I want shiney wheels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Denton Texas
I want shiney wheels
I don't do anything to my '01 vert without running it by my friends at Corvette Forum. Thank you in advance.
The wheels on my Vett are stock. I have no interest in changing wheels. but mine aren't shiney and I can't seem to polish them up to make them shiney.
What do I do ? There must be some kind of polish to make them shine. Do I need a buffer ?
Again, thank you. MY heads up works now. My climate control is visible. My seat doesn't rock. My mirror doesn't rattle. My oil pressure gauge works. And I'm about to install a hyperflash to fix my turn indicators. All because of the help I've gotten here.
Joe
The wheels on my Vett are stock. I have no interest in changing wheels. but mine aren't shiney and I can't seem to polish them up to make them shiney.
What do I do ? There must be some kind of polish to make them shine. Do I need a buffer ?
Again, thank you. MY heads up works now. My climate control is visible. My seat doesn't rock. My mirror doesn't rattle. My oil pressure gauge works. And I'm about to install a hyperflash to fix my turn indicators. All because of the help I've gotten here.
Joe
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,204
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
If they are stock thin spokes, they are covered by a clear coat that ages dull. If you truly want shiny wheels, but keep your wheels, you'll have to strip off the clear coat and polish the aluminum beneath. There is a stripper you can apply to the wheel that will dissolve the clear, but I have never used it. The easy way would be to have your wheels chromed, or exchange them with one of the chromers.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 3
From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
remove the clear and polish them yourself with a polishing kit, then either clear coat them or use a sealant such as Zoopseal.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,602
Likes: 970
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Here is one link I found with Googel, http://www.thepontiactransampage.com/clear.html
There were more, so just typr Clearcoat Stripper and you will get all the info you need.
There were more, so just typr Clearcoat Stripper and you will get all the info you need.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,611
Likes: 24,865
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If they are stock thin spokes, they are covered by a clear coat that ages dull. If you truly want shiny wheels, but keep your wheels, you'll have to strip off the clear coat and polish the aluminum beneath. There is a stripper you can apply to the wheel that will dissolve the clear, but I have never used it. The easy way would be to have your wheels chromed, or exchange them with one of the chromers.
Those are basically your choices if you want to keep the wheels you already have.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: New Hope Pa
Buy a spray can of " Aircraft stripper" its widely available. (Blue can with airplane picture). It will cut right through the wheel coating. It stings like crazy if you get it in your eye.
You can then polish your thin spokes, they will shine like a mirror without the coating. Mine did.
Needless to say take the wheels off the car first because its not particular about what paint it strips.
Joe
You can then polish your thin spokes, they will shine like a mirror without the coating. Mine did.
Needless to say take the wheels off the car first because its not particular about what paint it strips.
Joe
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,071
Likes: 1,293
From: Central Ma
Before you get carried away with stripping the existing clear, pull the wheels and polish them yourself. I used the same products that I use on my car. If you have a buffer use it. After that if you're not happy then explore other options.
This doesn't look that good because it's reflecting the stones off the asphalt.
This doesn't look that good because it's reflecting the stones off the asphalt.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I don't do anything to my '01 vert without running it by my friends at Corvette Forum. Thank you in advance.
The wheels on my Vett are stock. I have no interest in changing wheels. but mine aren't shiney and I can't seem to polish them up to make them shiney.
What do I do ? There must be some kind of polish to make them shine. Do I need a buffer ?
Again, thank you. MY heads up works now. My climate control is visible. My seat doesn't rock. My mirror doesn't rattle. My oil pressure gauge works. And I'm about to install a hyperflash to fix my turn indicators. All because of the help I've gotten here.
Joe
The wheels on my Vett are stock. I have no interest in changing wheels. but mine aren't shiney and I can't seem to polish them up to make them shiney.
What do I do ? There must be some kind of polish to make them shine. Do I need a buffer ?
Again, thank you. MY heads up works now. My climate control is visible. My seat doesn't rock. My mirror doesn't rattle. My oil pressure gauge works. And I'm about to install a hyperflash to fix my turn indicators. All because of the help I've gotten here.
Joe
http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-videos.aspx
Thanks,Matt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 930
Likes: 13
From: Aiken SC
Just finished my painted thin spokes the other day. There's more to it than just stripping the clear coat & polishing them. Once you strip the clear coat (& paint), the finished aluminum has a texture to it. It is not flat as it looks painted. The factory polished thin spokes have a flat surface without any texture, so this is the look I wanted. Had to sand the texture off, which is not easy. Once that's done, lots of time wet sanding to a perfect flat finish. This was really time consuming, not a couple of hours job, (couple of days for each wheel). Then the fun part of polishing them. Also did the backside and it looks like a mirror now. The wheels look great, like chrome. Just don't expect to throw some stripper on it & it done.
tracer1
tracer1
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
FYI....I'm going to try this on my one milky Y2K thin spoke wheel (Discount Tire screw up replacement wheel
). Just ordered a 3" polishing kit.
I'm going to try it with 3M Rubbing (awesome product) and drill.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...ine-again.html
). Just ordered a 3" polishing kit.I'm going to try it with 3M Rubbing (awesome product) and drill.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...ine-again.html