Gonna Strip and Polish My Wheels! [Archive] - Pontiac GTO Forum

Robofuzz

07-27-2010, 02:27 PM

I'm going to strip and polish my VZ Wheels. I've ordered Eastwood's Wheel Smoothing and Polishing kit. The intention is to get them to a nice satin finish.

Once the kit gets here, the GTO will have to go up on jack stands and the wheels will come off and I'll have to get the tires unmounted. Then aircraft paint stripper to remove the paint. Then the fun begins...

I figure this will be a fairly inexpensive mod and one I've been tossing around for a long time. I think the satin aluminum finish will look awesome with the MBM paint.

I'll keep everyone posted and take lots of pics on this.

Poolshark1321

07-27-2010, 06:09 PM

Good luck Robo...

I have been thinking about redoing my stockers black or grey...

BillsMafia

07-28-2010, 07:25 PM

Sounds like an awesome plan Robo...

Can't wait to see the final results. :popcorn:

Robofuzz

07-28-2010, 08:56 PM

It's a little scary because once I start this, there's no turning back!

Rabs6point0

07-29-2010, 12:02 AM

Be sure to post pics as soon as you're done. Good luck with the mod!!!

Lancer-AM

07-29-2010, 12:48 AM

It's a little scary because once I start this, there's no turning back!

Yeah that is the way I felt when I got ready to paint mine, but it is worth it to get the look you want. Good luck with it. That is really a lot of work to do.

1wild1

07-29-2010, 10:23 PM

Good luck man. Can't wait to see the outcome. I have no doubt on your abilities, I think it will turn out fine.

The previous owner of my baby curb rashed the hell out of the rims so I've been knocking around the idea of getting a second set of stockers to send to a shop my other car club deals with in Dallas for powder coating. They do amazing work and they give the club a nice discount. Always a plus

Robofuzz

08-01-2010, 06:36 PM

I ordered the Eastwood Wheel Smoothing and Buffing Kit and it arrived on Friday. I need to go get the Rustoleum Aircraft Stripper from Autozone along with some special gloves, a paintbrush to apply the stripper, and some plastic scrapers.

Robofuzz

08-07-2010, 07:59 PM

OK... the materials are assembled. Now I need to jack up the car, take the wheels off, and have the tires unmounted.
http://www.gastiresoil.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=853&stc=1&d=1281225488
Interestingly enough, the Aircraft Stripper says "Not for use on aircraft." in the fineprint on the back. LOL

ram09

08-07-2010, 08:51 PM

After you finish (and if it turns out right) make sure you do a how to on it, and then I'll bring you my wheels and you can do them too!

Robofuzz

08-07-2010, 09:29 PM

After you finish (and if it turns out right) make sure you do a how to on it, and then I'll bring you my wheels and you can do them too!
Oh I'm going to take a lot of pics and stuff. It will turn out great. I've seen what the stock 18's look like polished. They're very nice. I haven't seen anyone with polished VZ wheels yet, so it should help set Fiona apart from the pack.

tom's2005gto

08-07-2010, 11:38 PM

are you going to seal them with something? If not, there may be a lot of maintenance involved.

Robofuzz

08-08-2010, 12:11 AM

are you going to seal them with something? If not, there may be a lot of maintenance involved.
Yes but still shopping.

Lancer-AM

08-08-2010, 12:48 AM

Have you started on them yet or are you bringing Fiona out tomorrow?

ls2tiger

08-12-2010, 09:02 PM

Done yet ?

Robofuzz

08-12-2010, 11:48 PM

Done yet ?

Haven't started yet. Life got in the way. Maybe I can start next weekend.

E's GTO

08-13-2010, 07:53 AM

I did this last year to my stock 18s. Lots of work, but looks amazing when done. I wish I would never had traded them :(

tom's2005gto

08-13-2010, 10:32 AM

^^^ and they looked awesome

ls2tiger

08-13-2010, 07:03 PM

If I did my CCW's should I have them media blasted or use paint stripper?

