wheels question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
wheels question
Buying some OEM Chrome Gumbys from a fellow CF member who took them off a 2010. He seems like a good guy and the wheels look to be in excellent shape.
I had a question about trying to do something to the barrel of the wheels before I put them on. They look painted and are probably clearcoated. Don't know for sure.
Is there anything I can do to the barrels to protect them further? Extra clearcoat, maybe?
A Corvette guy here in Tampa suggested painting the barrels silver and then clearcoating them but I would think you have strip off whatever is there to do that and that seems like a bit much.
Just wanted to know if there is anything I can do to preserve the barrel a little longer, keeping from pitting as long as possible and make it a little easier to clean.
I don't have the ability to get them off the car and clean them when I want.
I had a question about trying to do something to the barrel of the wheels before I put them on. They look painted and are probably clearcoated. Don't know for sure.
Is there anything I can do to the barrels to protect them further? Extra clearcoat, maybe?
A Corvette guy here in Tampa suggested painting the barrels silver and then clearcoating them but I would think you have strip off whatever is there to do that and that seems like a bit much.
Just wanted to know if there is anything I can do to preserve the barrel a little longer, keeping from pitting as long as possible and make it a little easier to clean.
I don't have the ability to get them off the car and clean them when I want.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 13
From: Loveland CO to Central Coast CA
I also have chrome gumby wheels. The barrels are definitely painted. But they don't look clearcoated to me (could be wrong about that).
I'm guessing you think the paint protects bare metal. Not so.
Under the paint, the wheel barrel is actually chrome... from the link below:
If you decide to remove the paint, here's a detailed "how-to":
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...me-gumbys.html
That's definitely more than I'd ever do -- probably you, too.
I haven't heard of anyone putting extra protection on the barrel paint. Anyway, I think cleaning 'em regularly does more to preserve them. A wheel brush helps, I'm going to try this one next: http://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html
And I use a wheel wax to protect exposed chrome: http://www.wheelwax.com/.
I'm guessing you think the paint protects bare metal. Not so.
Under the paint, the wheel barrel is actually chrome... from the link below:
If you decide to remove the paint, here's a detailed "how-to":
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...me-gumbys.html
That's definitely more than I'd ever do -- probably you, too.
I haven't heard of anyone putting extra protection on the barrel paint. Anyway, I think cleaning 'em regularly does more to preserve them. A wheel brush helps, I'm going to try this one next: http://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html
And I use a wheel wax to protect exposed chrome: http://www.wheelwax.com/.
Last edited by CO Lightfoot; May 13, 2011 at 06:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,199
Likes: 233
From: "Nowhere Man"
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Don't have Gumby's on mine but as far as protection, I'd Rejex the hell out of the barrel. Also I think Armoral has a new product for wheels and some members have had good luck with.
A good coating of either and a Daytona Brush, the grime should wash right off during the next washing.
Gotta pull my wheels and give them (the barrels) a good cleaning.
A good coating of either and a Daytona Brush, the grime should wash right off during the next washing.
Gotta pull my wheels and give them (the barrels) a good cleaning.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,278
Likes: 550
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
My suspicion - and I don't know this for sure, by any means - is that the chrome on the barrels is just flash that results from chroming the front side of the wheel. If so, that would make it pretty thin and not likely to hold up well.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
Don't have Gumby's on mine but as far as protection, I'd Rejex the hell out of the barrel. Also I think Armoral has a new product for wheels and some members have had good luck with.
A good coating of either and a Daytona Brush, the grime should wash right off during the next washing.
Gotta pull my wheels and give them (the barrels) a good cleaning.
A good coating of either and a Daytona Brush, the grime should wash right off during the next washing.
Gotta pull my wheels and give them (the barrels) a good cleaning.
You know, you swear you are not going to buy anything until you use all the Armour-all wipes you got for Christmas (and I don't use Armour-All). Someone actually gave me an Armour-All six pack. There is like glass wipes, interior wipes, tire wipes - you name it. And of course, the wipes are a size of a piece of toilet paper.
I'm gonna re-gift next time.
