refurbing wheels

[WelshGTA]

i want to spray the wheels on the gta to make them look a little better. is there any paticular paint i should be using. i've done it before and it looked ok but i want it to look really good this time so want to do it properly. also noticed that someone put the front wheels on the back and vice versa........can't imagine who that could have been

[banker]

also noticed that someone put the front wheels on the back and vice versa........can't imagine who that could have been

Same person who has his keyboard upside down too methinks

If you want to do the wheels yourself rather than sending them off make sure you do a lot of prep.
The best way to do the inners is to powder coat them, if you want to spray them yourself you can still get a reasonable finish but less durable than powder coat.

I rubbed all the faces of the honeycomb design using a Dremmel which saved time and then used a zinc primer followed by Halfords rattle can top coat. Much better finish than the chap I gave them to managed

You can add a wheel lacquer on top of this if you prefer.

[Firebreather]

You need to do a lot of sanding! But I'm sure Noodles will help you. He likes sanding things.

I just used Halfrauds stuff. Primer, Black paint and Lacquer. Mine have come out quite nice.

[Rebel]

Just be careful if you live in a flat and have neighbours below especially if your going to use nitromors!

I used Hammerite smooth, only thing with alloys / paint is they don't like it cold. Started mine when we had that cold spell couple weeks ago left the rims outside, paint reacted. Removed the paint then left them inside till next day then done them again. Left them to bake in the sun.

[lutonmatt]

did you get them on the other way
as i am sure they only fit one way due to the off set

[WelshGTA]

not had chance today been raining but will try 1st chance i get.

[lutonmatt]

ya be raining here as well

[Rebel]

did you get them on the other way
as i am sure they only fit one way due to the off set

You know what you can do with a club hammer, it is the thing of the future!

No acquired some last week at a really really good price, I could not let them go.

Some on fleebay going at the mo I had my eye on, just the rims but £16 for 5 £3.20 each is good. Probably get more weighing them in for scrap.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... MEWAX%3AIT

Raining all day here, been under the motor doing rear break cylinder. Soaked, cold & tired

[thirdgen]

i put mine on wide rims on the rear once looked good until i tried to move it grind grind grind woops thats why there marked

[WelshGTA]

i put mine on wide rims on the rear once looked good until i tried to move it grind grind grind woops thats why there marked

The front wheels are deeper than the back which made me think they should be on the back. Matt thinks the off sets are different on the back but is there any way to check before i go faffing around trying to swap the wheels around?

[MarkJ]

The wheels say "Rear" and "Front" stamped on the inside of the wheel. You'll have to remove them to see it but it's easy enough to spot once they're off.

[banker]

Just in case, the wider lip is on the front.

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

i put mine on wide rims on the rear once looked good until i tried to move it grind grind grind woops thats why there marked

The front wheels are deeper than the back which made me think they should be on the back. ?

sounds like they are on right

[WelshGTA]

i put mine on wide rims on the rear once looked good until i tried to move it grind grind grind woops thats why there marked

The front wheels are deeper than the back which made me think they should be on the back. ?

sounds like they are on right

really? i'll take one off just because its bugging me

[thebandit92]

the fronts have 0 offset and the rears have 15 mm offset.

[WelshGTA]

well i took the back wheel off and on the back it says rear only so they are on the right way. just looks weird the deeper dish wheels being on the front

[MarkJ]

well i took the back wheel off and on the back it says rear only so they are on the right way.

Good job too! If Matt had put them on the wrong way round I'd be a bit worried taking my car to his garage.

[WelshGTA]

think i'll go to sam for my mot at least it's not bugging me now but still think it looks wrong

[lutonmatt]

your not worryed anyway

[thebandit92]

well i took the back wheel off and on the back it says rear only so they are on the right way. just looks weird the deeper dish wheels being on the front

It is impossible to put them on the wrong way anyway as the rears won't go on the front at all as they hit the strut.

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

think i'll go to sam for my mot at least it's not bugging me now but still think it looks wrong

front gta wheels are always in demand, as people often fit them to the rear (looks cool)
if a set come up cheap, I will do the same

[GWD]

Hy guys!

It's time to to refurb my alloy rims.
(see the type in my signature-picture)
Some corrosion is started on all.
The plan is:
Make the verge (or edge) of the rim shiny like a chrome. The convex (or vertical) surface going to be just aluminium-shiny ,
the surface between the spokes is going to be color of graphite.
1.Start sanding, with using 400-500 sandpaper than 800 and last 1200. On the edge using 2000 as a last one.
2.Using 2k primer on the surface between spokes,then 2k graphite paint .
3.Using 2k very best quality clear coat on the convex surface
OR
2k primer and 2k silver paint (a very light one)
4.Polishing the verge up till get shiny like the chrome.Leaving the verge of the wheel intact, because I read somewhere that
clear coat is not lasting long on a polished surface,cause of it can't grab. Powder coating (sintering)is similarish, only lasting for few months.
(5. open a beer up. )

I know the polished surface will demand a lot of care, but oherwise : Is it a good plan? Do you know any better method? Any experience?
Will it lasting long? (I mean the lifetime of the paint job)

Any oppinion is welcome!
Thank you!

[Firebreather]

I wouldn't bother with the clear coat or silver paint and just leave it bare aluminum once you've sanded it. You'll need to rub some metal polish into it every now and then to keep it shiny, but it looks so much better than when their painted or clear coated.

[GWD]

Ahamm.. It sounds good and easy!
What have you done with the surface between spokes?
My oppinion is that part looks much better if is darker than the oher parts.
Can you post a picture about your wheels? It's interesting.
Thank you!

[Firebreather]

In between the spokes would look good dark. When I did my 3rd gen wheels I left the lip metal and painted the whole inside bit black and lacquered just the black bit. They were a different style to yours though. Yours would look good all metal with the in between bits dark as you say. You don't get the same sort of shine if you lacquer the metal or paint it silver.

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