Auto Detailing and Appearance Share tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.

RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-19-2013, 12:12 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Joe Tag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

I picked these up fairly cheap and really thought I wanted to go with gold on them. But when they were done, I immediately knew they would not work. The image I had of gold on blue did not work quite as nice in reality. So, even though I swore I would not put myself through that again, I needed to fix it.
wheels as I bought them
Name:  IMG_34661_zpsf771c230.jpg
Views: 448
Size:  49.0 KB
Name:  IMG_34651_zps0a321a12.jpg
Views: 407
Size:  57.5 KB
Name:  IMG_34671_zpsc146c45b.jpg
Views: 494
Size:  136.8 KB


After stripping and rough sanding for polish
Name:  IMG_2958_zps4254ba2c.jpg
Views: 401
Size:  229.5 KB
First painting and polish, came out great if I say so myself
Name:  IMG_5415_zpsd61356ff.jpg
Views: 496
Size:  107.9 KB
Then the look of them against the car color
Name:  IMG_8580_zpsf9024390.jpg
Views: 416
Size:  360.2 KB

I did not like it so..... here we go again. As I apply the stripper, I just keep telling myself "I don't believe I'm doing this!"
Name:  100_0260_zps861d4019.jpg
Views: 382
Size:  81.0 KB
Echoing the words I keep telling myself through this whole build, I'm in too deep to turn back now.
Masked and primed Masking takes about 2 hours a wheel. Probably the worst part of the whole job.
Name:  100_0263_zps3b378f65.jpg
Views: 402
Size:  66.6 KB
Base coat, I went with a dark grey metallic that was the color of my GFX originally.

Cleared
Name:  100_0268_zps66a6794a.jpg
Views: 387
Size:  84.4 KB
Then, the final product. Excuse the residue from the masking tape. They will be polished to a mirror finish again.

Name:  100_0269_zps137d4b37.jpg
Views: 385
Size:  70.3 KB
Name:  100_0270_zpsf4d045fb.jpg
Views: 517
Size:  91.9 KB
In all, about 12 hours of labor total, stripping, masking, and paint. Still around $300 total in the wheels, even with over $100 in paint materials. Much more satisfied with this look.

Last edited by Joe Tag; 08-03-2013 at 07:08 PM. Reason: Moved images in photobucket
Old 07-19-2013, 02:34 PM
  #2  
Member
 
sweetmelissa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hanson, Mass
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: TPI 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:27's
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

What shade of gold is that ???
Old 07-19-2013, 02:53 PM
  #3  
Member

 
ghost91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Very nice job! They look great!
Old 07-19-2013, 05:36 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Joe Tag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Originally Posted by sweetmelissa
What shade of gold is that ???
I'm not sure. Was a paint code from a subaru I believe. I could give you the code if you want.
Old 07-19-2013, 05:38 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Joe Tag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Originally Posted by ghost91
Very nice job! They look great!
Thanks alot! Was alot of tedious work, but well worth it in my opinoin.
Old 07-19-2013, 06:11 PM
  #6  
Member

 
ghost91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Originally Posted by Joe Tag
Thanks alot! Was alot of tedious work, but well worth it in my opinoin.
Its the tedious work that pays off most tho! Ive been re looming wires for over a month now..but it looks better haha. Wish i could repaint my wheels, but im not that skilled in the paint department
Old 07-19-2013, 06:14 PM
  #7  
Member

 
T/Atime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

I just finished the same thing. I don't think I enjoy this type of work but I would do I again and again!! Totally worth it!
Nice wheels btw. Your a pro!
Old 07-19-2013, 06:19 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Joe Tag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Originally Posted by ghost91
Its the tedious work that pays off most tho! Ive been re looming wires for over a month now..but it looks better haha. Wish i could repaint my wheels, but im not that skilled in the paint department

HA HA, The paint is the easy part. It's the prep that's the killer.

For those interested in doing this, Advance sells an aviation stripper that melts the old finish right off, even powdercoat. Though for PC it takes more than one application.
Old 07-19-2013, 07:22 PM
  #9  
Member

 
T/Atime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

It's 80% patience. If you drink beer. It's a great time to have a few. I finished 2 rims in about 6hrs.

Paint stripper and rinse. Repeat as needed.

Any time you want to dry out the wheels from water place them on your central air conditioner outside. The warm fast air will dry it in a few mins.

Lots of sanding

Lots of tape

Lots of old clean rags

Clear coat
Paint
Primer
Polish
Attached Thumbnails RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels-image.jpg  
Old 07-19-2013, 08:13 PM
  #10  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Joe Tag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Originally Posted by T/Atime
It's 80% patience. If you drink beer. It's a great time to have a few. I finished 2 rims in about 6hrs.

Paint stripper and rinse. Repeat as needed.

Any time you want to dry out the wheels from water place them on your central air conditioner outside. The warm fast air will dry it in a few mins.

Lots of sanding

Lots of tape

Lots of old clean rags

Clear coat
Paint
Primer
Polish
Masking those cross lace wheels would be a breeze, but I imagine the stripping was brutal. Nicely done!
Old 02-03-2023, 05:48 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
83z28crossfire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 33
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1992 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1 Swap In Progress
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

What did you use for sanding and stripping
Old 02-03-2023, 11:48 PM
  #12  
Junior Member
 
BajaDaze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Woodinville Wa
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 64 Likes on 27 Posts
Car: 1989 IROC vert w/1LE brakes
Engine: 1990 ZR1 LT 5
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.7 Borg Warner
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Agreed, a lot of labor to get back to the new look, been there done that but only one time. 6 mos after completing I sold and bought Hawks 17x9s the color was never as good..
Old 02-04-2023, 06:46 AM
  #13  
Supreme Member

 
Edwardgp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,986
Received 26 Likes on 24 Posts
Car: 1983 BB 1995 Z28 Camaro's
Engine: 454-350
Transmission: TH350-4l60e
Axle/Gears: 373 posi-Stock
Re: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels

Very nice job on the wheels.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BlueIroc-Z
Camaros for Sale
7
06-09-2019 03:22 AM
kah992
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
2
08-19-2015 02:55 PM
mustangman65_79
Body
3
08-11-2015 03:17 PM
Fronzizzle
Electronics
2
08-09-2015 01:15 PM



Quick Reply: RE-Restoring my Iroc wheels



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:30 PM.