C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

remove wheel clear coat

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 12:25 AM
  #1  
gator79's Avatar
gator79
Thread Starter
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Default remove wheel clear coat

carb cleaner will remove the factory clear coat from your 80-82 aluminum wheels. spray on wait a few mins and just wipe off, then you can polish them. works better than scotchbrite or sandpaper. no scratches.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 01:37 AM
  #2  
pcfred's Avatar
pcfred
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,776
Likes: 142
From: North of Atlanta GA
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Originally Posted by gator79
carb cleaner will remove the factory clear coat from your 80-82 aluminum wheels. spray on wait a few mins and just wipe off, then you can polish them. works better than scotchbrite or sandpaper. no scratches.
Then polish with Mothers Billet Metal Polish, auto stores $14, Walmart $10
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 09:53 AM
  #3  
Glass Act's Avatar
Glass Act
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
Default

I sent mine to a machine shop and they turned them on a lathe, removed just enough to cut into the Alum. Then sent them to a paint shop for clearcoat re-spraying. They ended up looking better than new,total cost $80.00 X 4
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 02:55 PM
  #4  
ruby76's Avatar
ruby76
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Default

I used paint stripper on the old aluminum wheels on my truck. Once the clear was gone, used mothers aluminum polish and shined em up real good.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 03:42 PM
  #5  
flyC3girl's Avatar
flyC3girl
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
Default

I would love for my wheels to shine better, but I am very hesitant about taking off the clearcoat. I mean it was put there for a reason right. Are my concerns unfounded?
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 04:13 PM
  #6  
ruby76's Avatar
ruby76
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Default

the clearcoat is added to aluminum wheels to keep them from oxidizing. Oxygen in the air will overtime make them dull. The clearcoat will mean low maintenance as long as wheel weight's etc don't cause the clearcoat to chip off etc. If you take off all the clear coat and polish the wheels, the only difference will be that you'll occasionally need to polish the wheels when they get dull - once every month or two is what I did with mine after my initial polish. The initial polish, the one to get it looking like mirrors is the toughest. After that, just once in a while will maintain it.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 04:34 PM
  #7  
flyC3girl's Avatar
flyC3girl
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
Default

Thanks for the info Hopefully I will have some time in the next couple of weeks to do it. Still have a couple of other projects I need to get done on her first.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 07:06 PM
  #8  
Techno's Avatar
Techno
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Default

I thought painting them clear made them invisible?
If you paint them black theyr'e black right?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

 Brett Foote
story-5

9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

 Brett Foote
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 07:57 PM
  #9  
Fastbackl48's Avatar
Fastbackl48
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: verona nj
Default

I used a product called Satin Gloss. It is not sold in stores. The stuff is used for Harley Davidsons, but it turned my dull weathered aluminum wheels into mirrors without much polishing.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 09:11 PM
  #10  
rihwoods's Avatar
rihwoods
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Default

I removed my clear coat two years ago with 400 wet/dry.Then I polished the wheels and since then,only have to re-polish once/month...I could not believe the difference in shine..I will not ever consider clear coat again,and have not had any issues with oxidation...these are stock aluminum wheels from 78...
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2005 | 11:28 PM
  #11  
mowens16's Avatar
mowens16
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default

I wonder if the carb cleaner would work on the 82 Collector wheels or if it would hurt the paint between the fins?
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 08:41 AM
  #12  
gator79's Avatar
gator79
Thread Starter
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Default

I dont think I would try it on the collector wheels.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 10:00 AM
  #13  
ruby76's Avatar
ruby76
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Default

depends on how good and careful you are. But your right, if it got on ANY paint it would strip it off.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 07:36 PM
  #14  
bozzman3's Avatar
bozzman3
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Enfield CT
Default

What brand of carb cleanner did you use? Did you dismount the tires from the rims??
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To remove wheel clear coat





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:03 AM.

story-0
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-1
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

Slideshow: Check out these easy-to-install upgrades from Extreme Online Store that reshape the look and feel of the C6 Corvette.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-03-23 17:00:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

There may be some big changes on the horizon.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-18 06:55:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

Slideshow: 9 best Corvettes you can buy for half price (and 1 you shouldn't!)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-17 10:20:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

Slideshow: 8 best Corvette of Amelia Island 2026

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-11 09:28:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

Slideshow: Top 10 worst Corvette engineering failures

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-10 17:38:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

Slideshow: 10 records the C8 Corvette generation has SMASHED (& 1 glaring failure).

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-02 11:16:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

Out of the many Corvette concepts that exist, these are by far the wildest of the bunch.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-02 11:03:54


VIEW MORE