I've started the process of stripping and sanding my wheels... I was wondering if someone had some pictures of theirs that they have done so I can see how great they look... post them here or send me PM and I'll give you an email addy to send to .... I can tell it's going to take some time to sand them but I'm willing to do it.... thanks...

 

How about using one of those B&D mouse sanders with about a 500 grit to start with and work your way to 1500 grit? How do you plan to do the fins in the wheels?

 

It will be worth it! Just be patient and take it one wheel at a time.

 

Oh dude, it's painful. I am halfway through my first rim on my 91, and coinncidentally, it's a steel blue coupe also! I stripped the clearcoat, the silver paint, and some sort of gray undercoat or base coat with heavy duty paint stripper to get down to the bare aluminum. That part is relatively easy, but this is where it gets tough.....

The painted surface is smooth, however the bare aluminum isn't. While with a great deal of work the top surface can be sanded (wetsand from 300 grit, to a 600 grit, to a 1000 grit to a 1500 grit) the blades are another story. Also, the area around the centre of the rim is very rough and tough to work.

The guys who have the factory machined 93-96 rims that choose to re-finish them have a far easier process because they only have to do the top flat surfaces (and not the blades) and they are working from a smooth finished surface. They basically only have to remove the clearcoat and polish the rim. Still a lot of work, but nothing compared to those of us with the 91-2 sawblades.

The moral of the story...? I think, if I knew what I know now, I probably wouldn't havse started this project. I can't even see light at the end of the tunnel on the first rim, much less contemplate the other 3. Again, the flat surfaces aren't too bad (but still a lot of work), it's the blades that are a nightmare, and we have no choice but to do the whoile rim because trhere is no 'edge' at the edge of the blades, like on the 93-96 rims. I have a set of reproduction ZR1's ordered that should arrive this week (in the plans before I started this project) and so once i get those mounted I think I'll give it a few more hours and one last solid effort on the sanding. If I don't get some good success, I think I will try to repaint and re-clear the rim and then repaint and re-clear the other rims to match (I plan to keep and use the full two sets of rims and tires). If that fails, I'll be searching for a new RH 9.5" sawblade.. I already put out a feeler in the parts wanted section to see if anyone had one kicking around but no luck yet. If I had the spare one and knew I could use it as a falllback I wouldn't be so afraid to try some different techniques on the rim I'm working on.

Anyways, that's my .02 worth. I have pictures that I uploaded this morning in "My Corvette Photos", and that includes a few shots of the wheel project. There is at least one before, one with the stripper working on the paint, and one where I am at today.. Please take a look when they are approved and viewable and email or reply to this thread if you have any other questions. Good luck if you decide to take it one! And if you find any succesful techniques please let me know!

Scott

 

You are preaching to the choir! I bought these 91 rims at Carlisle and had them plastic-beaded (here is a pic afterwards)
It looked like such a daunting job that I sold them on Ebay to a guy in Australia. He had the right equipment and had experience with polishing aluminum so he did not mind. If anyone is thinking of doing this then go with the later machined wheels. Just like he said. It would be much easier starting out with the later ones! I found some older used Rikens here on the forum and will be staying with the 16" tires on my 87 for a while. At least it will look a bit different!

 

I want to see a photo of the car with the ZR-1 style rims also when you get them... I like that look....

 

90SteelBlueCoupe.... I have some pics of a 90 steel blue coupe that another forum member sent me when I was trying to decide whether to get painted or polished ZR1 rims. PM me your email and I will send you the pics.