I refinished my stock wheels and center caps myself and I was amazed at the flawless detail to the original finish. This is how I did it.

1. I lightly removed the existing surface gloss with a 400 grit sandpaper, any heavier corrosion can be removed with heavier grit paper (as long as it does not leave deep scratches)

2. I then painted the wheels and center caps with Krylon “Bright Silver Metallic” enamel spray paint (#1401). I sprayed about 3 even coats, spraying lightly so as not to let the paint run. Let dry thoroughly about an hour.

3. Then I painted the rims and caps with Duplicolor “Clear Polyurathane Wheel Paint.” (#WP319) I painted about 3 to 4 coats with this paint. You have to be somewhat careful, you need the last coat heavy enough so the paint will have a gloss finish after spraying. Best to have the wheel laying flat so if there are runs they go to the back of the rim.

4. Let dry, and voila you have new rims and center caps, or just do the caps if your wheels are OK. One thing to mention, initially after painting the silver paint, the color will seem to silvery, but after you spray the clear paint, the color will gray slightly and look just like the original, if not better.

And it only cost me about $25 in paint and about 1/2 hour per wheel.

 

only a matter of time before this question, but you don't happen to have pics, maybe before and after do you? Also, I have considered the BATMAN look (black on black), what do you think the outcome would be with a different color?

 

Show them off! I want to see the car overall and a close ups on a wheel.

 

Sorry I don't have a digital camera, Just go back in time in your head, (do-do-do...do-do-do...) When the car was sitting on the showroom floor, that's what they look like!

 

I am going to do this too! I already bought the paint. I went with VHT wheel paint. I mail ordered it so should get it soon. I have a friend with a sand blaster so I'm going to use that. I also got flush mount valve stems, which should be cool. I'll be taking before and after pictures for my web site. I'll post when I get it done, which will probably be mid sept.

 

This may sound dumb, but I have a good reason...You did it with the tires off right?

 

I am not tring to be negative but do you really think it will hold up? It is just spray paint. The stock wheels aren't painted , they are just clear coated. If you really want them to last you should get them powder coated. That is what Batman did to his wheels.

 

Actually, I'm pretty sure they are painted.

 

Too bad no pics but it sounds like it turned out ok. Thanks for the post and if anyone else does this, try and get some pics!!

 

Actually, no...I just did a very good job of masking tape and plastic sheeting. I got in very tight to the rim edge, YOU HAVE TO SAND THE PAINT PREVIOUSLY THOUGH. This promotes adhesion of the new paint. And yes, the stock wheels are painted. I made sure I did many coats of the clear wheel paint. The first 3 coats of clear did not have a gloss though, the last coat was sprayed untill I saw a gloss, then I stopped.

 

Thanks for asking that, I was gonna ask it, but didn't want to look stupid

 

You talking about like a poltethelene material like an industrial Saran wrap?

Did you do the inside of the wheels too?

 

Here's a thought in the same thread... Has anyone tried polishing their stock wheels? Strip off the paint, knock down the texture, sand it out to 600 wet or so, and hit it with some rouge and a buffer. Just like polishing the intake manifold and what not. Then drop a clear coat of something on it.

Would it work? Is there a clear coat that will adhere nicely to something that polished?

It would save the cash of having them chromed or buying aftermarket wheels.

 

I'm going to leave my tires on too but I'm not going to mask them. Ha ha, should I take pictures of that. Actually I'm replacing the tires right after I finish but I could still take some pictures if you guys want to see how crappy it will look for the few days they are like that
cvs

 

For those of you who are planning on doing this with the tires on, I have an alternative to using masking tape and plastic. What you should do is buy a nice quart of motor oil and a small paint brush(not too small). Then what you do is pour the motor oil on the paint brush and spread it(alot) across the "entire" side(face) of the tire, making sure to get it in all the way down there where the tire meets the rim. Then wipe off any oil that might have gone on the wheel and you're ready to spray. Afterwards let the paint dry and just wipe off the excess oil on the tire and you're set! If done properly I guarantee it will look perfect, and it'll save you alot of time. Plus it will look better than if you would tape it up, cause that never comes out good. Good luck!

 

I like the idea of polishing the wheels...like the above thread. Anyone know about this??

 

I think polished wheels are too bright. Rather than compliment the car they detract attention from the car. Less is more.

 

Yuck!

 

I guess I am wrong about the wheels being painted. I thout I read somwhere that they where just clear coated. Sorry about that.

For those of you thinking of polishing, just let me worn you it would be a big project. I have polished my waterneck, AST, and UIM. every time I wish I had never started the project. If you have never polished aluminum don't start with the wheels. It will take you forever to do. I have an extra set of wheels that I keep fighting the urg to polish. I know once I start I will regret it. The real hard part is the sanding. It takes a lot to sand aluminum and polishing brings out every small sanding sratch. it would be the same procedure as polishing the UIM.