Think your GXL rims are ruined? Think again.
 

Since the day I got my first 7 (86 GXL) the rims were pock marked and a dull grey. I didn't like that, but also didn't know what to do about it short of getting them professionally done, which I wasn't about to do at the time.

Then I eventually bump into this site:
http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/polish.htm

Why couldn't I apply this to my rims? They're aluminum, too...

The rims have always been a backburner project while I've chased the bigger problems. But now that I've eliminated all of the bigger problems (other than some bodywork - you'll see :) ) I thought I'd take a shot at the rims this weekend.

Check it out. I used a small hand sander (you can see it in the first pic - it's blue) and 60, 180, 320 and 600 grit sandpaper. When I finished with the 600 the surface was smoooooth (I was expecting to have to use even finer grit before that would happen.) Afterwards, I used Mother's Aluminum Wheel Polish to 'seal' them.

I have to hit them again. I didn't go at it full-bore and there are patches visible where the pock marks were quite deep. And I only did the driver's side. It took about 2 hours to do each rim.


edit: I don't recommend doing this by hand - it will take FOREVER. I know - I took at stab at doing it by hand last fall... :drool:

Here is our establishing shot, taken after I finished. :)


https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1719633

What the rims used to look like. These are the passenger-side rims, in shadow so the detail isn't too visible... :(


https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1719641

This one looks much crappier! :bigthumb:



https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1719645

And now the (almost) final product!



https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1719651

That looks good, Youve just inspired me to do the same on my dull and dirty GXL rims :)

If you can borrow the sander (like I did) then all you have to buy is the sandpaper and the polish.

Just mentioning that after looking at your sig. :D

ive seen it first hand in person - theres a HUGE difference.. looks GREAT Amur_!

I was planning to do the same exact thing!! Thanks for the extra motivation!! Looks SWEET....

Nice work, nothing like factory style bling-bling.

PS- Please get both of your wheels facing the same direction.

Would that work on the s5 GXL rims?

WOW! That's great Amur. Wanna come over and revitalize my rims!!! :D

Just get some tal-strip and remove the clear cloat, then polish and re-apply the clearcoat.

That's what I intend on doing with my rims, not by choice, but because they are so falky that they won't hold a seal to the tires!

Oh fuck. :doh:

The last time I had the rears off, to do some surgery on the differential, I must have slapped the wheels back on without checking. http://bling.imperial.org/smile/bam.gif

Hm. I think Im going to do this to mine until I can get some BBS rims to replace them :)

Wow, that looks amazing. The difference is astounding. Great job.

what is tal-strip? How much and where can I find it?

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/te...iowheels.shtml

That guy did a nice write up, and no... that's not 3rd gen as in FD :)

Tal-strip is one hell of a strong paint/gloss/enamel/whatever remover. I think they use it with airplanes as well.

I'm actually thinking of leaving the clear coat off... it'll get filthy a lot faster, but it won't get pitted and flake (lose seal) like clear coat would.

hmm those do look alot better. to bad i had to start off with the ole dialers before i got rims. lol

Looks like a lot of work. I just painted mine black, put slicks on them, and I just use them for autoctrossing.

Looks nice, very nice. When you get the detail stuff knocked-out, you should post new photos (little higher res. if you can). I'm interested :)

That I can do and will do.


Btw, I swapped the rear wheels so now the rims are all spinning in the right direction. And now I have one 'clean' rim on each side of the car. :doh: I hope to sand at least one more tomorrow night...

It is mentioned at the link I posted, and I should have mentioned it in my initial post...


Do not sand your rims unless you are wearing a dust mask.


Aluminum dust is BAD for you. You do not want to breathe it! :eek:

hmm so how long did this take my grandpa is a rim cleaning expert and i have a drimmle style sander and i have the S5 gxl rims i want that crome look but they are mags so ill need to know if you would go about it differently..?