C5 Wheel Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
C5 Wheel Question
I have a nice '97 C5 that I bought in 1999. In about the year 2000 I bought a set of the then new style thin 5 spoke, chrome wheels. I got them from either Corvette Mike or West Coast Corvettes. They cost about $1600 then. They looked great I was real happy with them until the chrome started to come off. My problems started about the time the warranty on the wheels ran out. This started in the inner part of the wheel first behind the spokes and has stayed for the most part in that area. However, the 'delamination' has moved onto the spokes themselves on a couple of the wheels.
Here is my question: I want to sell the wheels. Would it be best to sandblast these wheels and paint them black (or perhaps silver) before advertising them for sale or sell them (or at least try to) 'as is'? The wheels are fine in every respenct except for this delamination problem. I bought some used GM thin spoke wheels.
Any idea what these wheels would be worth?
Thanks for any advice.
Mike
Here is my question: I want to sell the wheels. Would it be best to sandblast these wheels and paint them black (or perhaps silver) before advertising them for sale or sell them (or at least try to) 'as is'? The wheels are fine in every respenct except for this delamination problem. I bought some used GM thin spoke wheels.
Any idea what these wheels would be worth?
Thanks for any advice.
Mike
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,036
Likes: 9,798
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
They aren't worth much with the chrome peeling off. I would sell them as is. Painting them isn't going to bring up the price that much. Even if you stripped the chrome, polished and clear coated them so they looked like regular high polish wheels they still wouldn't be worth that much. For example there is a set of Z06 OEM chromed wheels for sale that are so called pristine on the parts forum for $850. If you rechromed yours it would cost more than that to make your wheels pristine. Excellent stock thin spokes go for $500 to $600 maybe less. A good strip and repaint job could easily cost more than that if you have somebody else do it.
You should inspect the wheels for cracks near the base of the spokes as a lot of the OEM thin spokes have been showing cracks in this area lately. If they are cracked you might as well see how much money the scrap aluminum is worth.
Bill
You should inspect the wheels for cracks near the base of the spokes as a lot of the OEM thin spokes have been showing cracks in this area lately. If they are cracked you might as well see how much money the scrap aluminum is worth.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
I have the same problem as RedVetteMike, but they were on the car when I bought it.
I've been looking for that set of "OEM thinspokes in excellent condition for 5 - 600 $ ,maybe less". No joy. Any at that price have curb rash.
Was looking at the wheel exchange program, but since these are after market, no go there. Without a set to send them, the factory oems that they then chrome are like $1300.
Good luck.
I've been looking for that set of "OEM thinspokes in excellent condition for 5 - 600 $ ,maybe less". No joy. Any at that price have curb rash.
Was looking at the wheel exchange program, but since these are after market, no go there. Without a set to send them, the factory oems that they then chrome are like $1300.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
They aren't worth much with the chrome peeling off. I would sell them as is. Painting them isn't going to bring up the price that much. Even if you stripped the chrome, polished and clear coated them so they looked like regular high polish wheels they still wouldn't be worth that much. For example there is a set of Z06 OEM chromed wheels for sale that are so called pristine on the parts forum for $850. If you rechromed yours it would cost more than that to make your wheels pristine. Excellent stock thin spokes go for $500 to $600 maybe less. A good strip and repaint job could easily cost more than that if you have somebody else do it.
You should inspect the wheels for cracks near the base of the spokes as a lot of the OEM thin spokes have been showing cracks in this area lately. If they are cracked you might as well see how much money the scrap aluminum is worth.
Bill
You should inspect the wheels for cracks near the base of the spokes as a lot of the OEM thin spokes have been showing cracks in this area lately. If they are cracked you might as well see how much money the scrap aluminum is worth.
Bill
Mike
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: somewhere on tour as jake blues ohio
guys
i might be wrong but the wheels are not chrome
they are polished aluminim
you can send them off and have them machined for about 150.00 a wheel i have seen several people on the forum that have done this or you can strip off the clear coat and polish them but i hear it is a pita
i might be wrong but the wheels are not chrome
they are polished aluminim
you can send them off and have them machined for about 150.00 a wheel i have seen several people on the forum that have done this or you can strip off the clear coat and polish them but i hear it is a pita
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
guys
i might be wrong but the wheels are not chrome
they are polished aluminim
you can send them off and have them machined for about 150.00 a wheel i have seen several people on the forum that have done this or you can strip off the clear coat and polish them but i hear it is a pita
i might be wrong but the wheels are not chrome
they are polished aluminim
you can send them off and have them machined for about 150.00 a wheel i have seen several people on the forum that have done this or you can strip off the clear coat and polish them but i hear it is a pita
I see some guys that have these thin spoke wheels that have been painted black. Perhaps someone would like to have a set painted black. Rigth now, they are just taking up space. I wish I had my $1600 back.
Mike
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Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 478
Likes: 1
From: Newark de
I am looking for a set of fronts for track wheels. Peeling chrome doesn't matter to me. I will buy them as is. Please send me an Email as to how much you want for them. Thanks I need these asap, your post is at a great time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,108
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
Redvette,I bought a set from West coast,and had a piece of the coating on the backspace about the size of a quarter chip off ,no chrome problems though,they look great after 7yrs.Thinking about replacing that one wheel as we put Buckwheat in a lot of shows.The price of these rims has come down to as little as 160$ ea. on the net.
