Technical Dog Dish Hubcap Dilema

I can use some help here. Searched and found tips for full size wheel covers but have not found similar for the dog dish style caps as follows:

I have Mercury and Lincoln wheels 1950 vintage and want to put 50 Merc caps on them. On a couple of wheels, the caps are tighter than a bull's butt but on two of them, they appear a bit loose and fear they may fly off going down the road. These are stock wheels and the caps are repop stainless. The wheels appear to be in good shape and on looking at them, can find no real faults with the tabs that hold the caps.

Having had original steel Mercury caps many years ago, would like to avoid using them as they seem to be made of unobtanium that even when a specimen can be found is rusty. I will be getting the wheels powder coated so wonder if there is a way to remedy the "looser" wheels.

Have you encountered this problem? If so what have you done?
Thank you in advance!

 

Are you sure all 4 wheels are an exact match? That's odd they'd do that.

 

Well--Looking to do big and littles. Have the 6"Lincolns for the rear and the 5 1/2" Mercurys for the front and spare. Other than that--they are the "same" pattern for the hubcap tabs. Ironically one of the Lincolns is tight and the other not so tight.

 

So, what do your dogs think....?

 

I believe the Merc wheel centers have a " bump " on the hub cap nub that keeps the cap firmly on .
With the Lincoln rim , the wheel center looks the same as the Merc ,
but the nub is smooth & doesn't have the " bump " to secure the hub cap like the Merc does .
.

 

Pete,
Seems you’re on to something there. Thank you. One Lincoln wheel has a “ better catch bump” the other. Thank you!
Now on to the difference with the Mercs? Maybe just mfg variability? They all have the catch feature but some tighter than others. Go and figure.

 

Add a weld bead to the wheel bumps that are loose.
Grind to fit, paint to match.

 

^^Thought about that but wanted to hear the idea from Someone who did it. Sound like you did. Thank you!

 

42merc has best idea.
Make sure the end of the axle will not hit the inside of the hubcap you choose.

 

pictures.....we need pictures.....from someone that has a little of both too.....

 

I’m thinking the 43 is better!

 

Ok--so here are some pics: The first is the "Tighter Lincoln" The second is the not so tight Lincoln and the third is a Mercury cousin. Note the Lincoln wheels have little blisters out near the rim for holding on to the full wheel covers as well as these provisions for the dog dish hubcaps.

 

Being aftermarket caps, have you tried swapping them around? May be a little difference, especially if made overseas.