Aluminum Wheel Resurfacing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 199
Likes: 35
From: USA
Aluminum Wheel Resurfacing
I have an 82 Collector edition, you know the one with the wheels having the tiny slits (or spokes) that look like the spinner knock-offs from 67. Even though the car has low miles and is basically C3 garage queen, time takes it's toll. So it seems the clear coat on the wheels is dis-coloring and needs some work. I'm guessing my alternatives are either to have someone refinish the wheels, or do it myself.
Does anyone have a favorite place they might recommend to refinish them? And how much might that cost?
In terms of doing it myself, I've read that you remove the tires, and treat the rims to either 'aircraft surface remover' or oven cleaner. Then clean / polish the aluminum and repaint with clear coat 2 or 3 times. So here's the question: Isn't that flat black paint between the spokes, or is it the coloring of the aluminum casting before polishing? If it's paint, I'll bet it will come off with the remover above. And if it's the base coloring of the aluminum, won't the clear coat remover dis-color that too? In either case we're back to painting the black on too.
Any suggestions or comments? A comment from someone who actually did this would be appreciated.
Thanks. Rich
Does anyone have a favorite place they might recommend to refinish them? And how much might that cost?
In terms of doing it myself, I've read that you remove the tires, and treat the rims to either 'aircraft surface remover' or oven cleaner. Then clean / polish the aluminum and repaint with clear coat 2 or 3 times. So here's the question: Isn't that flat black paint between the spokes, or is it the coloring of the aluminum casting before polishing? If it's paint, I'll bet it will come off with the remover above. And if it's the base coloring of the aluminum, won't the clear coat remover dis-color that too? In either case we're back to painting the black on too.
Any suggestions or comments? A comment from someone who actually did this would be appreciated.
Thanks. Rich
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 1
From: Clarksville Indiana
You can make them look pretty nice yourself but figure 5-6 hours of finger numbing fun on each wheel! Thats been my experiance anyways. Theres some good videos on youtube on wheel polishing if you want to see some of the steps.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 629
Likes: 6
From: columbus ms
i did mine but they were not clear coated. just use a paint remover to remove the clear coat. then wet sand with some 800 grit if you have some light scatches. mine had some small pits all over them and i used the wet sanding to clear them up. after the 800, i went 1000 grit then finshed with some 1500 or 2000 grit. i used a mother's power ball polisher with mother's aluminum polish. turned out great. they shine like chrome. i also placed paper tape across the outside of the wheels and painted the inside slots high gloss black from the inside. really easy.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Streator Illinois
i did mine but they were not clear coated. just use a paint remover to remove the clear coat. then wet sand with some 800 grit if you have some light scatches. mine had some small pits all over them and i used the wet sanding to clear them up. after the 800, i went 1000 grit then finshed with some 1500 or 2000 grit. i used a mother's power ball polisher with mother's aluminum polish. turned out great. they shine like chrome. i also placed paper tape across the outside of the wheels and painted the inside slots high gloss black from the inside. really easy.
I also did basically the same thing with the 1980 wheels that are on my 1975.
I've heard of guys refinishing and then clearcoating wheels but I prefered to not clearcoat and instead give them a good polish once in a while so there would be no clearcoat ot yellow or peel.
Terry
Last edited by tnovot; Feb 12, 2010 at 09:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
These things can be a real pain to refinish... much more work that the normal C3 alloy wheels...
As long as the wheels aren't corroded and you're just removing the clearcoat, it shouldn't be too difficult. You will find that most strippers will probably remove some of the paint between the vanes, at least discolor it, so I would be prepared to repaint them when you are through stripping them.
These are nice looking wheels and with a few items from the C2 bolt-on knock-offs you can make a nice set of 8" kock-offs out of them.
Good luck... GUSTO
As long as the wheels aren't corroded and you're just removing the clearcoat, it shouldn't be too difficult. You will find that most strippers will probably remove some of the paint between the vanes, at least discolor it, so I would be prepared to repaint them when you are through stripping them.
These are nice looking wheels and with a few items from the C2 bolt-on knock-offs you can make a nice set of 8" kock-offs out of them.
Good luck... GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
It looks gray on the wheels now that the clear coat has deteriorated, however if you look at the center caps, it looks much closer to a flat black. The center cap in the picture is new and that's what the paint should match.
If you send me an email address I can send you a picture of the center cap that you can blow up and see much clearer.
GUSTO
If you send me an email address I can send you a picture of the center cap that you can blow up and see much clearer.
GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Feb 14, 2010 at 05:56 PM.
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