Dull, Dull, Dull
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 74
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Dull, Dull, Dull
Check out the wheels on the '80 I bought awhile back. I like those stock rims, but I obviously need to make them shine. How??
http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...ption=DSC03211
http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...ption=DSC03211
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
I was in the exact same situation as you are. My rims were sun beaten for 10 years, but now I have them looking this this.
I used a fine grit sand paper material. I think it was called emery cloth, or something like that. I used that until absolutely everything was sanded down. And then I scrubbed it down EXTREMELY well with Mothers MAG Polish. I believe I got this idea from someone here in the forum. All of my rims turned at GREAT! If you want, I can try to find some of the cloth and tell you exactly what grit I used.
I used a fine grit sand paper material. I think it was called emery cloth, or something like that. I used that until absolutely everything was sanded down. And then I scrubbed it down EXTREMELY well with Mothers MAG Polish. I believe I got this idea from someone here in the forum. All of my rims turned at GREAT! If you want, I can try to find some of the cloth and tell you exactly what grit I used.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I used paint stripper for the clearcoat (most of it was chipped off anyway), then very fine scotch brite, emery cloth is very good,too.
I tried several aluminum and chrome polish products, Mothers is the best for a shiny finish.
Are you going remove the tires and the valves ? You could mount the wheels on the rear axle (the car on jacks of course) and let them spin, that will make the polishing easy.... have to be careful though....
I tried several aluminum and chrome polish products, Mothers is the best for a shiny finish.
Are you going remove the tires and the valves ? You could mount the wheels on the rear axle (the car on jacks of course) and let them spin, that will make the polishing easy.... have to be careful though....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
....You could mount the wheels on the rear axle (the car on jacks of course) and let them spin, that will make the polishing easy.... have to be careful though....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by MIKER
I don't recommend doing this. When you lift the rear end off of the ground the angle of the half-shafts is too great, causing the U-joints to bind. I tried it ONCE a long time ago :o
you could however place the jacks under the trailing arms....
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
A product called "Never Dull" or "Nev-r-dull" is sold at O'Reillys and works well. It is a cotton wadding that has polishing compound in it. Lots of elbow grease and a finish polish with Mothers will really shine them up. BTW some folks pay to get their wheels to look dull since that is the correct, original look for some years. Have fun.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Originally Posted by jonny4523
I was in the exact same situation as you are. My rims were sun beaten for 10 years, but now I have them looking this this.
I used a fine grit sand paper material. I think it was called emery cloth, or something like that. I used that until absolutely everything was sanded down. And then I scrubbed it down EXTREMELY well with Mothers MAG Polish. I believe I got this idea from someone here in the forum. All of my rims turned at GREAT! If you want, I can try to find some of the cloth and tell you exactly what grit I used.
I used a fine grit sand paper material. I think it was called emery cloth, or something like that. I used that until absolutely everything was sanded down. And then I scrubbed it down EXTREMELY well with Mothers MAG Polish. I believe I got this idea from someone here in the forum. All of my rims turned at GREAT! If you want, I can try to find some of the cloth and tell you exactly what grit I used.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Rochester Kent
I did this on my 81's stock rims before I replaced them with my TTII's. I removed the clear coat and then used a fine wet and dry paper to get them smooth and reasonably shiney. I then used a polishing mop and polishing soap until I had achieved a mirror polish. Took sometime but was well worth it in the end. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,793
Likes: 0
From: Belgium/Germany Hot, freewheeling honeybee
I use Never Dull to clean them, takes a while, but it works. Then some polish that's for chrome on motorcylces. Don't know the name though (the label's gone), but it works!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Hand rubbing is for the birds. I used a 4" angle grinder with a 4" or 5" buff and Mother's.
If they are really rough you might use emery and then progressively finer abrasives with the last being 1500 wet dry and then power buff them with mothers.
In order to use a buff I had to make an adapter using one of those long nuts. There is a term for the "long" nut but I forget what it is. Maybe it's a "coupling" nut. You can get them at Home Depot et al. You are going to have to polish them from time to time so you might as well come up with a power solution.
Now that I have my BC Smoothie II's I'm thinking of trying that flexible shaft buffer I saw in Eastwood's catalog. I will buy the motor else where. They wan't too much for the motor. Heck they won't too much for the flexible shaft also but I don't know where else to get one.
If they are really rough you might use emery and then progressively finer abrasives with the last being 1500 wet dry and then power buff them with mothers.
In order to use a buff I had to make an adapter using one of those long nuts. There is a term for the "long" nut but I forget what it is. Maybe it's a "coupling" nut. You can get them at Home Depot et al. You are going to have to polish them from time to time so you might as well come up with a power solution.
Now that I have my BC Smoothie II's I'm thinking of trying that flexible shaft buffer I saw in Eastwood's catalog. I will buy the motor else where. They wan't too much for the motor. Heck they won't too much for the flexible shaft also but I don't know where else to get one.
Last edited by Megawatt; Dec 9, 2004 at 06:20 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
I can't believe you guys polish these things. After a few days mine are black with brake dust and look like hell.
I use the porus wheel acid etch cleaner that releases brake dust by just spraying and hosing off. Leaves the wheel with that stock looking grayish sliver finish.
I use the porus wheel acid etch cleaner that releases brake dust by just spraying and hosing off. Leaves the wheel with that stock looking grayish sliver finish.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,793
Likes: 0
From: Belgium/Germany Hot, freewheeling honeybee
Originally Posted by turtlevette
I can't believe you guys polish these things. After a few days mine are black with brake dust and look like hell.
I use the porus wheel acid etch cleaner that releases brake dust by just spraying and hosing off. Leaves the wheel with that stock looking grayish sliver finish.
I use the porus wheel acid etch cleaner that releases brake dust by just spraying and hosing off. Leaves the wheel with that stock looking grayish sliver finish.
That's how my dad used to do it. It's easy, but I prefer them polished.