Powdercoat my Volks?
08-10-06, 03:20 PM
#1
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Powdercoat my Volks?
I purchased a set of Volk SE37A rims some time back in a bronze anodized finish. Those familiar with the car/story will remember the surface finish quickly degraded over the course of four months or so from new with the anodized finish becoming hazy and molted. I purchased the wheels from Rishie and he tried everything he could to get them replaced by Volk but to no avail as Mackin didn't seem interested.
So my car is going through a slight transformation, new nose, new interior, some new engine stuff, and I'm contemplating either selling the Volks or powdercoating them a gloss or semi-gloss black and adding a red rim stripe around the edge (Time Attack style). The car is black and I plan on powdercoating my calipers either black or a Brembo-style gold/magnesium color even though they're AP Racing calipers
Now these were expensive rims and the whole set cost me over $2K for four 18x9.5" rims. They're everything you'd want in a wheel, light (under 17 lbs. each), strong, and they look sexy on the car. The finish just sucks....
So should I just powdercoat these puppies or sell them and try to get a set of Time Attacks/something similar? The SE37A is no longer made and I actually prefer them to anything else Volk currently offers. My only concern is a shop f*cking them up in the process.
A few pics of their current condition. Car has been sitting for a while so they're not spotless but the surface degradation is not from dirt, it's permanent and does not come off.
So my car is going through a slight transformation, new nose, new interior, some new engine stuff, and I'm contemplating either selling the Volks or powdercoating them a gloss or semi-gloss black and adding a red rim stripe around the edge (Time Attack style). The car is black and I plan on powdercoating my calipers either black or a Brembo-style gold/magnesium color even though they're AP Racing calipers
Now these were expensive rims and the whole set cost me over $2K for four 18x9.5" rims. They're everything you'd want in a wheel, light (under 17 lbs. each), strong, and they look sexy on the car. The finish just sucks....So should I just powdercoat these puppies or sell them and try to get a set of Time Attacks/something similar? The SE37A is no longer made and I actually prefer them to anything else Volk currently offers. My only concern is a shop f*cking them up in the process.
A few pics of their current condition. Car has been sitting for a while so they're not spotless but the surface degradation is not from dirt, it's permanent and does not come off.
08-10-06, 06:03 PM
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When I changed the color of my volks I had a hell of a time getting the old stuff off. I cant imagine with a little cleaning up yours couldn't look like new again. I've heard some suggest using a clay bar to help get them looking new again.
08-10-06, 07:08 PM
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Really....Easy Off? After I determined the crap on the wheels couldn't be removed with soap/water, I tried an anodized metal polish and that didn't work either. So the Easy Off would remove the bronzing all together? Does it leave a rough finish?
I'll try the clay bar suggestion too.
Thanks for the tips! I'll try the Easy Off on an extra anodized fitting first
I'll try the clay bar suggestion too.
Thanks for the tips! I'll try the Easy Off on an extra anodized fitting first
08-11-06, 09:32 PM
#7
Original Gangster/Rotary!
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Michel, regarding powdercoating the calipers, something to consider:
http://www.goldlinebrakes.com/PolymerCoating.htm
An example of the AP Racing calipers:
http://www.goldlinebrakes.com/BMWM3.htm
http://www.goldlinebrakes.com/PolymerCoating.htm
An example of the AP Racing calipers:
http://www.goldlinebrakes.com/BMWM3.htm
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08-12-06, 11:02 PM
#9
Unless the bronzing isn't annodizing, or there's some kind of clearcoat on there, Easy Off should do it. We used to do it to annodized BMX parts back in the day. I used it to remove the black annodizing off my PFS boost guage to polish the bezel.
It doesn't effect the finish of the alluminum. The boost guage was ready to polish w/ mothers after i did it. Can you try it on the backside or a non-noticeable area?
It doesn't effect the finish of the alluminum. The boost guage was ready to polish w/ mothers after i did it. Can you try it on the backside or a non-noticeable area?
