Layla got new wheels (sort of)

[Jeff Williams]

I got tired of the chipped cracked and yellow clear coat on teh machined lips of Layla's wheels. I wanted polished lips. I started with my drill and a paint remover head (it actually took 2).

Then I sanded the clear coat off

Then I wet-sanded it with 240 grit, 400 grit, then 800 grit sandpaper

Then I stepped up to 2000 grit

Finally, I used my power ball and some Mother's metal polish

What do y'all think?
Modified by Jeff Williams at 6:15 PM 1/8/2006

[elwesso]

golden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks really cool...

and much better.

[ceningolmo]

Sure wish I could do that with my pie pans...if I could get mine to look like nchopp's pie pans I would be happy. His at least look like brushed metal instead of plastic *** like mine.

[DrewQ45]

Looks real nice there Jeff. Did you do all 4 wheels already? Must have taken you a minute huh? Would be nice if there was some tough glaze you could spray back over it and not have it look crappy in the process.

...Drew...

[Rex]

Looks good Jeff, any before/after pics of them on the car?

And how long did it take? Any risk/damage to the tires?

[ceningolmo]

Can you do the old rainX treatment? Its not a permanent solution, but it might help keep them from getting tarnished... maybe.

[nchopp]

Looking nice!

Ross, yeah, I got lucky with these. They're in damn good shape. Not that I care too much about the wheels at this point - she's going in to the mechanic tomorrow. I pray to God it's nothing more than $300...

[squeefoo]

Those look very nice, lotsa "Armstrong" in 'em now... You can make them chemically clean and shoot them with some nice, expensive polyurethane clear (spraybomb) which will last for awhile and hold down the oxides.

[Flicktitty]

looking good!

[maxnix]

Very nicely done!

[heywier427]

yep polyeurethane is the best stuff to use

[Jeff Williams]

I did 2 Saturday, and 2 Sunday. Took about 4 hours each day. I also cleaned up the calipers, rotors, struts, suspension, and inner fender wells while I was in there. My camera batteries were dead, and I didn't think about the before and after shots, until I was on the last wheel. I didn't clean up the car, so I did not do an after shot. It is dramatic. The wheels shine like chrome at night, which is the best time for wheels, in my opinion.

Pie pans would be much easier, since they are relatively flat. The recessed surfaces are/could be painted.

As far as clear coat, I will NEVER clear coat my wheels again. It just doesn't last, reduces the shine (unless you get a professional job), and is a PAIN to get off. I will just keep a heavy doat of wax on them, and use soap to clean them, instead of the wheel cleaner (by the way, wheel cleaner is murder on zinc plating).

I used the soft paint remover brush. I tried not to get the tires, and had to be careful about the painted centers. I used thick packing tape to protect the paint.

I bought 2 colors for the centers. A silver like the factory paint, and a graphite, which I though would look great, but Evie said the silver would look better on the silver car.

BOY, are my arms tired! It has been a long time since I block and sanded a car. I forgot about the arm ache. I am not as young as I used to be.

Thanks for all the compliments, that is why I posted. It always feels better when you put a lot of work into something, to get compliments on your work.

[Peterofdevon]

Good job.

I did my OEM 93 wheels three years ago. It took two hours per wheel. The clear coat lasted six months...oxidation set in again and by year two they looked like crap.

I pretended they looked fine.

Peter

[jamesmost]

great job Jeff - looks sweet

[Falkdesigns]

Damn that looks good!

[5seryan]

Jeff looks great. BTW i noticed you have some Fuzions on there. I just got some HRi's and for the money you really cant beat them. 280 out the door. What are your thoughts on them? BTW the strut bar in TITTES. Thanks again.

[yodawill2000]

Theres some super strong clear coat that motorcycle builders use on there chrome engine fins ..Gotta look that one up ..Supposed to be dang near bullet proof .

[Jeff Williams]

Jeff looks great. BTW i noticed you have some Fuzions on there. I just got some HRi's and for the money you really cant beat them. 280 out the door. What are your thoughts on them? BTW the strut bar in TITTES. Thanks again.

I personally HATE them! Well, not hate, but they are noisy, and are wearing terribly on the inside.They have feathered rather badly. I have had the toe and caster/camber adjusted as much as the Q will allow. It could be the upper links, since I have about 60K on them. I have not had good luck with the directional tires on the Q at all. I think I will go back to Sumitomo HTR+ next.