Robofuzz

08-16-2010, 02:24 PM

If I did my CCW's should I have them media blasted or use paint stripper?
I have no idea. I've never done this before! :D

rebinc

08-16-2010, 05:14 PM

This thread is a tease. We need some progress pictures! :)

Robofuzz

08-16-2010, 06:45 PM

This thread is a tease. We need some progress pictures! :)

Yeah yeah. Gotta find time to get the tires unmounted. I'd like to work on the wheels this coming weekend.

Rabs6point0

08-16-2010, 09:58 PM

Yeah yeah. Gotta find time to get the tires unmounted. I'd like to work on the wheels this coming weekend.
hey bud, if you need help, i can come over and help drink some beer.... :)

Robofuzz

08-21-2010, 06:38 PM

Been working on stripping the first two wheels. I may be in over my head. This is taking freaking forever.

Lancer-AM

08-21-2010, 07:52 PM

Best of luck man, I guess me texting you isn't helping :) I'll help you out if you want to come help me do tedious data entry :)

tom's2005gto

08-21-2010, 11:03 PM

RAYMOND did his, you may want to hit him up on some pointers

06 Blue Devil

08-24-2010, 12:31 AM

are you going to seal them with something? If not, there may be a lot of maintenance involved.

Yes but still shopping.
Check out Eastwood, they have a clear just for polished aluminum.

Rabs6point0

08-30-2010, 11:32 PM

how are the wheels coming along, buddy?

Robofuzz

08-31-2010, 01:49 PM

I've got the first two wheels mostly stripped - just a couple of spots in the lug holes to touch up. I realized that my power drill was not powerful enough to adequately handle the polishing job. So I bought a pneumatic grinder at Harbor Freight Tools to use. School started, scouts started, and life has gotten in the way. I'm hoping to get to work on them this coming weekend and get the first two done.

Robofuzz

09-08-2010, 11:07 AM

OK - I've decided that I do not have the patience or the time to complete this project. I am going to have Wheel Technologies strip the other two wheels and then refinish all four in Hyper Silver. They gave me a really great price on doing the job. I'll be dropping them off tomorrow.

Rabs6point0

09-08-2010, 11:25 AM

^ man great idea! I had to take one of the wheels from my wife's car to wheel technologies because she bent it. They did a perfect job and painted it to match perfect. They are reasonable on their prices, too. Good luck.

Lancer-AM

09-08-2010, 11:45 AM

My buddy G that drives the Evo had them do all 4 of his rims and they came out fantastic. Sorry you had to do this, that really is a ton of work.

Rabs6point0

09-08-2010, 11:58 AM

I need some feed back (honest feedback).. I've been thinking about going to wheel technologies to have them POSSIBLY custom paint my stock 18's. All I want is to keep the color the same, but get the lip painted a matching blue. Would this look like crap since they are the stock wheels????

Robofuzz

09-08-2010, 12:06 PM

I'll give you honest feedback for sure. The guy I talked to on the phone cut me a heck of a deal.

Rabs6point0

09-08-2010, 12:11 PM

Hey you should tell them that I referred you to them (from drivetime) and see if they'll give you and even better deal- possibly a dealership discount

BillsMafia

09-08-2010, 03:27 PM

It sounded like a lot of work. Lol. I would have done the same thing and payed someone to do it.

Robofuzz

09-08-2010, 03:55 PM

It sounded like a lot of work. Lol. I would have done the same thing and payed someone to do it.
It was a lot of work and I kept having issues with equipment, etc. First, I didn't buy enough paint stripper so I had to buy more. And the stripping of two wheels took me a full day. Then I found out that my power drill wasn't powerful enough to do the polishing. I ended up buying a new air compressor and an air grinder to put the polishing pads on. But then found out that my extension cord is not heavy duty enough to provide the air compressor enough oomph to kick it on when it already has some air in the tank. At that point I said "Screw this!" and started looking at options to have the wheels professionally done.

