Stock aluminum wheels
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Stock aluminum wheels
Maybe some one can help me. I have a 79 (my second one) and the center of the aluminum wheels are not black as I have seen in some photos. My other 79 was the same way. My wheels are supposed to be original, but now Im wondering. Any help? Thanks.......LT
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: Stock aluminum wheels (ltinnell)
The black comes off with lacquer thinner. And goes back on with a variety of paints. If you are looking for Kelsey-Hayes numbers on the back side I have never figured them out. But good luck with your search. This (and the other three) have been re-painted after a good fine steel-wool scrub with Mother's.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Dover NH
Re: Stock aluminum wheels (ltinnell)
Along the same line of question, are all aluminum wheels the same finish, or did GM make a "polished" and a "brushed" finish? Mine are definitely "brush" finish, with black centers. Paul79's look "polished"...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
Re: Stock aluminum wheels (ltinnell)
1978 and 79 wheels with the black centers have a brushed aluminum finish
and the slots are not painted. On 1980 thru 82 there is a polished
aluminum finish and the slots are painted black. (Center section is also
polished).
and the slots are not painted. On 1980 thru 82 there is a polished
aluminum finish and the slots are painted black. (Center section is also
polished).
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: Stock aluminum wheels (mark79,80)
As Mark says, the 80 - 82 had the centres polished and the insides of the slots painted black. In addition, the centre caps were are chrome finish on these years. Earlier years had the wheel centres painted black and used black centre caps.
Paul
Paul
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Stock aluminum wheels (UKPaul)
This raises a question that I have. A large number of '80 corvettes I've seen, even some in magazine articles from 1980 have black center wheels, including mine. Did they continue to use the black centers part way through 1980?
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