shaketxavius
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2020
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 139
- Location
- Springfield, MA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Ranger XLT 4x4
- Occupation
- Paramedic
- Thread starter
- #1
It's exactly what I've got in the title. I bought a set of wheels from a friend who had them for a Tacoma and sold the truck, but kept the wheels. I checked to see that they would fit and found that the only issue was the Hub Bore size. Easy enough fix with some Hubcentric rings! Out of curiosity I went and found a file for customizable rings and printed a set out of PLA for a test fit in the wheel. Fit like a glove
Picture of the wheels in question with the lightly used tires included
My only real gripe with the wheels was the center hubcap that stuck out so much. It's just ABS molded plastic held on by a couple of hex screws. Well, as I was playing around with the ring SCAD file, I found out that I could make it a sold disc. I also knew about a website that could take SVG files and convert them into STLs that I can print with. So what do I do? I decide to make some nice Ford branded hubcaps for myself!
I created the SVG of the ford logo roughly styled after the Raptor wheels and then combined it with the STL of the disc that I made playing with the hubcentric ring SCAD file. and I got this:
This was great, so I went ahead and printed a test fit version with PLA and I really like how they looked. I've included a before and after with the test fit:
The disc fits so snugly that to get it in I actually had to use a mallet. It's actually pretty tough to get out of the center
For fun I took my touch up pen that I plan on using at some point to fix some paint chips and painted the ford logo the same color as the truck quick and dirty and I think I've decided that's what the final product is going to look like:
Currently printing the first of 4 of these out of PETG which I will then sand down, prime, paint black with automotive pain and then paint the letters this blue. Apply a clear coat and then get them in the wheels! Currently streaming the printing on my Twitch (shameless plug) username ShaketXavius.
The wheels are going to go on when I get my coilovers installed. Still have to grab some, but I figure just get the suspension done and then since I'm going to need an alignment anyways, might as well grab the new tires and wheels and have it all done at the same time.
First thing was obviously the Raptor grille: because rule of cool. I then had a a Thule Rack but on the roof. I chose the roof simply for cost reasons. The bed rack systems while cool are so incredibly expensive I couldn't justify it. I only have the bars for my kayak, and I don't use it often enough for that price. In place of bed racks, I put a nice inexpensive and easily removed tonneau cover. I also got the bed Line-X'd.
Most recently, I put in the Alpha Rex LUXX Alpha Black headlights. I love them, but they were a massive pain to install. The wiring on the DRL for those is clunky for someone like me who doesn't have an auxiliary fuse box. Finally and most recently, I put the Morimoto LED Sidemarkers in. I love the look of LED lights all over the truck. Pretty sure the only non-LED lights I have now are the cargo lights and the license plate lights. Eventually, but not high on the to-do list.
I may add to this at some point or just rename it (if that's possible?). I don't know yet, but I do know I'll at least update it with the finished product of the hubcaps.
Picture of the wheels in question with the lightly used tires included
I created the SVG of the ford logo roughly styled after the Raptor wheels and then combined it with the STL of the disc that I made playing with the hubcentric ring SCAD file. and I got this:
This was great, so I went ahead and printed a test fit version with PLA and I really like how they looked. I've included a before and after with the test fit:
For fun I took my touch up pen that I plan on using at some point to fix some paint chips and painted the ford logo the same color as the truck quick and dirty and I think I've decided that's what the final product is going to look like:
The wheels are going to go on when I get my coilovers installed. Still have to grab some, but I figure just get the suspension done and then since I'm going to need an alignment anyways, might as well grab the new tires and wheels and have it all done at the same time.
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So starting now I'll just post some pictures of the truck from when I got it and go over what I've done to it so far.
First thing was obviously the Raptor grille: because rule of cool. I then had a a Thule Rack but on the roof. I chose the roof simply for cost reasons. The bed rack systems while cool are so incredibly expensive I couldn't justify it. I only have the bars for my kayak, and I don't use it often enough for that price. In place of bed racks, I put a nice inexpensive and easily removed tonneau cover. I also got the bed Line-X'd.
Most recently, I put in the Alpha Rex LUXX Alpha Black headlights. I love them, but they were a massive pain to install. The wiring on the DRL for those is clunky for someone like me who doesn't have an auxiliary fuse box. Finally and most recently, I put the Morimoto LED Sidemarkers in. I love the look of LED lights all over the truck. Pretty sure the only non-LED lights I have now are the cargo lights and the license plate lights. Eventually, but not high on the to-do list.
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