I emailed Wheel Technologies and they got back to me quick. After talking to one of their reps on the phone and looking at pictures of hyper silver wheels, I decided to go that route. And I got a pretty hefty discount to boot.

I'm having serious GTO withdrawals at the moment and I've got to get her back on the road.

FYI - this is the finish they should have when done:
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/v710_.jpg

tom's2005gto

09-08-2010, 09:56 PM

sounds like a good idea. I just sent them an email about a project I have.

Rabs6point0

09-09-2010, 12:57 AM

Robofuzz- lunch tomorrow? What's your schedule like?

Robofuzz

09-09-2010, 04:34 AM

Robofuzz- lunch tomorrow? What's your schedule like?

I'm working all night after our little flooding incident. I probably won't make it to Austin until after 3. If you want to meet after that, let me know.

Rabs6point0

09-09-2010, 12:12 PM

That sounds good. I gotta go in to work for a little bit anyway to deliver a car. Let me know when you are free

Kjhallex

09-09-2010, 08:03 PM

Polishing sucks! lol It helps to sand the paint a little before you apply the stripper. It let's the stripper bite into the paint better.

Do you have any finished pics yet?

Robofuzz

09-14-2010, 06:19 PM

OK - the wheels have been dropped off at Wheel Technologies. The finish that is being applied is the hyper silver finish that is found on stock Mercedes Benz wheels. Looks similar to the above picture. I should have them back by Thursday afternoon! I'll post pics when they're mounted!

tom's2005gto

09-14-2010, 07:18 PM

sounds like a good idea. I just sent them an email about a project I have.

wasted my time..... sent them an email, never got a reply! I hate poor customer service. After all, in today's technological world you can buy anything from anywhere in the world, all from the comfort of your couch. All that is left to offer is customer service.

Rabs6point0

09-14-2010, 07:41 PM

^ sorry to hear that u aren't happy with their service. I had them do work for me, and I was very satisfied. This MIGHT sound a little crazy, but did u double check the email address? Did u possibly mistype it? Not doubting you, but I thought that they had great customer service.

Robofuzz

09-14-2010, 08:07 PM

wasted my time..... sent them an email, never got a reply! I hate poor customer service. After all, in today's technological world you can buy anything from anywhere in the world, all from the comfort of your couch. All that is left to offer is customer service.

Call them on the phone at the Dallas office and ask for Mike Owens. He's been great to deal with.

tom's2005gto

09-14-2010, 08:20 PM

I actually filled out their online contact form and included my needs, phone number and email address.

Robofuzz

09-14-2010, 08:46 PM

Yeah - just be aware that sometimes there's glitches, or the person in charge of getting those contact emails might be on vacation, or whatever. I was very impressed with Mike's help over the phone. He discussed with me the options for probably 15-20 minutes. Then the guy at the Austin office was very helpful this afternoon when I dropped off the wheels. He took a lot of time to show me examples of colors and finishes. They mainly do a lot of wheel repair and they seem to really be enthusiastic about a "special" project. I'll reserve complete judgment until I see the final product.

tom's2005gto

09-14-2010, 09:32 PM

I'll give them a call

Rabs6point0

09-14-2010, 10:09 PM

Good luck, Tom!

Poolshark1321

09-15-2010, 12:59 AM

Sounds like a great place to take your wheels to!

Robofuzz

09-17-2010, 01:04 PM

My wheels are ready but I can't get them until Monday because I am out of town!! :(

Robofuzz

09-20-2010, 09:22 AM

Heading to Austin to get my wheels! Very excited!

Rabs6point0

09-20-2010, 09:39 AM

Well swing on by and let me check 'em out!!

Robofuzz

09-20-2010, 01:40 PM

These look nice!! I gotta wash the car now before I take pics.

Edit - these look great!! Unfortunately, the freaking rain prevented me from getting any good pics. The one pic I took with my cell phone doesn't do it justice.