there...so I leave them off.

 

Thanks to all,
it´s fun to see how things build up. At the end it seems there is a solution which is a mixture of all your answers.

Some additional info to my initial questions: I want to preserve the early 50s customising style and even want to take it a little further. Therefore I want to stick with 16" rim. Finding more "pronounced rim" is a little hard for me as I live in Germany, but might be a long term goal. The spare wheel holds the 1941 chevy hub cap (reproduction is sold via chevysofthe40s) and this is the one the seller tried it with, which didnt fit.

If I dont want to swap spindles/king pins and else, I guess the best way would be to use spacers and possibly some hubcaps which have a little more cone and leave the dust covers off for extra clearance . That should do the trick.

With the ridges, they almost look like the early ripple hub caps
https://hubcapmike.com/airstream-baby-moon-hubcap-vintage-3-rib-travel-trailer-wheel-covers/
Again thanks for your thoughts and time

Keep on rockin´

 

There are several versions of the 16" 6 lug Chevy wheel, a picture showing the wheel would help.

 

Desperate to learn....
Here we go (tire is a 6.50 x 16]

 

Airstream hubs are really long also, so a cap that fits an Airstream, will likely fit an old Chevy.

I have one original Airstream wheel that takes that type of cap.