| Author | Message | ||
| Ron R (Ronr)
Junior Member Username: Ronr Post Number: 210 Registered: 10-2002 |
I gave them a good scrubbing yesterday with Simple Green, and they cleaned up much better than soap and water. I'm getting some mild polishing compound next, to clean up a little more. The main part of my problem is that my current brake pads dust up really bad, and it looks like they've slowly been staining the paint. | ||
| Matt Morgan (Kermit)
Junior Member Username: Kermit Post Number: 139 Registered: 8-2001 |
FYI: I have personally tested the 4V 308 wheels, and they are Magnesium. This will tend to end up a slightly dingy grey tint, or not as "chrome like" as aluminum when polished. Kermit | ||
| Stephen E. Schroeder (Seschroeder)
Junior Member Username: Seschroeder Post Number: 68 Registered: 4-2002 |
I vote for painted. Anyone have a source for the proper color? Steve Schroeder | ||
| Robert W. Garven Jr. (Robertgarven)
Junior Member Username: Robertgarven Post Number: 212 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ron, I have Daves (Thanks again !) old QV wheels I painted them the original Ferrari color which is the same color they used on the the cars in the 70's which is FER101C. I had HRE 505's which were the the replica 288GTO wheels on before. Even though they looked and felt good I thought they made the car look wrong. I have the QV wheels on now, I am refinishing my 14's for posterity and they are exactly the same design as the 16's except for diameter. I have herad conflicting stories but I feel that the original wheels are magnesium though I have heard they are an aluminum alloy. Real magnesium wil start to tarnish immediately after polishing unless clear coated. I would not use steel wool at all as it is reative to magnesium and if particles are imbedded will cause corrosion. My personal preference is painted but that being said each must follow their own path. Rob   | ||
| Charles Brading (Austin308)
New member Username: Austin308 Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2003 |
I do like the polished look. Just don't think I am ready to take the paint on my wheels. still in good shape. I took a look at my spare metric wheels last night they are also painted wheels. So I wonder if there are different styles in the metric wheeels. | ||
| Ron R (Ronr)
Junior Member Username: Ronr Post Number: 208 Registered: 10-2002 |
Well, maybe polishing is not a bad way to start after all. Those both look great, the natural mag has a bit of titanium color to it, and Durtman, I didn't know you could polish mag up to be that shiny. I'll try it and see how it turns out. Pretty cool, 3 black 308s in one thread (counting mine)! Don't see them much. Thanks, guys! | ||
| DLester308 (Durtman)
New member Username: Durtman Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2003 |
Ron, I had my wheels polished from wheel wizard. They turned out like crome. very pleased at 125.CDN per wheel.  | ||
| Charles Brading (Austin308)
New member Username: Austin308 Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hey Ron I think you should come to Austin and buy my spare set of Metric wheels  Then you would have somthing to practice on. Looking at your profile I think our cars may be twins. If every in Austin would like a picture of them together. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 993 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mick, Your wheels are very interesting. The only time I've heard of the raised areas being polished were the TRX 390 wheels on very early QVs. The recessed areas were painted a dark grey. From a few paint chips on a couple of my Euro '82 308 GTS QV's wheels, it looks like my raised areas are polished also. I'd love to go back to that look if I could find out a color code for the dark grey. | ||
| Mick Worrall (Catswhiskers)
New member Username: Catswhiskers Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2003 |
Just realised, if you take a look at the picture in my profile, you'll see what I mean. Mick. | ||
| Mick Worrall (Catswhiskers)
New member Username: Catswhiskers Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2003 |
Ron, I have a 1981 308GTSi with original metric wheels and I assure you they are only painted silver in the flat triangular spoke area. All other surfaces are polished magnesium. When I bought the car, they were very tarnished but I used a metal polish ( Brasso ) on all the bright surfaces. With only a few hours work, they came up like new. All I do now about once a month is wipe them over again with brasso. Takes about 5 minutes and keeps them looking great. If I can work out how, I'll post a picture to show result. Regards, Mick. | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1376 Registered: 5-2001 |
Actually, I had my QV 16" rims refinished in the exact same shade of silver as used on the 355/360, which is a bit lighter and brighter than the original silver. Really made the wheels 'pop' out. | ||
| Ron R (Ronr)
Junior Member Username: Ronr Post Number: 207 Registered: 10-2002 |
Painted silver!? No kidding. Is clear coated bare magnesium not an attractive color? If that ends up being my only alternative, I will have to pick out a nice original looking silver. In fact, if y'all don't think polish will work, I may just do it when I get a new set of rubber. Probably due for that before long too. | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1375 Registered: 5-2001 |
Agreed, after 23 years, give them a fresh coat of paint. Will cost you all of about $500 to have the tires removed, stripped, painted, remounted and balanced. | ||
| Mark Eberhardt (Me_k)
Member Username: Me_k Post Number: 633 Registered: 5-2002 |
They are painted silver...it sounds like yours need to be repainted, a common problem | ||
| Ron R (Ronr)
Junior Member Username: Ronr Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have a 1980 308, and I've read that these wheels are magnesium. Even after a good scrubbing, they still look kinda dingey. I was thinking of rubbing some aluminum polish on them, but if there's a coating on them, it would just rub off the coating. I don't want that, because I think that mag corrodes easily, and they probably need a coating. Maybe my coating is already gone, and that's why they're never shiny. I know I could take them to a shop and have them polished and clear coated, but that's a last resort. If elbow grease and chemicals can perk them up, I'd rather do that. Any guidance? |