Please identify these wheels
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
No need to strip off the clear coat. Polish the clear coat with Meguiars M105 (aggressive compound), then polish again with Meguiars M205 (light compound), then apply your favorite wax. The polishing compounds listed above are available at Pep Boys, WalMart, Harbor Freight, etc.
Try a small spot on one of your wheels. You can do it by hand or with a buffer if you have one. You have the same wheels as I do and the polished aluminum is under there. The clear coat has just been damaged with wheel cleaners. Polish it up and you will be amazed at what they can look like.
Try a small spot on one of your wheels. You can do it by hand or with a buffer if you have one. You have the same wheels as I do and the polished aluminum is under there. The clear coat has just been damaged with wheel cleaners. Polish it up and you will be amazed at what they can look like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
No need to strip off the clear coat. Polish the clear coat with Meguiars M105 (aggressive compound), then polish again with Meguiars M205 (light compound), then apply your favorite wax. The polishing compounds listed above are available at Pep Boys, WalMart, Harbor Freight, etc.
Try a small spot on one of your wheels. You can do it by hand or with a buffer if you have one. You have the same wheels as I do and the polished aluminum is under there. The clear coat has just been damaged with wheel cleaners. Polish it up and you will be amazed at what they can look like.
Try a small spot on one of your wheels. You can do it by hand or with a buffer if you have one. You have the same wheels as I do and the polished aluminum is under there. The clear coat has just been damaged with wheel cleaners. Polish it up and you will be amazed at what they can look like.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Harrison Arkansas
Wheel Codes
Well, my mistake...the code in the glove box says QG7, polished aluminum? They sure look like chrome to me and the manager of two tire shops...maybe they got changed out at some point before my taking ownership. After I take them off, I'll make sure of their finish but as for now, I'll not sell them as chrome. Also, if the center caps fit my new wheels I'm keeping them and there will be a plain, unmarked chrome center cap that will stay with the wheels I take off. Sorry if I got anybody excited about some new wheels, but since I'm not 100% that these are chrome, I won't sell them unless the buyer looks at them first. Does anyone know if the code is stamped on the wheel?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
I just remembered something from my days (22 years) in the Navy when I was living aboard the USS Glecier GB 1 ice breaker, we had bare aluminium locker where we had all our clothes, and some of the guys used Braso on them and made them look like chrome.
But that was on bare metal, so I don't know if I could do that on the wheels.
They sure looked good though.
But that was on bare metal, so I don't know if I could do that on the wheels.
They sure looked good though.
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Harrison Arkansas
Stock?
I posted this in another thread, the glove box code says polished aluminum not chrome. I had two tire shop managers tell me they are chrome but after seeing the polished wheels on this thread I'm really not sure. I don't know if they have been replaced or just a beautiful job of polishing. My new wheels are due in today so sometime this week I'll have them off and for sale. There is about 26k on them and still in excellent condition. They are used so I won't say perfect condition. Valve stem/sensors are not included and the center caps will be plain chrome unless the logo caps won't fit my new wheels. After they are off I will clean them and take close-up pics. $500.00 plus whatever shipping is. I'm in Harrison, Arkansas
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 113
From: Brick NJ
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
From the videos, that will be shiny enough for me and I can put the money to a better use for new tires.
If that fails I can always get the chrome rims later. I'm not in any hurry.
And every time I have spent $$$ on my car to make it look better, I have never recouped any of the money when I sold the car. I lost $3,000 on an SLK 320 I just sold. So I'm not putting a lot of money into this car until I think I will keep it for a long long time.
Thanks for all the great comments and info you all have given.
G
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
M105, then M205 followed by Rejex. I am sure any polishing compounds and waxes will give the same results.
I did this one time in May 2014 and since then I just put a coat of Rejex on them a couple of times per year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
I just remembered something from my days (22 years) in the Navy when I was living aboard the USS Glecier GB 1 ice breaker, we had bare aluminium locker where we had all our clothes, and some of the guys used Braso on them and made them look like chrome.
But that was on bare metal, so I don't know if I could do that on the wheels.
They sure looked good though.
But that was on bare metal, so I don't know if I could do that on the wheels.
They sure looked good though.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I had one guy here pm me a couple of times insisting they were chrome. First thing I did when I bought the car was to check the code in the glove box to see what I was dealing with because the wheels pretty dull (similar to OP on this thread). Brought out the polish and the Porter Cable and went to work. Finished them off with Rejex and they have looked like this for over three years.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
Nice wheels, discs and calipers.
