Wheel refinishing
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 1
From: Scappoose Oregon
St. Jude Donor '11,'14
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
It was aluminum polishing compound.
Start here for some good info
www.tarheelparts.com
They wil guide you if youre a first timer so you only buy what you need.
One of the few polishing places that actually will give sound advise that is accurate
Start here for some good info
www.tarheelparts.com
They wil guide you if youre a first timer so you only buy what you need.
One of the few polishing places that actually will give sound advise that is accurate
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 430
Likes: 113
From: Easton, PA
I did the wheels on my 89 over the winter. I stripped them, wet sanded them and polished them. The biggest PITA was the paint in the fins. The clear comes off pretty easily but the paint really is a challenge to get. I used a dental pick to get in the corners. Total time was about 100+ hours for the four wheels. Mine weren't bent or scraped up so it was pretty much just a cosmetic refinish. I did not re clear them.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I started to do my saw blades and it took me over an hour to get 2 fins on one wheel to look like a polished shine. I don't think I'll continue with this method. I bought ZR1 5 spokers instead.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 37
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 430
Likes: 113
From: Easton, PA
I haven't had any water spot issues with mine. I just keep them polished with Nano Polish and then a coat of wax and they seem to hold up pretty good. I have been caught in the rain a few times plus washing and I haven't had any spots. If your in a hurry to get them done I would suggest having someone do them or buy new wheels. I needed something to do over the winter. I have a 93 with sawblades and luckily they are in very good shape so I won't be needing to refinish them. I would think twice about doing those myself.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
There are 2 that I am aware of in northeast Pa. One is Keystone, and the other is Wheel Collision Center in Bath, Pa. I used wheel collision center 10 years ago, and the wheels still look great.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 898
Likes: 1
From: Pearland Texas
I bought a can of color coded steel blue from PaintSctratch.com. Was going to repaint my mirrors, but tried them on the wheels and they came out nice. I polished with Mothers ( don't have the patience to work at this for longer than a hour per wheel). Just taped up the wheel with wide masking tape, exacta razor knifed out the slots and painted away. I was cool peeling off the tape when done. Actually could have used a second can, stretch it with one. Hit it with a clearcoat before removing the tape.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 15
From: The light that never warms.
St. Jude Donor '12
I had a place called Wheel Techniques here in San Jose refinish my '91 wheels. They welded up some curb rash on all four, remachined the lips, stripped, blasted, painted, clear coated, and baked all four. Not cheap at about $160 per wheel, but they came out really nice. Here's a rear...
