Refinish Z06 Wheels
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,036
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Refinish Z06 Wheels
I just got my hands on a set of stock size aftermarket chrome Z06 wheels for $200. The chrome is in ok shape, they look really good from a few feet away, but up close they are fairly pitted and chipped. I'd like to get them sandblasted and repaint them myself.
I have a black car, I was thinking of either painting them flat black, gloss black, silver, chrome paint, or possibly just polishing up the bare aluminum. Anything I do, I'll have to do to the caps as well to make them match. What would you suggest?
I have a black car, I was thinking of either painting them flat black, gloss black, silver, chrome paint, or possibly just polishing up the bare aluminum. Anything I do, I'll have to do to the caps as well to make them match. What would you suggest?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Hillsborough NC
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Competition Gray might look cool. It's light enough to provide just enough contrast with your black car and the fronts won't instantly look different from the rears when you get a little brake dust on them.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Houston TX
Since they are chrome, you'd need to get them stripped before painting or polishing them. Most chrome shops will be able to do it for you. By the time you are said and done on refinishing these professionally, it may be cheaper to just sell the reps and get some OEM Z06 wheels.
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I was at a Dodge dealer today and saw a brand new SRT Viper there. Had hyperblack wheels on it and I must say, those wheels looked awesome. If you could do a similar treatment to your wheels, I think they would look great.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
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That is a nice look. Ugh, it's going to be a good while before I can afford to put the proper rubber on these to use them. I just dropped $700 on my all-seasons a few months ago. I really can't afford another $800 for a set of summer tires now. Oh well, I have plenty of time to get these wheels right I suppose. Just how bad would it look/would it even work to put stock sized coupe tires on c5 z06 wheels?
Last edited by jrp1588; Apr 18, 2014 at 12:48 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: ABQ NM
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They'll work (rears more so than the fronts), just not optimum sizing for the Z06's widths from a performance standpoint. As to looks, I suppose they'll be stretched a bit - whether it will bother you I can't say. Good luck whatever you decide.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 119
I think I will look into having them stripped at a chrome shop. The more I read about sandblasting chrome wheels, the riskier it sounds. Sounds like they either have to use a softer blasting material that would take forever and cost a lot, or use sand and risk ruining the wheels. Not sure if we have any shops in the area that chrome things though.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
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From: Houston TX
Agree. He should sell these and buy some oem z06 wheels if that is what he wants. If not, these will be the most expensive cheap wheels out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
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Likes: 9
If you went through the hassle of stripping them, you would want to powdercoat them too. Regular paint won't last long on wheels, even the factory electrostaticly paints wheels. First time tires were mounted, you paint would probably have "issues". I see the Grey OEM Z06 wheels all the time on craigslist.
