Z06 Painted wheels
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver B.C.
Here are my Z06 Alcoa wheels. There are two kinds of OEM Z06 wheels. The spun-cast Speedlines have slightly fatter spokes than the forged Alcoas; both can be polished. Panther polished the face of the spokes and the lips. The rest of the wheel was painted silver and then the whole wheel was clear coated. This was cheaper than polishing the whole wheel. I know others who have had the faces polished and the spokes and barrels painted to match the car. I prefer the look of the partly polished and partly painted wheel. I used the center caps from my stock polished thin spokes and they match the polished Z06 wheels perfectly.
Last edited by jornahow; Dec 12, 2013 at 11:43 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
Likes: 971
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Ok, I got her back just in time for us NW NewJerseyans to get blasted with 6-10" of snow tomorrow morning. Since we already had snow earlier in the week, the salt zealots have provided car owners the enviable opportunity to have white sparkling dust/spray on our cars for who knows how long. Hence my so-so pix, taken in the dark with the help of my ancient Super8 movie light. What I CAN tell you is the work is superb and recommend USA Wheels of Fairfield enthusiastically. Hopefully the car will see daylight and perhaps a cleaning so I can take proper pix. This was the most exciting mod I've ever done on a car, which is why I'd rather show mediocre pix rather than wait till spring!!
Last edited by chasboy; Dec 13, 2013 at 07:34 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
Ok, I got her back just in time for us NW NewJerseyans to get blasted with 6-10" of snow tomorrow morning. Since we already had snow earlier in the week, the salt zealots have provided car owners the enviable opportunity to have white sparkling dust/spray on our cars for who knows how long. Hence my so-so pix, taken in the dark with the help of my ancient Super8 movie light. What I CAN tell you is the work is superb and recommend USA Wheels of Fairfield enthusiastically. Hopefully the car will see daylight and perhaps a cleaning so I can take proper pix. This was the most exciting mod I've ever done on a car, which is why I'd rather show mediocre pix rather than wait till spring!!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
Likes: 971
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Kreees, I like the stock height, but after reviewing the pix, the problems with the lighting really do make the car look lifted !
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Hercules CA
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Yes it is, the cover was already on, I just lifted it for the pic. Since I just got done cleaning 4" of ice crusted snow, it was either put it back or have the car beaten up by Ma Nature. Of course the inner cotton flannel cover will get washed ASAP.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
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From: Phoenix area, AZ
This makes absolutely no sense at all. GM does not have multiple variations of the same part made with different metal qualities. They're all just the same part that either has paint+clear coat or polished+clear coat. The surface might be slightly different in its finish, but the metal itself is going to be exactly the same. I think he was giving you a load of BS because he didn't want to hand-polish.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
This makes absolutely no sense at all. GM does not have multiple variations of the same part made with different metal qualities. They're all just the same part that either has paint+clear coat or polished+clear coat. The surface might be slightly different in its finish, but the metal itself is going to be exactly the same. I think he was giving you a load of BS because he didn't want to hand-polish.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,766
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Whether GM makes exactly the same wheel for polishing or painting is something I can't debate. Makes sense to me to make only one wheel. He was talking in general, not just GM. However, he was perfectly willing to polish the entire wheel for only $50 more. <I> asked him about other styles.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
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Likes: 156
Here are my Z06 Alcoa wheels. There are two kinds of OEM Z06 wheels. The spun-cast Speedlines have slightly fatter spokes than the forged Alcoas; both can be polished. Panther polished the face of the spokes and the lips. The rest of the wheel was painted silver and then the whole wheel was clear coated. This was cheaper than polishing the whole wheel. I know others who have had the faces polished and the spokes and barrels painted to match the car. I prefer the look of the partly polished and partly painted wheel. I used the center caps from my stock polished thin spokes and they match the polished Z06 wheels perfectly.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Apple Valley, CA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I don't see why they can't be stripped, polished and cleared. They are aluminum after all. But I would think they would require a lot of work to get it done. Here was a post on the forum a while back that will give you some idea what it was like to strip and polish some thin spoke wheels.