Refinishing 16" Dymags
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: Shelbyville IN
Refinishing 16" Dymags
Help, help --
I think if I refinish this set of Dymags in black or charcoal and mount them on my cream puff red '84 I'll not only have a one-off ride, I'll have more money in wheels than I've got in the car. But hey! They're various shades of white now, which was how they lived during the '88 Corvette Challenge series. The question is whether I should strip them or just scuff and sand, then paint over what's there. And what primer should I use? What about powder coating? Any ideas?
I think if I refinish this set of Dymags in black or charcoal and mount them on my cream puff red '84 I'll not only have a one-off ride, I'll have more money in wheels than I've got in the car. But hey! They're various shades of white now, which was how they lived during the '88 Corvette Challenge series. The question is whether I should strip them or just scuff and sand, then paint over what's there. And what primer should I use? What about powder coating? Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
If these wheels are for an 88+ car you'll have the typical mount problem with the '84MY car. It might be interesting since these are 16" wheels what the offset is. Measure the back-spacing and the total wheel width and post back. Total width is edge to edge. Let's see how these wheels were done back then.
If these wheels were mine they'd go to: Ye Ole Wheel Shoppe here in Maryland but I doubt that's actually required. My conversations with John the owner regarding a set he had there when he did some A-molds for me was that the primer is critical. I believe there's people out there using a DIY procedure that who knows if it appropriate or not. If there's areas of them that need repair, and it would be foolish not to do them correctly
make sure the shop can weld and repair magnesium.
If these wheels were mine they'd go to: Ye Ole Wheel Shoppe here in Maryland but I doubt that's actually required. My conversations with John the owner regarding a set he had there when he did some A-molds for me was that the primer is critical. I believe there's people out there using a DIY procedure that who knows if it appropriate or not. If there's areas of them that need repair, and it would be foolish not to do them correctly
make sure the shop can weld and repair magnesium.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: Shelbyville IN
If these wheels are for an 88+ car you'll have the typical mount problem with the '84MY car. It might be interesting since these are 16" wheels what the offset is. Measure the back-spacing and the total wheel width and post back. Total width is edge to edge. Let's see how these wheels were done back then.
If these wheels were mine they'd go to: Ye Ole Wheel Shoppe here in Maryland but I doubt that's actually required. My conversations with John the owner regarding a set he had there when he did some A-molds for me was that the primer is critical. I believe there's people out there using a DIY procedure that who knows if it appropriate or not. If there's areas of them that need repair, and it would be foolish not to do them correctly
make sure the shop can weld and repair magnesium.
If these wheels were mine they'd go to: Ye Ole Wheel Shoppe here in Maryland but I doubt that's actually required. My conversations with John the owner regarding a set he had there when he did some A-molds for me was that the primer is critical. I believe there's people out there using a DIY procedure that who knows if it appropriate or not. If there's areas of them that need repair, and it would be foolish not to do them correctly
make sure the shop can weld and repair magnesium.
I think '89s and later are 17-inch, but these are spares from that batch of 16s Dymag made especially for the '88 Challenge cars and early Callaways. They're all 9.5 inches wide. As I recall, the offset is actually less than stock '88s. Will get some measurements later today. I was thinking If I don't strip the factory finish I could avoid the concern about exposing the mag to the elements. Your thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Thanx.
I think '89s and later are 17-inch, but these are spares from that batch of 16s Dymag made especially for the '88 Challenge cars and early Callaways. They're all 9.5 inches wide. As I recall, the offset is actually less than stock '88s. Will get some measurements later today. I was thinking If I don't strip the factory finish I could avoid the concern about exposing the mag to the elements. Your thoughts?
I think '89s and later are 17-inch, but these are spares from that batch of 16s Dymag made especially for the '88 Challenge cars and early Callaways. They're all 9.5 inches wide. As I recall, the offset is actually less than stock '88s. Will get some measurements later today. I was thinking If I don't strip the factory finish I could avoid the concern about exposing the mag to the elements. Your thoughts?
Regarding your wheels if they're 9.5's then the total wheel width should be something near 10.5". Confirm the total wheel width and the back-spacing an let's see what you've got!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: Shelbyville IN
I believe when magnesium is exposed it requires a conversion coating before proceeding with an epoxy primer. I believe it's just a wash that's done and air dried before the epoxy primer is applied.
Regarding your wheels if they're 9.5's then the total wheel width should be something near 10.5". Confirm the total wheel width and the back-spacing an let's see what you've got!
Regarding your wheels if they're 9.5's then the total wheel width should be something near 10.5". Confirm the total wheel width and the back-spacing an let's see what you've got!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
It looks like these are something near 44mm for offset. On an early car it would move the tire/wheel combination something near 6mm towards the suspension which shouldn't be an issue and the fitment to the hood edge and the quarter wheel house edge should be fine. I don't know how much clearance there is with the factory 38mm with suspension but I would think there's considerable
I've only ever seen these done in White and Silver but on an early car with the black BSM I could see the color being black but if it were me I think I'd need to do a red stripe right near the wheel lip edge. The red stripe needs to be very close to body color. 1/8 or 3/16 wide I think would do.
I don't believe I'd even consider powder coating. If there's no finish that's down to the "mag" of the wheel I think prepped well with a urethane primer and a urethane color coat they should do well. I'm pretty sure that there are likely people that use urethane primers maybe even on the bare "mag" finish but I really do think it needs a wash first!
I've only ever seen these done in White and Silver but on an early car with the black BSM I could see the color being black but if it were me I think I'd need to do a red stripe right near the wheel lip edge. The red stripe needs to be very close to body color. 1/8 or 3/16 wide I think would do.
I don't believe I'd even consider powder coating. If there's no finish that's down to the "mag" of the wheel I think prepped well with a urethane primer and a urethane color coat they should do well. I'm pretty sure that there are likely people that use urethane primers maybe even on the bare "mag" finish but I really do think it needs a wash first!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 15, 2012 at 02:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: Shelbyville IN
It looks like these are something near 44mm for offset. On an early car it would move the tire/wheel combination something near 6mm towards the suspension which shouldn't be an issue and the fitment to the hood edge and the quarter wheel house edge should be fine. I don't know how much clearance there is with the factory 38mm with suspension but I would think there's considerable
I've only ever seen these done in White and Silver but on an early car with the black BSM I could see the color being black but if it were me I think I'd need to do a red stripe right near the wheel lip edge. The red stripe needs to be very close to body color. 1/8 or 3/16 wide I think would do.
I don't believe I'd even consider powder coating. If there's no finish that's down to the "mag" of the wheel I think prepped well with a urethane primer and a urethane color coat they should do well. I'm pretty sure that there are likely people that use urethane primers maybe even on the bare "mag" finish but I really do think it needs a wash first!
I've only ever seen these done in White and Silver but on an early car with the black BSM I could see the color being black but if it were me I think I'd need to do a red stripe right near the wheel lip edge. The red stripe needs to be very close to body color. 1/8 or 3/16 wide I think would do.
I don't believe I'd even consider powder coating. If there's no finish that's down to the "mag" of the wheel I think prepped well with a urethane primer and a urethane color coat they should do well. I'm pretty sure that there are likely people that use urethane primers maybe even on the bare "mag" finish but I really do think it needs a wash first!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
I believe I'd just make sure we're using urethane products and he can put the wheels in the heated booth while he's curing a car! I'm glad you like the "red stripe" plan.
My black A-molds will get them this fall I hope. It's been a long hard summer!
My black A-molds will get them this fall I hope. It's been a long hard summer!
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