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Harrison Arkansas
Polished not Chrome
Yesterday I changed my wheels and they are polished not chrome. Look just like gordosoar's pics. I am going to sell them and after I clean and polish them I'll post some pics and all information. Thunderstorms today and tomorrow so it may be Thurs. or Fri. before I can get some good pics.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
Yesterday I changed my wheels and they are polished not chrome. Look just like gordosoar's pics. I am going to sell them and after I clean and polish them I'll post some pics and all information. Thunderstorms today and tomorrow so it may be Thurs. or Fri. before I can get some good pics.
I would be very interested in how they come out.
Just Gordo is fine.
G
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Harrison Arkansas
Got my wheels changed out yeaterday!
They cleaned up nicely. There are some scratches and minor dings but, they are eight years old. Condition is very good not excellent because there are scratches that do not show up in the pics.
Specs are as follows:
Original 2009 polished aluminum base Corvette wheels with chrome aftermarket center caps. Valve stem/sensors are not included. The wheels were actually manufactured in '08 indicated by the yellow sticker.
Front: 18"x8.5"
Offset: 56mm
Backspace: 6.95
Tire size: 245/40 Z R18
Rear: 19"x10"
Offset: 79mm
Backspace: 8.61
Tire size: 285/35 Z R19
Asking $500.00 plus shipping from northwest Arkansas. Payment must be received prior to shipping.
Wheels are cleaned, polished, boxed and ready to ship. Local pick-up is preferred. Wheels are packed two per box, one front and one rear.
ronthomas@***.net
Specs are as follows:
Original 2009 polished aluminum base Corvette wheels with chrome aftermarket center caps. Valve stem/sensors are not included. The wheels were actually manufactured in '08 indicated by the yellow sticker.
Front: 18"x8.5"
Offset: 56mm
Backspace: 6.95
Tire size: 245/40 Z R18
Rear: 19"x10"
Offset: 79mm
Backspace: 8.61
Tire size: 285/35 Z R19
Asking $500.00 plus shipping from northwest Arkansas. Payment must be received prior to shipping.
Wheels are cleaned, polished, boxed and ready to ship. Local pick-up is preferred. Wheels are packed two per box, one front and one rear.
ronthomas@***.net
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
They cleaned up nicely. There are some scratches and minor dings but, they are eight years old. Condition is very good not excellent because there are scratches that do not show up in the pics.
Specs are as follows:
Original 2009 polished aluminum base Corvette wheels with chrome aftermarket center caps. Valve stem/sensors are not included. The wheels were actually manufactured in '08 indicated by the yellow sticker.
Front: 18"x8.5"
Offset: 56mm
Backspace: 6.95
Tire size: 245/40 Z R18
Rear: 19"x10"
Offset: 79mm
Backspace: 8.61
Tire size: 285/35 Z R19
Asking $500.00 plus shipping from northwest Arkansas. Payment must be received prior to shipping.
Wheels are cleaned, polished, boxed and ready to ship. Local pick-up is preferred. Wheels are packed two per box, one front and one rear.
ronthomas@***.net
Specs are as follows:
Original 2009 polished aluminum base Corvette wheels with chrome aftermarket center caps. Valve stem/sensors are not included. The wheels were actually manufactured in '08 indicated by the yellow sticker.
Front: 18"x8.5"
Offset: 56mm
Backspace: 6.95
Tire size: 245/40 Z R18
Rear: 19"x10"
Offset: 79mm
Backspace: 8.61
Tire size: 285/35 Z R19
Asking $500.00 plus shipping from northwest Arkansas. Payment must be received prior to shipping.
Wheels are cleaned, polished, boxed and ready to ship. Local pick-up is preferred. Wheels are packed two per box, one front and one rear.
ronthomas@***.net
Can you tell me how you did that?
I took a close look at mine today and I see they are polished aluminum with clear coat (not painted silver as I thought) on them. That being said, I don't see how I can make them shine like chrome without first removing the clear coat first.
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Harrison Arkansas
Polished Aluminum
I kept my original center caps with the Corvette logo. They fit my new 2015 Stingray wheels. The clear coat on my original wheels is still in very good condition as they have never had any harsh chemicals, cleaners, etc.. Once the clear becomes cloudy, it's pretty much over leaving three options...1. Remove the remaining clear and begin the "constant" job of polishing. 2. Have them stripped and re-clear coated. 3. Buy some new wheels. Good Luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
From: Beverly Hills Florida
I kept my original center caps with the Corvette logo. They fit my new 2015 Stingray wheels. The clear coat on my original wheels is still in very good condition as they have never had any harsh chemicals, cleaners, etc.. Once the clear becomes cloudy, it's pretty much over leaving three options...1. Remove the remaining clear and begin the "constant" job of polishing. 2. Have them stripped and re-clear coated. 3. Buy some new wheels. Good Luck!