Originally Posted by rx7tt95
Really....Easy Off? After I determined the crap on the wheels couldn't be removed with soap/water, I tried an anodized metal polish and that didn't work either. So the Easy Off would remove the bronzing all together? Does it leave a rough finish?
I'll try the clay bar suggestion too.
Thanks for the tips! I'll try the Easy Off on an extra anodized fitting first
I'll try the clay bar suggestion too.
Thanks for the tips! I'll try the Easy Off on an extra anodized fitting first
08-14-06, 10:16 PM
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Yeah I can try it on the back side of the wheel, maybe the lip or something. Heck, if it removes the anodizing and the other crap, maybe I can just polish them! Black would look bad *** though....
Clay bar made no difference whatsoever.
Rich, I contacted Goldline and it's NOT cheap. They do rebuild the calipers but when all is said and done, two AP Racing CP5200's and two stock rear calipers would run me over $600. The stock finish on the AP's is a thin powdercoat too.
Will try the EasyOff tomorrow. I've been polishing parts for the past few days in preparation for the engine's reinstallation, so I've been busy.
Clay bar made no difference whatsoever.
Rich, I contacted Goldline and it's NOT cheap. They do rebuild the calipers but when all is said and done, two AP Racing CP5200's and two stock rear calipers would run me over $600. The stock finish on the AP's is a thin powdercoat too.
Will try the EasyOff tomorrow. I've been polishing parts for the past few days in preparation for the engine's reinstallation, so I've been busy.
08-14-06, 10:47 PM
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Yeah, I knew it wasn't cheap. When you add the rebuilding into the mix, I don't think that's totally out of line, esp if that is the ideal way to do it (vice powdercoating which supposedly can lead to heat problems).
08-16-06, 10:38 PM
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I did a bit of the Easy Off on the inside of the rim and the anodization did come off. It wasn't perfect though and there were still some spots where it wouldn't come off. I tried a small area on the outer polished lip with better results. I'll hit it with polish tomorrow to see how it looks. Busy polishing a host of other engine components at the moment.
08-17-06, 11:05 AM
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You know, I was thinking about powdercoating being an insulator or a problem for brakes....the original finish on the AP calipers is a powdercoat. I don't know if it's some sort of thermal powdercoat or not. Also, the Brembo calipers on my Evo have a heavy coat of paint AND clear. I can't imagine a thin powdercoat is going to insulate the caliper that much.
08-20-06, 11:33 AM
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Hmmmm...a very good friend of mine, who owns a body shop recently painted a set of Volks for a customer. VERY nice job on it. Will have to ask what he did, whether powder coat, etc.
Will get back to you.
On a side note, you have an EVO now? Damn! haha
Will get back to you.
On a side note, you have an EVO now? Damn! haha
08-21-06, 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by mark57
My powder coated FM10's are way easier to clean and keep clean and eliminates residual bling.
08-23-06, 11:01 PM
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I dropped the rims off yesterday and selected a satin black finish. It has a shine, but it's not glossy. Should look very good. Center caps are all-metal so they'll be coated too. Cost was more than expected, $650, but the shop comes highly recommended. I should have them back by Monday or Tuesday and I'll post pics.
I waffled back and forth on brake color but I'm going to go with red. Brembo gold just didn't seem right on AP Racing calipers!
I waffled back and forth on brake color but I'm going to go with red. Brembo gold just didn't seem right on AP Racing calipers!
08-25-06, 06:25 PM
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Had to drive all the way to Miami today to pick up special caliper paint. No red in stock so I went with gold. Same color as the Brembo gold lines. Rims will be done on Monday some time as will the calipers. Once the wheels are back on the car I can begin re-installing the engine. I may actually have a running RX7 for the first time in a year!
08-30-06, 08:05 PM
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Well the wheels were done on Tuesday but I didn't have time to pick them up. Went over there today and they decided to stay home due to the tropical storm. Wimps. Wasn't much of a storm...so I'll have images tomorrow.
In the meantime, here are a few caliper pics and pics of the Aragostas.
In the meantime, here are a few caliper pics and pics of the Aragostas.