jh36
Reader
4/25/17 9:04 p.m.
What to do....these wheels are a mess. Was it salt, bad chemicals, crappy plating...all the above? Regardless, I need improvement. The only experience I've had is to sand and spray....I'm thinking a gun metal grey color. Not a fan of the chrome anyway. What finish processes should I consider? Paint? Anodized? I prefer to do the job myself, but want to be proud of the results.
I'm not sure what the best course of action will be, but that's one hell of a before photo. Anything will be an improvement.
jh36
Reader
4/25/17 9:07 p.m.
In reply to EastCoastMojo:
Thanks for fixing my image! Not sure what just happened!!
Your link was to the photobucket "gallery" page, rather than the photo itself. Right click to view image or long click on a mobile to view the image by itself and grab your link from that page.
Good luck with your project, I'm sure you'll get some solid advice on how to go about improving those wheels.
Are those chrome?
I don't think you can easily refinish chrome wheels at home, can you?
SEADave
HalfDork
4/25/17 11:31 p.m.
Those particular wheels are not hard to find, I would just get another pair.
I think the fact that they are chrome is going to make it harder or at least more expensive to do anything that looks professional.
jh36
Reader
4/26/17 5:20 a.m.
In reply to SEADave:
Thanks.....that's too bad. I was hoping someone here had stumbled upon GRM genius and found success. I will keep my eye out for good used wheels, but given what I have, I may dig deeper for alternatives. I have little to lose.
In reply to jh36:
At the rate they've already corroded I think the chrome will be completely gone in another year or two. It looks like salt damage to me.
Are they chrome? They look like polished then anodized finish to me. As others have said they can be found cheaply and aren't worth repairing.
Edit: unless you don't care about how they look, then media blast them and krylon that crap up.
Media blast and Rustoleum Professional.
pres589
PowerDork
4/26/17 10:05 a.m.
I've been redoing some wheels in the garage over the last week; paint cure times per the can told me to wait a week before applying additional product. I'm marking this thread here so I can update with photos soon. I used a taller can of Rustoleum Auto Primer, two cans of Dupli-Color Bronze Wheel Paint (needed 1.5 cans, didn't want to worry about running out in the middle of the process), and a can of Rustoleum High Performance Wheel Paint gloss clear.
Sandblast the chrome off and leave the texture on the wheel and powder-coat or krylon with adhesion modifier.
Powdercoat with blast will be about 500$. Blast and paint less then 150$
When I did the RAV wheels, I also heated them up in the oven first, then painted while still warm, then back in the oven to bake. I think that really helps with curing the paint.
jh36
Reader
4/26/17 8:18 p.m.
I am on the hunt for some wheels, but I might as well take a crack at making these a little more attractive.....it can't really get much worse! I will post my results after the fact.
I painted the steelies on the 'Rolla with the tires still mounted. Wire brushed off the funk, degreased, masked off the snow tires and sprayed with Rustoleum Professional. No baking. Held up excellent.
I'd have to check to be sure but iirc your wheels are polished, not plated. Unless they were chromed aftermarket or are some sort of repro. Then I'd be wrong. Pretty sure the chromed wheel fad had run its course by 2001 and GM offered a polished finish on these wheels, or painted, but not chromed. It'll be some work but you should be able to do something with what you have. Show us how it goes.