C4 wheels
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
C4 wheels
A SIMPLE one this time; Can anyone confirm whether Standard alloy '85 C4 Wheels are clear coated or not; would like to go to town on polishing them but not at the cost of having to do it every week!
O/wise, any tips on keeping them nice?
:cheers:
O/wise, any tips on keeping them nice?
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Re: C4 wheels (smacko)
The wheels were clear coated at the factory. Whether or not the clear coat is still intact depends on what they have been through. If they are on a low mileage garaged car, then it is probably still intact. The best way to determine if the coat is still there is to polish the surface with a metal polish such as Mothers. If the rag turns black immediately, the clear coat is gone. If the clear coat is still intact, the wheel can still look pretty bad since it has faded and oxidized over the years. There are many posts on this topic that outline exactly how to strip the clear coat and polish the wheels. Once polished, you can clear coat them again to reduce the polishing maintenance. Good Luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 5
From: CASTLE ROCK CO
Re: C4 wheels (smacko)
Don't remember where I got this.
The 1984 and 1985 wheels were made from an aluminum casting that do not shine much when polished.
Enkei produced the 1986 and 1987 wheels for GM and they were made of an aluminum that could be polished to a high luster. These Enkei produced wheels also were slightly larger on the inside, which means you can use the '88 and later 2-piston front brake caliper with a 13" rotor. The Enkei produced wheel can be identified by a small symbol in one of the slotted radial wheel vents which looks like an "m" grafted to an upside down "J".
I did mine(stripped, sanded and buffed) no prob so far keepin them clean.
The 1984 and 1985 wheels were made from an aluminum casting that do not shine much when polished.
Enkei produced the 1986 and 1987 wheels for GM and they were made of an aluminum that could be polished to a high luster. These Enkei produced wheels also were slightly larger on the inside, which means you can use the '88 and later 2-piston front brake caliper with a 13" rotor. The Enkei produced wheel can be identified by a small symbol in one of the slotted radial wheel vents which looks like an "m" grafted to an upside down "J".
I did mine(stripped, sanded and buffed) no prob so far keepin them clean.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Surprise AZ
Re: C4 wheels (smacko)
How long does it take to strip sand and polish a single wheel and would you do it by hand use some sort of sander/buffer?
Thanks! Also any tips would be greatly appreciated. :chevy
87 VetteFreak
1987 Dark Red Met Convertible
89,000 miles
No Mods!
Thanks! Also any tips would be greatly appreciated. :chevy
87 VetteFreak
1987 Dark Red Met Convertible
89,000 miles
No Mods!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Re: C4 wheels (87vettefreak)
Guys, my tollerance levels would be exhausted from spending two days stripping/polishing 4 Wheels!
Guess I'll have to just settle for keeping them clean...
A pointer I CAN suggest tho, to anyone who has wheels already in reasonable condition; Use Maguires (Or your choice of GOOD products) 'Swirl remover' liquid; As the clear coat IS basically a paint - it DOES quite a good job of cleaning up the clearcoat without abraiding it, and looks much better...Just used it last night on my gf's new motor bike!
:party:
Guess I'll have to just settle for keeping them clean...
A pointer I CAN suggest tho, to anyone who has wheels already in reasonable condition; Use Maguires (Or your choice of GOOD products) 'Swirl remover' liquid; As the clear coat IS basically a paint - it DOES quite a good job of cleaning up the clearcoat without abraiding it, and looks much better...Just used it last night on my gf's new motor bike!
:party:
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Mount NC
Re: C4 wheels (smacko)
I picked up a set of 86-87 wheels to use on my 85. I stripped the clear and was amazed at how good the wheels looked just stripped. I did a light, and I mean very light polish to catch some oxidized spots where the clear had previously chipped. I don't know how well the early wheels polish, but the later ones do great. After I do some repairs on my daughter's car, I am going to get to work sanding and polishing, but they look pretty good just stripped.