Wheel paint

On my original 14” wheels I don’t want to take them down to bare metal. I decided to to scuff the existing paint, primer and paint with wheel paint rattle can. I’ll let you know how it comes out. I just bought new Michelin XWX’s from a local national tire dealer for $335 each. I also got a Michelin $100 discount bringing them down to $315 each plus tax.

 

On color, I just finished cleaning my wheels. It looks as though only the faces has been repainted with the inside and backside with original paint, color and finish. My goal is to leave the inside and backside original paint and match the color to paint the face. They all still have the original valve stems. I’ll take some photos when I’m further along. My goal is to keep as much originality on my Dino that is reasonable.

 

Good procedure but unfortunately Alodine is not available for ordinary business or private persons. I’ve used the etch primer followed by a relative thick layer of epoxy, then base colour and top lacker. It works for many years if you follow all the other directions in the procedure but it’s not perfect.

Best, Peter

 

I thought zinc chromate primer was the go to product on mag wheels. AI blurb:

Zinc chromate is
used on magnesium wheels as a corrosion-inhibiting primer and adhesion promoter because magnesium reacts easily with moisture, and zinc chromate creates a barrier layer to protect the surface. This zinc chromate treatment is applied to the bare magnesium after cleaning and cleaning, providing a surface for subsequent primers and paint finishes. While effective, the original zinc chromate finishes are delicate, and modern primers are often chromate-free due to health and environmental concerns.

Aircraft Spruce has it in yellow or green spray cans as well as quarts, gallons.

 

If your wheels need full resto then I think the process of stripping & shot blasting the wheels, crack testing, coating and repainting should be left to a specialist imho. They have all the equipment to achieve the best results. I found with my wheels to outer paint was good but the inside had been ravaged by brake dust.

Alodine is available to buy but I wouldnt want to buy many at that price.

https://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/bonderite-m-cr-1201-aero-formerly-alodine-1201/

 

I couldnt understand that quote on his blog either.

 

The original wheels on the Dino have a magnesium content in them but they are much closer to aluminum in composition than magnesium. As such they are not as sensitive to corrosion as a true mag wheel is and the magnesium traits are way over stated by most. There is absolutely no problem finishing the wheels with a zinc chromate primer or any other high quality process that is aimed at achieving adhesion on aluminum. I personally prefer chemical stripping to media blasting because the writing is already fragile and media blasting tends to dull the edges. If correctly neutralized and baked the chemical stripper is no problem at all. Just do not take it to a place that does dip stripping or you will be left with an empty hook and no wheel. Brush applied stripper out of a can is totally fine and allows to control the process well. Also when refinishing the wheels be absolutely sure NOT TO PAINT THE SEATS for the bolts. If so your wheels will not torque correctly and loosen (ask me how I learned that).