C5 thinspoke question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
C5 thinspoke question
Are these wheels actual chrome or just polished with clearcoat? Reason I am asking is because the finish is flaking off and I want to get them powder coated black.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
Mine are OEM. I read these are prone to cracking...I also read that powder coating can reduce the structural integrity of the wheel, which scares me a bit. Is this true? Another downside is I won't be able to see cracks if the wheel is all black. I got these wheels for $700 but they came with new tires. I am wondering if I should just forget about the powder coating until the tires are worn down, then simply get some c5z OEMs or something. Thoughts on the safety of powder coating?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
I along with many friends have aluminum parts on our boats that are anodized, and subjected to much stress, and I can not recall ever hearing of anodizing causing any structural failures. It is just a surface treatment, just a few thousands thick, and is a chemical reaction.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
I have the Deluxe High Polish Wheels (QF5 option) on my car. When I bought it there was some mild curb rash on them.
??
My question, what is the best way to smooth out the rash and restore them ??
??
My question, what is the best way to smooth out the rash and restore them ??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 326
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I think powdercoating is frowned uopn on wheels usually cause it is so durable that if you ever get any cracks --they are hidden under the paint and not visible--
As far as fixing yours--it's a toss up-May be cheaper just to buy all 4 aftermarket ones or some nice take-offs----Problem if you just fix one of your wheels --it won't match the others !! Every chromer does it just a little differently and the finishes are different-
Depends on how picky you are--LOL--
As far as fixing yours--it's a toss up-May be cheaper just to buy all 4 aftermarket ones or some nice take-offs----Problem if you just fix one of your wheels --it won't match the others !! Every chromer does it just a little differently and the finishes are different-
Depends on how picky you are--LOL--
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
Don't do it !! Black powder coating isn't a good idea, especially with the High Polish wheels. I recently looked at a set that had been PC black, and it was coming off, they looked terrible, and the wheels were, in my opinion, worthless. I just bought a set of 2002 C5 standard spoke rims, the silver not polished, with center caps, lug nuts and caps, and wheel locks, in excellent condition, for $150. I'm going to use them to mount a set of tire for autocross only.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Miramar FL
Your could see if you have a local shop that specializes in reconditioning rims. I have a local shop here in South Florida that reconditions rims and they come out looking as if they were new. They get alot of orders from dealers and body shops.
I was impressed when I saw their work, so I am going to have my oem aluminum alloy rims on my Ford truck reconditioned there. They have a little bit of curb rash and a little corrosion in some spots.
I was impressed when I saw their work, so I am going to have my oem aluminum alloy rims on my Ford truck reconditioned there. They have a little bit of curb rash and a little corrosion in some spots.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
What about stripping the clear coat and just keeping a lot of wax on them for protection? I am pretty sure I can strip the clear and polish out most of the damage myself. Just not sure about reapplying clear coat.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 345
Likes: 5
From: Miami Florida
Your could see if you have a local shop that specializes in reconditioning rims. I have a local shop here in South Florida that reconditions rims and they come out looking as if they were new. They get alot of orders from dealers and body shops.
I was impressed when I saw their work, so I am going to have my oem aluminum alloy rims on my Ford truck reconditioned there. They have a little bit of curb rash and a little corrosion in some spots.
I was impressed when I saw their work, so I am going to have my oem aluminum alloy rims on my Ford truck reconditioned there. They have a little bit of curb rash and a little corrosion in some spots.
You seem to know all the best places here in So Fla.
I got my rotors plated at the shop you recommended and they came out incredible. I just haven't found the time to install them.
By the way, do you know of a place that will rent me a lift for half a day?
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Miramar FL
So Soly took care of you at the plate shop. Glad to hear your happy with their work (I was very happy as well). Just curious if you mentioned to her that another corvette owner had taken his rotors there?
I'm a cop in Hialeah so I get to know all the businesses in the areas I patrol. Hialeah has a ton businesses in just about anything you could think of.
I will sent you a PM shortly on the wheel shop.
To the OP, sorry - didn't mean to get off topic or hijack the thread.
I'm a cop in Hialeah so I get to know all the businesses in the areas I patrol. Hialeah has a ton businesses in just about anything you could think of.
I will sent you a PM shortly on the wheel shop.
To the OP, sorry - didn't mean to get off topic or hijack the thread.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Miramar FL
What about stripping the clear coat and just keeping a lot of wax on them for protection? I am pretty sure I can strip the clear and polish out most of the damage myself. Just not sure about reapplying clear coat
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
Personally, I wouldn't do it myself. If you have all the proper equipment and the skills, then you could give it a try. Also, if you strip the clear coat, you will be constantly trying to keeps those rims polished, I would suggest you have them clear coated again after you have them polished out.
. I would be ok with up to $100 per wheel. Anything more than that and I will just live with it. My goal this year is to make my car look very clean/new looking. Swirls out of the paint. New front air dams. Engine bay cleaned. Refoaming my driver's seat. Replacing some interior panels. I am ok with the wheels being the last part 
. I just figured I would bump this thread because I will be taking the wheels off soon for a new set of tires.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Miramar FL
Probably costs a ton to take it somewhere .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I'm an engineer and powder coating CAN weaken wheels. IF you use the high temperature process for baking the powder coating, it will anneal the aluminum (weaken it). One guy did this and all his spokes broke during a track event!
There is a low temperature process which should be okay. Do not approach 400 F, see following quote:
"Powder coating is an excellent finish for aluminum surfaces. It is very durable and highly resistant to corrosion.
With forgings, the powder coating heat cure process should always be done by a professional facility that has experience in coating forged alloys.
To much heat for too long a time and you will reduce the strength and the Brinell harness of the alloy. NOT GOOD! 300 degrees for 30 minutes is all we recommend."
__________________
Mike Burroughs
Forged Alloys USA
Tech1 Forged Alloy Wheels
Excellence through Engineering
mike@forgedalloysUSA.com
There is a low temperature process which should be okay. Do not approach 400 F, see following quote:
"Powder coating is an excellent finish for aluminum surfaces. It is very durable and highly resistant to corrosion.
With forgings, the powder coating heat cure process should always be done by a professional facility that has experience in coating forged alloys.
To much heat for too long a time and you will reduce the strength and the Brinell harness of the alloy. NOT GOOD! 300 degrees for 30 minutes is all we recommend."
__________________
Mike Burroughs
Forged Alloys USA
Tech1 Forged Alloy Wheels
Excellence through Engineering
mike@forgedalloysUSA.com
Last edited by Oldvetter; Jan 5, 2012 at 09:53 PM.
