Clean those wheels, PLEASE! | FerrariChat

Clean those wheels, PLEASE!

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by DANCER308, Mar 31, 2010.

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  1. DANCER308

    DANCER308 Formula Junior

    Oct 24, 2009
    935
    KY
    Full Name:
    Dan
    #1 DANCER308, Mar 31, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    When I bought the '79 308 GTS, it looked pretty good for 31 years old, but the wheels needed help. These are after market wheels. I had cleaned aluminum wheels before, by hand, and it was a lot of work. I wanted to clean these, but this time I was going to use a drill with sanding, buffing and polishing disks and pads. These are 2 piece wheels, with the center piece clear coated. The clear coat was remove with a paint stripping liquid. I started with 100 grit disks to remove the machine grooves and corrosion, switched to 220, 400 and finally 600. Next I used a 600-800 grit 3 in. hook and loop scuff brite buffing pad. This removes most of the scratches left by the 600 grit sanding disk. Next I used a 1200 grit scuff brite pad with Blue Magic Liquid Metal Polish. The more times you use the pad/polish combination the shinier it gets. Next I used the polish with a buffing wheel (Harbour Freight). Followed this with Tripoly and White buffing compounds. I polished the center of the wheel to a chrome finish and the outside to just a shine. I did not want the whole wheel to look like chrome. Painted the bolt heads black, changed the background from gold to flat black. One wheel down, three more to go.
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  2. cletus

    cletus Karting

    Feb 7, 2006
    249
    nice work!
     
  3. carwasher

    carwasher Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    17
    Central PA
    Full Name:
    Jon Rose
    Lot of work, but looks great.
     
  4. DenisB

    DenisB Formula Junior

    Jul 21, 2007
    511
    Cape Cod Ma.
    Full Name:
    Denis B.
    I really like the contrast, Looks great
     
  5. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,813
    Ohio
    Full Name:
    Dave Meredith
    #5 dave80gtsi, Apr 1, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Nice to see that I am not the only vintage Gotti fan here!

    Here's mine. What I was seeking was a subtle contrast between the outer polished rim and the inner spokes. So I had the spoke section bead blasted to clean, leaving a slightly "pebbly" matte finish. I then had these center spokes clear anodized for protection.

    When I take the car with these wheels to local Ferrari shows, I always get lots of positive comments.

    Cheers - DM
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  6. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,813
    Ohio
    Full Name:
    Dave Meredith
    #6 dave80gtsi, Apr 1, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    By the way - this might also interest you - a 15" one-piece Gotti clone, spotted on a Firebird at a local hot rod show recently.

    The center cap notes "American Racing" brand, which may or may not match the wheel manufacturer. Maybe he just stuck these caps on because they were lying about handy?

    It's a very convincing replica at first glance, but if you look very closely you can spot the subtle differences. 15 pcs. of dummy wheel rim perimeter bolts, for one.

    Cheers - DM
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  7. DANCER308

    DANCER308 Formula Junior

    Oct 24, 2009
    935
    KY
    Full Name:
    Dan
    I like your contrast also. Great job.

    Dan
     
  8. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    99,172
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Fantastic work Dan!! :D:D
     
  9. luv2detail

    luv2detail Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 30, 2006
    2,289
    North Carolina & SoCal
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Wow! What a difference. Great work!
     
  10. Organiser

    Organiser Formula Junior

    Jan 13, 2004
    922
    West Midlands UK
    Full Name:
    Phil Haynes
    Dan, Dave,

    Nice work on the wheels, well worth all the hard work!!

    Regards,
    Phil.
     
  11. f355jimv

    f355jimv Formula Junior

    Jan 21, 2008
    685
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jim
    That is some great detail work!!!!
     
  12. 50hdmc

    50hdmc Formula 3

    Oct 10, 2006
    1,211
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    mark s
    ....wow, well worth the work - fanatastic job!
     
  13. Darryl

    Darryl Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2006
    410
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Darryl
    You are a true Ferrari owner, well done. Oh I hate to clean the rims, it takes so much time.
    How many hours do you have invested in that one wheel?
    Darryl
     
  14. RED TESTAROSSA

    RED TESTAROSSA Formula Junior

    Jul 8, 2009
    415
    So. Calif.
    Full Name:
    Randy
    Both wheels look great! Nice job.
     
  15. DANCER308

    DANCER308 Formula Junior

    Oct 24, 2009
    935
    KY
    Full Name:
    Dan
    The first wheel takes longer due to finding the right combination of sanding disks, pads and polish. Now that I have that figured out, the other wheels will go faster. Probably around 4 hours a wheel. I am also replacing the suspension bushings at the same time.

    I noticed that the car handles much better and is faster with the one clean wheel, can't wait till the others are done. lol :)

    Dan
     

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