78 SA wheel question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
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From: Porter TX
78 SA wheel question
I want to know what's "correct" for my Silver Anniversary's wheels.
Polished/Non-Polished: I've heard conflicting opinions on this and that when they left the factory they were raw/unpolished. This is roughly their current state as I don't think they were ever buffed up. I like the look of the polished better (they look really good on my 75).
Painted/Unpainted slots: The slots are silver in color and I want to keep it that way (painted them black on the 75's) but there are some brown stains from the brake dust that I cannot get out. I didn't know if the slots were painted silver or left in the raw aluminum. If they are painted, I'll shoot some flat aluminum paint in them but if they aren't, what's the best way to get those stains off without shining up the finish? Or to that extent, should I not worry about cleaning them and just paint them?
Currently the vette is by no means a concourse car, it need a paintjob and a bit of work on the interior but other than that, it's all original and if I ever decide to do the NCRS thing, I don't want to have to undo a bunch of stuff I've done earlier. I want to try and keep everything as original as possible with this vette, the 75 is the one for going a little wild on.
Polished/Non-Polished: I've heard conflicting opinions on this and that when they left the factory they were raw/unpolished. This is roughly their current state as I don't think they were ever buffed up. I like the look of the polished better (they look really good on my 75).
Painted/Unpainted slots: The slots are silver in color and I want to keep it that way (painted them black on the 75's) but there are some brown stains from the brake dust that I cannot get out. I didn't know if the slots were painted silver or left in the raw aluminum. If they are painted, I'll shoot some flat aluminum paint in them but if they aren't, what's the best way to get those stains off without shining up the finish? Or to that extent, should I not worry about cleaning them and just paint them?
Currently the vette is by no means a concourse car, it need a paintjob and a bit of work on the interior but other than that, it's all original and if I ever decide to do the NCRS thing, I don't want to have to undo a bunch of stuff I've done earlier. I want to try and keep everything as original as possible with this vette, the 75 is the one for going a little wild on.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Correct for 78 is 'brushed' finish. Pace Cars are polished.
Raw aluminum color in the slots. Pace Cars are black.
Most original 78/79 wheels that I've seen are clearcoated except the Pace Cars, altho I do have an NOS wheel in the box that isn't.
I did refinish an extra set for my white79. Stripped the clearcoat with regular paint stripper, sanded with progressively finer wet sandpaper and polished them up. Then, I took a scotch brite pad and in a circular motion around the wheel brushed them up, except for the outer rim that stayed polished.
Then re clearcoated them with Dupont chromaclear from a gun.
Raw aluminum color in the slots. Pace Cars are black.
Most original 78/79 wheels that I've seen are clearcoated except the Pace Cars, altho I do have an NOS wheel in the box that isn't.
I did refinish an extra set for my white79. Stripped the clearcoat with regular paint stripper, sanded with progressively finer wet sandpaper and polished them up. Then, I took a scotch brite pad and in a circular motion around the wheel brushed them up, except for the outer rim that stayed polished.
Then re clearcoated them with Dupont chromaclear from a gun.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Porter TX
Correct for 78 is 'brushed' finish. Pace Cars are polished.
Raw aluminum color in the slots. Pace Cars are black.
Most original 78/79 wheels that I've seen are clearcoated except the Pace Cars, altho I do have an NOS wheel in the box that isn't.
I did refinish an extra set for my white79. Stripped the clearcoat with regular paint stripper, sanded with progressively finer wet sandpaper and polished them up. Then, I took a scotch brite pad and in a circular motion around the wheel brushed them up, except for the outer rim that stayed polished.
Then re clearcoated them with Dupont chromaclear from a gun.
Raw aluminum color in the slots. Pace Cars are black.
Most original 78/79 wheels that I've seen are clearcoated except the Pace Cars, altho I do have an NOS wheel in the box that isn't.
I did refinish an extra set for my white79. Stripped the clearcoat with regular paint stripper, sanded with progressively finer wet sandpaper and polished them up. Then, I took a scotch brite pad and in a circular motion around the wheel brushed them up, except for the outer rim that stayed polished.
Then re clearcoated them with Dupont chromaclear from a gun.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
This is original on my black79.
The clearcoat gives it a nice sheen.
I don't think you can 'brush' it too much, just stay with a circular motion around the inside. The outer rim is polished, just the concave part is brushed.
I did find that just handling my bare NOS rim scuffs the brushed finish very easily.
The clearcoat gives it a nice sheen.
I don't think you can 'brush' it too much, just stay with a circular motion around the inside. The outer rim is polished, just the concave part is brushed.
I did find that just handling my bare NOS rim scuffs the brushed finish very easily.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 44
From: Gods Country WI
