and it is not easy expect to spend alot of time polishing 
Wheel clear coat stripping
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Wheel clear coat stripping
CorvetteForum.com is a great place for vette info. So, I have another question. I have a '93 anniversary edition that looks great but the wheels have become somewhat tired. So I want to strip off the clear coat and polish them and then seal them. First, since I am a careful person, can I leave the tires on the rims while stripping the clear coat off? And there are kits out there to strip, clean, polish and seal. But does anyone have any better suggestions to getting these great looking wheels back to new like condition? Second, what is the best wayto clean this particular engine? I know water is bad news for the C4 electricals and distributor area. Someone told me to use clear coat on all the engine parts when it was finally clean. Thoughts???? Thanks to all.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC, behind someone going 10 under the speed limit
Originally Posted by CORVETTEIII
CorvetteForum.com is a great place for vette info. So, I have another question. I have a '93 anniversary edition that looks great but the wheels have become somewhat tired. So I want to strip off the clear coat and polish them and then seal them. First, since I am a careful person, can I leave the tires on the rims while stripping the clear coat off? And there are kits out there to strip, clean, polish and seal. But does anyone have any better suggestions to getting these great looking wheels back to new like condition? Second, what is the best wayto clean this particular engine? I know water is bad news for the C4 electricals and distributor area. Someone told me to use clear coat on all the engine parts when it was finally clean. Thoughts???? Thanks to all.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
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From: Jacksonville FL
If we could see the condition they are in right now, we could advise you best. There a few things to take in to consideration. Let me know if you want me to go further into detail.
I have '88 17" "Salad Shooters" or "Quisinarts". Mine were in bad shape when I got the car. The clear had lifted in "trails" and the oxidation had already eaten through the machining grooves, so my only choice was to either sand and polish them or have them re-machined.
It is a long and tedious process to get them to look good but, in my opinion it is worth it. I can also do into detail if you need. Let me know.
Mike.
BTW, I painted inside the air vents the same color black as my car. The rotors and calipers are red to match the stripes.
I have '88 17" "Salad Shooters" or "Quisinarts". Mine were in bad shape when I got the car. The clear had lifted in "trails" and the oxidation had already eaten through the machining grooves, so my only choice was to either sand and polish them or have them re-machined.
It is a long and tedious process to get them to look good but, in my opinion it is worth it. I can also do into detail if you need. Let me know.
Mike.
BTW, I painted inside the air vents the same color black as my car. The rotors and calipers are red to match the stripes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 1
From: Atoka Oklahoma
St. Jude Donor 06
I recently bought a set off of here. I soda blasted the rear wheels and then sanded the machine finish off. I have one wheel polished and it looks very nice, but I am not going to be happy with keeping them this way. I have decided to have the flat surface and the ring/lip area chrome powder coated. I am hoping to have them done this week. I'll make a new thread with pics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
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It's also possible to get the clear coat off by sanding... It takes even longer, but you don't have to worry about getting that Stripper everywhere. It's what I did for the wheels on my '85.
Man that took a long time.
Man that took a long time.
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Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
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From: Atoka Oklahoma
St. Jude Donor 06
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
I am going to try the powdercoat method and am hoping this turns out good.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
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From: Avon Ohio
I used paint stripper to remove the clear on my 89's wheels because it had turned white and was really looking bad. Once stripped I washed them thoroughly to remove all the chemicals, dried them for a couple days in the garage then sprayed them with a rattle can of clear coat. It turned out pretty good. I had about 10 hours labor in all 4 wheels combined.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Rainman15
I used paint stripper to remove the clear on my 89's wheels because it had turned white and was really looking bad. Once stripped I washed them thoroughly to remove all the chemicals, dried them for a couple days in the garage then sprayed them with a rattle can of clear coat. It turned out pretty good. I had about 10 hours labor in all 4 wheels combined.
