Any suggestions of processes or people who restore Halibrands.
(1) Do you tumble or glass bead wheels before you use the Dow 7 treatment?
(2) Other approaches?
(3) If above fails, any one have a paint formula that approximates the look?
(4) Any professional shops which work with these wheels?

We are getting the Bennie Osborn AA/TF FED which was the 67-68 NHRA World Champion car ready for the June NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green and want to restore the original wheels.
Regards

 

Water sand the wheels with 600 grit paper to remove all oxidation and then polish with 'Neverdull'.....and then buff to a shine...It will last a few days before you have to redo them over again....characteristics of magnesium wheels....











Bitchen wheels when shined...no mothers or other trick stuff necessary...these have been done more times you can count and turned out the same everytime

 

John, I've experimented with DIY processes to make magnesium wheels look "right". I'm moderately happy with this:

1. Sand/bead blast to remove all oxidation
2. Clean with BrakeKleen/lacquer thinner
3. Paint with any cast-iron look-alike paint
4. Fog copper and gold over the cast-iron paint.

What this does NOT do is give the red/green hues of the original Dow 7.

Also, unless you are doing multiple wheels simultaneously, it's a little tough to get two (or more) wheels to look approximately the same.

The advantages are that it's cheap, you can do it yourself, and you aren't hurting the magnesium (in fact the paint preserves it).

Good luck,

Jim

 

John,

What exactly is the look you are trying to achieve? Here are some photo's of magnesium wheels and supercharger. The supercharger was originally Dow 7, so I had it blasted with aluminum oxide to get that right look and then had it Dow 7. The wheels where originally raw magnesium with a polished lip. I had it polished and then sprayed the spokes with cast metal spray paint to get the magnesium look.

 

John,

There is a company in Washington, near Seattle I think, that restores magnesium and they can do the Dow 7 coating. Also, another company on the east coast in Mass. Sorry, but I can't remember the names of either company. I researched it last year when I was contemplating restoring some of American Racing TT D-spoke magnewium wheels. However I decided against the Dow 7 coating because both companies told me right away that the Dow 7 coating was originally applied as a simple protective coating for new wheels and it soon dissipated, leaving the bare magnesium.

If I can find the names of thse two companies I will let you know.
Good luck, hope to see you at the HRR in BG.

Rex

 

John,

Ken Kayser just restored a set of Halibrands last year, and they came out perfect. I'm not sure what process he used, I know he was very happy with the result. Give him a ring.

bill

 

Try this link for loads of info on Halibrands and other classic wheels.
http://www.roadsters.com/mag/

 

DAVID KIMBLE began his automotive career working for Ted Halibrand when in High School. Maybe he has a secret formula from "back in the day". I have his number if you want to ask.