I've never used a rivnut ... but thanks to Google AI, at least I now know what they are.   

When the hubcap is on the rim, would there be any rotational force on the clip?  [... would the hubcap itself tend to hold the clip in proper alignment]?  .... is the rivnut a more-or-less permanent way to affix the clip to the rim?

[Now, I'm all outta ideas ..... I trust somebody else will chime in with something more worthwhile.]

Brad, I’ve found they are absolutely brilliant when dropped into something with maybe 3-4mm depth minimum, but useless on anything shallower - just not enough turns of thread to ‘bite’. Could you pack them out with washers or similar?

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Originally posted by Wet Spaniel

Brad, I’ve found they are absolutely brilliant when dropped into something with maybe 3-4mm depth minimum, but useless on anything shallower - just not enough turns of thread to ‘bite’. Could you pack them out with washers or similar?

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I don't want drill holes until I am fairly confident.  I will try to get a caliper measure on the clip and the steel wheel.  I experimented with two thickish sheets of copper.  I see the grip area of the riv seems to bite into the metal?  But no swell behind a thicker pair of metals to be fastened.  We shall see. Brad

Post a pic of the rim you wanna fix please..

Al. The steel rims I use on truck, but need to add hubcap clips to a new rim. Pic is one of my old ones. Brad

Or find a wheel that has clips.

Couldn't the clips be attached with a nut/bolt [w or w.o. thread lock] or a regular (?) pop-rivet? 

Mower and swather knife sections used to be attached with rivets you hammered, then nuts/bolts replaced at least some of the rivets... dunno what's in vogue nowadays.  Maybe check out the farm supply store??

My look-it-up says that rivnuts are well-suited for [thin?] sheet metal. 

What am I missing?

[Did the how-to-attach question come up in t'other thread, or am I imagining things?  ]

Large hubcaps that have their own clips.

To amplify Owen's comment, I would suggest that the clips could be securely and permanently attached using socket head cap screws, and Nylok nuts.

Heavy pop rivets...will do it too..

If the new to you rim has holes in it like that one you might not even halfto drill..just use thos holes.. ;0)

I almost bought a rivnut tool to install a wind deflector on the back of my Subaru Forester when I first got the car, but the cost was slightly less than having the dealer do the install. Since the dealer had the tool, and had done the install before and was familiar with the process, I had them do it.

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Originally posted by steve davis

Or find a wheel that has clips.

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I keep looking, for sure.  As some of my others were salvage finds.  By the time I pay for sand blasting then I prime and paint and pay yo remount a tire etc.  the cost is up there.  Even those darn clips are expensive.  Brad

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Originally posted by RB3

To amplify Owen's comment, I would suggest that the clips could be securely and permanently attached using socket head cap screws, and Nylok nuts.

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That could happen. Thx

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Originally posted by rinemb

Al. The steel rims I use on truck, but need to add hubcap clips to a new rim. Pic is one of my old ones. Brad

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The rim steel at the clip area is 3mm and clip another 1mm.  4mm is too thick for regular rivnuts in smaller sizes according to charts.  Extended rivnuts might work if I can get them tight enough, but I think I would to buy extended rivnuts mandrills as well? Brad