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Didn't see anything in the wheels/tires forum, so I thought I'd ask here.
My 81 has the 'aluminum' or 'mag' style wheels.
I'm trying to bring some shine back to them with Mothers Aluminum and Mag wheel polish, with limited success.
I was looking at the Mothers website, and they recommend different polishes depending on what type of wheel it is- that's where I get lost.
Are the wheels clearcoated/painted, bare/polished aluminum, chrome clad? My assumption is that they are bare aluminum, but wanted to check before I go any further and really screw something up.
Hopefully the polish I'm using is OK, and I just need to continue or get a PowerBall to give me some extra oomph...
Didn't see anything in the wheels/tires forum, so I thought I'd ask here.
My 81 has the 'aluminum' or 'mag' style wheels.
I'm trying to bring some shine back to them with Mothers Aluminum and Mag wheel polish, with limited success.
I was looking at the Mothers website, and they recommend different polishes depending on what type of wheel it is- that's where I get lost.
Are the wheels clearcoated/painted, bare/polished aluminum, chrome clad? My assumption is that they are bare aluminum, but wanted to check before I go any further and really screw something up.
Hopefully the polish I'm using is OK, and I just need to continue or get a PowerBall to give me some extra oomph...
Is this what you folks use on your wheels?
I believe the wheels on a 81 are clear coated from the factory. Maybe others will reply but I've been told in order to get them like new again the coating has to come off..
They are clear coated, buy spray on Rustoleum Clear coat stripper, spray on , hose off.
now you can polish back to better than new. ...This product works great !
removing the clear coat exposes the original raw aluminum metal.
the clear coat remover I suggested will not harm the aluminum.
it also will not harm your tires or valve stem.
(DO NOT get this on body paint, it will remove that clear and paint too !)
once that is done the wheels will look just like original plus any scratches and scrapes they have acquired.
buff out with aluminum polish, for extreme scrapes you will have to sand, start with 1000, then 1500,
then buff out with aluminum polish, they will look better than factory finish.
wax the wheels occasionally to keep them nice and brite.
Bare aluminum wheels shine better than clearcoated wheels,
but require a little more upkeep.
the bonus is they can be rebuffed anytime they start to look dull.
you cannot buff clearcoat wheels.
Mine didn't have any clear coat that I was aware of, they just hadn't been polished in years. I used the Mother's and it works great but it takes a lot of elbow grease!
1981 wheel question
