Refinished my FD's wheels
Thread Starter
10-8-10-8
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 12
From: Australia
Refinished my FD's wheels
I know a lot of people either love or hate the the older Super Advan SA3R rims.
My car came fitted with the 18 inch staggered offset red anodized lip versions of these, which was fine, however the anodizing was faded and pitted, and the red had turned a pink sort of color.
Also, I was sick and tired of being the only black RX-7 driving around with red Super Advans ("That black car with the red wheels") sort of made me very conspicuous to everyone. In the end I was tired of refinishing the red anodizing every 4-6 months with the Dupli-Color Metalcast red. I guess on top of that, my silly ex used to love the red, to the point she dyed her hair to match. I'd had enough of that #$%^&. The car just looked too 'dirty' in my opinion, and dated.
Before:
I was going to go gloss black at first, but decided it might be too much black. I liked the Spirit R's titanium BBS rims, so I picked a darker metallic charcoal color to offset the straight black of the car. Its actually a Nissan color, off the lower half of some boxy 1980's Nissan atrocity.
I degreased, wet sanded each, used acrylic primer, another sand, then acrylic high build primer, sand, then acrylic color coat, followed by acrylic clear coat. To do 4 wheels, it took roughly a full day. Worst part was getting in between the spokes and the rim band to clean and sand.
Result:
My car came fitted with the 18 inch staggered offset red anodized lip versions of these, which was fine, however the anodizing was faded and pitted, and the red had turned a pink sort of color.
Also, I was sick and tired of being the only black RX-7 driving around with red Super Advans ("That black car with the red wheels") sort of made me very conspicuous to everyone. In the end I was tired of refinishing the red anodizing every 4-6 months with the Dupli-Color Metalcast red. I guess on top of that, my silly ex used to love the red, to the point she dyed her hair to match. I'd had enough of that #$%^&. The car just looked too 'dirty' in my opinion, and dated.
Before:
I was going to go gloss black at first, but decided it might be too much black. I liked the Spirit R's titanium BBS rims, so I picked a darker metallic charcoal color to offset the straight black of the car. Its actually a Nissan color, off the lower half of some boxy 1980's Nissan atrocity.
I degreased, wet sanded each, used acrylic primer, another sand, then acrylic high build primer, sand, then acrylic color coat, followed by acrylic clear coat. To do 4 wheels, it took roughly a full day. Worst part was getting in between the spokes and the rim band to clean and sand.
Result:
Thread Starter
10-8-10-8
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 12
From: Australia
It was 37 degrees C on the day I decided to respray them, and it took from 9am to 4pm of straight work. I literally had sweat dripping off the end of my nose (its summer here in Australia) and all I had to jack the car up with was the factory alloy jack.. :P
I like them now. They don't seem as "look-at-me" pink/red ugliness as before.
I like them now. They don't seem as "look-at-me" pink/red ugliness as before.
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: wiesbaden, Germany
I know a lot of people either love or hate the the older Super Advan SA3R rims.
My car came fitted with the 18 inch staggered offset red anodized lip versions of these, which was fine, however the anodizing was faded and pitted, and the red had turned a pink sort of color.
Also, I was sick and tired of being the only black RX-7 driving around with red Super Advans ("That black car with the red wheels") sort of made me very conspicuous to everyone. In the end I was tired of refinishing the red anodizing every 4-6 months with the Dupli-Color Metalcast red. I guess on top of that, my silly ex used to love the red, to the point she dyed her hair to match. I'd had enough of that #$%^&. The car just looked too 'dirty' in my opinion, and dated.
Before:
I was going to go gloss black at first, but decided it might be too much black. I liked the Spirit R's titanium BBS rims, so I picked a darker metallic charcoal color to offset the straight black of the car. Its actually a Nissan color, off the lower half of some boxy 1980's Nissan atrocity.
I degreased, wet sanded each, used acrylic primer, another sand, then acrylic high build primer, sand, then acrylic color coat, followed by acrylic clear coat. To do 4 wheels, it took roughly a full day. Worst part was getting in between the spokes and the rim band to clean and sand.
Result:
My car came fitted with the 18 inch staggered offset red anodized lip versions of these, which was fine, however the anodizing was faded and pitted, and the red had turned a pink sort of color.
Also, I was sick and tired of being the only black RX-7 driving around with red Super Advans ("That black car with the red wheels") sort of made me very conspicuous to everyone. In the end I was tired of refinishing the red anodizing every 4-6 months with the Dupli-Color Metalcast red. I guess on top of that, my silly ex used to love the red, to the point she dyed her hair to match. I'd had enough of that #$%^&. The car just looked too 'dirty' in my opinion, and dated.
Before:
I was going to go gloss black at first, but decided it might be too much black. I liked the Spirit R's titanium BBS rims, so I picked a darker metallic charcoal color to offset the straight black of the car. Its actually a Nissan color, off the lower half of some boxy 1980's Nissan atrocity.
I degreased, wet sanded each, used acrylic primer, another sand, then acrylic high build primer, sand, then acrylic color coat, followed by acrylic clear coat. To do 4 wheels, it took roughly a full day. Worst part was getting in between the spokes and the rim band to clean and sand.
Result:
Thread Starter
10-8-10-8
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 12
From: Australia
Also just took off the stock rear 92 wing, and fitted an OEM 1996-1998 Japanese "whale tail" RZ rear spoiler.
Was an absolute @#$%er of a thing to fit (stock 92/93-1995 spoilers bolting is completely different) but wow it looks good. Really sets the car off.
I love the color and look of the painted wheels now. I hated them in faded red. I was nearly going to sell them off, but now every time I look at them, I'm glad I chose to refurbish them. The charcoal gives it the tougher look, but the metallic still looks classy in sunlight. And it doesnt show brake dust very much!!
Was an absolute @#$%er of a thing to fit (stock 92/93-1995 spoilers bolting is completely different) but wow it looks good. Really sets the car off.
I love the color and look of the painted wheels now. I hated them in faded red. I was nearly going to sell them off, but now every time I look at them, I'm glad I chose to refurbish them. The charcoal gives it the tougher look, but the metallic still looks classy in sunlight. And it doesnt show brake dust very much!!
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Thread Starter
10-8-10-8
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 12
From: Australia
Which is ironic, because coming into summer it was actually hot for a change.. We had 42 degrees celcius yesterday. Completely out of character for Tassie.. Different sort of heat to Queensland- not humid heat, but very dry and searing hot.
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