Cleaning 79 Vette wheels
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Cleaning 79 Vette wheels
I have a 79 Vette with the stock aluminum (I guess it's aluminum) wheels. What is the best thing to clean them with ?? I can't ever get them to look decent. I bought some Meguires "Hot Shine" for aluminum wheels today that I'm gonna try tomorrow.......is this good stuff ?? Any suggestions to make them look better ????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: SAN FRANCISCO CA
i've heard the powerball works great. one of the users here has a white 80-82 (really nice) and he restored the wheels with a powerball. he posted before and after pics on another thread somewhere. maybe he'll see this and chime in. good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 2
From: THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS! NORTHERN ONTARIO
My rims were off the car but I think it went like this...step (1) 00 steel wool varsol & hot water & all cleaning was done in a circular motion not up & down. then it was soap & water & 1000 grit for what seemed to be hours & hours...then final polish with a Flitz ball & Flitz aluminium polish...outcome was excellent compared to what they were! Just remember there are tons of different ways to do this this is what worked for me
Oh yeah if you're thinking of re doing the black inserts clean the rim good on both sides dry them off then spray you're flat black from behind before the cleaning it's faster than masking the rim later on! Try it on a small part of your rim first to see if you want to continue, this method is a bunch of work.
Oh yeah if you're thinking of re doing the black inserts clean the rim good on both sides dry them off then spray you're flat black from behind before the cleaning it's faster than masking the rim later on! Try it on a small part of your rim first to see if you want to continue, this method is a bunch of work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: SAN FRANCISCO CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Its not so difficult, but the amount of time
you spend will depend on how tarnished your wheels are. I have an 80 with the aluminum wheels like yours: Wash them- plain car wash and water. Then get some Mothers Billet Polish, some VERY fine steel wool- like 00 or 000, and a clean soft cotton cloth. Then go to work polishing by hand- about 20 minutes per wheel or so. Wipe away he black tarnish. You'll see the shine come back. Then apply a top coat of regular car polish like Maguires NX to seal over the wheel. You're good to go for about a year. and the next polishing is A LOT easier and may not need much elbow grease at all....... Better get some sun glasses too!
you spend will depend on how tarnished your wheels are. I have an 80 with the aluminum wheels like yours: Wash them- plain car wash and water. Then get some Mothers Billet Polish, some VERY fine steel wool- like 00 or 000, and a clean soft cotton cloth. Then go to work polishing by hand- about 20 minutes per wheel or so. Wipe away he black tarnish. You'll see the shine come back. Then apply a top coat of regular car polish like Maguires NX to seal over the wheel. You're good to go for about a year. and the next polishing is A LOT easier and may not need much elbow grease at all....... Better get some sun glasses too!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Scotch brite pads also work well and don't put of metal splinters. But are more expensive. Come in two grades I have seen. Red coarse, Gray fine. Available at Pep Boys and Auto zone. Can be used wet. Follow with Mothers polish. Do not use any spray on cleaner that is Alkaline. Caused discoloration on mine. My '77 wheels did not have a clear coat but later models may. mds...
