| Author | Message | ||
| Stephen S. Saia (Sssaia)
New member Username: Sssaia Post Number: 46 Registered: 4-2003 |
heres a tip, if you polish aluminum wheels, anodize them! If you do that, they will keep their shine! Bling Bling mother! | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1897 Registered: 7-2001 |
I went to a reputable shop to discuss getting my Jag's wheels polished, and he tried to talk me out of it. He said keeping them looking good is a nightmare. He suggested chrome. | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 307 Registered: 1-2002 |
Your car so do what you want, but come resale time... | ||
| Erik (Teenferrarifan)
Member Username: Teenferrarifan Post Number: 251 Registered: 2-2003 |
Whatever you decide just make sure you use a good shop. My neighbor down the shore had an 850ci BMW and had the rims chromed, and after about a year they started to just flake right off. All the chrome was like peeling off in sheets. He ended up getting another set from BMW, but sold the car a few months later for an M5. I don't know why this happened. Has this happened to anyone else? Erik | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 291 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jim E....OH!  Erik, that's a good idea, however I'm still not sure if OEM 348 wheels are aluminum....also, I've heard that polished aluminum is very hard to upkeep......very soft, loses it's shine.....susceptable to chemical damage....thoughts? | ||
| Erik (Teenferrarifan)
Junior Member Username: Teenferrarifan Post Number: 250 Registered: 2-2003 |
What about polishing them to a shine? I have seen aluminum wheels high speed polished to a mirror shine that looks almost just like chrome. I don't know where you can get this done though. Erik | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1895 Registered: 7-2001 |
No worries Phillip, I know Tillman and also know that his Ferrari has chrome wheels. He's accustomed to me being a smart ass and knows I'm just kidding around. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1695 Registered: 10-2002 |
Eric Hope you are ok. Best | ||
| Erik R. K. Jonsson (Gamester)
Member Username: Gamester Post Number: 345 Registered: 11-2000 |
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/14/270949.html?1055914657 This is what Hydrogen embrittlement has in store for cheap wheels.  | ||
| Jonathan Peck (Jonathanp)
Junior Member Username: Jonathanp Post Number: 72 Registered: 7-2002 |
The 355 wheels are magesium but not sure about 348 wheels. If they are aluminum, having a quality company polish them would be an awesome way to go, and be unique as well. Jonathan P | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 767 Registered: 4-2002 |
The question remains: are 348 wheels aluminum or magnesium? | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 290 Registered: 2-2003 |
I think chrome wheels look good on the car once in awhile......I have a spare set of wheels, I think it'd be cool to put the chrome ones on, once in awhile during the summer nights. It's the only chrome on the car, and they do look nice......something different, just expression. Thanks to tillman and james for the technical input........that's what I really needed to know. | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 685 Registered: 11-2001 |
JimE, I learned that back in my hotrodding days. It's a big topic among street rodders/classic Chevy fanatics. James, My car is a street car, and I've never hidden that fact. I'm sure it's not going to be an issue in that environment. On a race car, chrome is definitely anti-productive. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 289 Registered: 2-2003 |
Tillman, thanks for the info...I did the google search and there is a lot of information out there....all of it agrees with what you said....they did all say that the biggest threat is when chroming a High Tensile Steel......but even that could be alright with the proper chroming technique. Jim E. What's with the sarcasm? Thanks. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1690 Registered: 10-2002 |
Tillman/Philip I think if you use a top shop it may be fine for street use. That said I think Brian Wilson got it right when he sang: "No go showboat" | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1893 Registered: 7-2001 |
Damn Tillman, what a grasp of language you have! Did you learn that when you bought a car with chrome wheels? | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 287 Registered: 2-2003 |
p.s. OEM 348 wheels are aluminum correct? | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 286 Registered: 2-2003 |
James, that's exactly what I was told. But some places I've called discount that.....also, if it's true, what about all the thousands of chrome wheels out there......are they all brittle, or is it different to have a wheel that was chrome from the beginning, as oppossed to a wheel that is aluminum then chromed........ p.s. Frank, I also like the looks also on certain colors | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 684 Registered: 11-2001 |
The term you're looking for is hydrogen embrittlement. It is an issue in improperly cured chrome parts, but quality chrome shops will heat treat the part (bake it in an oven) after chroming to eliminate the effect. It's a known issue, but millions of cars have been running chrome wheels for decades safely. Google for "hydrogen embrittlement" and chrome for more info. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2511 Registered: 9-2001 |
Ferrari never made a 348 Spyder. They did make a 348 Spider but chrome wheels were not a factory option for it. A lot of dealers did offer them as a dealer option though. I thing the chrome wheels look good on black Spiders but not on most other colors. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1689 Registered: 10-2002 |
IMHO Chroming can enbrittle and weaken metal. If you have your wheels chromed I wouldn't drive over 5MPH. On and off the trailer is probably ok. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1974 Registered: 1-2002 |
Who cares? MORE BLING IS ALWAYS BETTER.  | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 285 Registered: 2-2003 |
I have the stock 348 wheels...I like them a lot, but I've seen the stock 348 wheels that have either been chromed or some people have said that chromed wheels were an option on the Spyder or Speciale....I have found a place that will chrome my OEM 348 wheels. I've seen their work, and they do a great job for a great price. Someone has told me that if you chrome aluminum wheels, some type of chemical reaction can occur during the chroming process that will either pit the wheels and or make them weaker. I was told this is only true with Chroming over Aluminum. Of course I asked the shop and they said, that it was a small risk, it can happen, but they've never experienced it.......does anyone know anything about his "phenomenom"????? Anyone out there ever had their wheels chromed? |