Classic Industries GTA style reproduction wheels quality is terrible!! - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Mikos_89 · 01-15-2009, 04:02 AM

If you're like me and were anticipating the newly available gold painted GTA style reproduction wheels from Classic Industries, you're going to be in for a serious let down when you see these rims in person. The quality is terrible. The clearcoat was thin, grainy and had what appeared to be water spot staining all the way around the machine faced outer lip.

When I arrived at CI to look at the rims, I inspected over a dozen (both gold and black) and the quality of the clearcoat on the machined outer lip was awful. It was thin, grainy and had a lot of surface contamination. I'm not sure where they painted these rims, but it looks like they painted them outside instead of an environmentally controlled spray booth. More importantly, the clearcoat had milky colored water spots all over it. Every rim I looked at was like this and it covered the whole entire outer lip surface area from the painted center to the tire edge. I surmized that the rims were probably left exposed during overseas transit or awaiting transit (they're manufactured overseas) and the weather got into the paint somehow.

When I was looking at one of the rims, one of the employees at CI gave me some pre-wax polish to see if that could help remove the milky water spot residue from the clearcoat and smooth out some of the rough grainy areas. Unfortunately, the polish didn't help one bit. I'm afraid the only way to fix it would be to completely strip off the clearcoat and then repaint it. However, at $200 a rim, you really shouldn't have to do anything except mount them on your tires and enjoy.

I can only hope the wheel manufacturer and/or Classic Industries steps up to the plate and tries to remedy this problem, but I'm not holding my breath.

I purchased a set of black GTA style repro rims several years ago from CI and the quality was impeccable. They were just like the originals. A far cry from the crappy quality on these new rims. Ugh!!

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Mr Froman · 01-17-2009, 06:46 PM

Can you put up a picture?

84 1LE · 01-17-2009, 11:29 PM

I had the same issues when i puchased two wheels a couple months ago, but after veiwing almost 7-9 wheels.I found three that were much better than the rest.I took the two better ones.Since thats all i needed, but the quality is not up to par.With the two i purchased from them over two years back.

RedHawkLB9 · 01-18-2009, 12:01 AM

i got 2 fronts in black......they look great!

maybe i just got lucky idk

84 1LE · 01-18-2009, 12:10 AM

Im very happy with mine.

87_GTA_5.7 · 01-18-2009, 12:14 AM

Iv heard bad things also. I was about to order some this week..but Ill stick to my org and get some 17s or something

Pat Hall · 01-28-2009, 08:43 PM

I hate to say it, but definitely don't hold your breath in anticipation of Classic Industries doing anything to improve the quality. You'll just die of suffocation. Lol. This is the same company that still sells that crap OER weatherstripping that doesn't fit worth a damn, and that doesn't just apply to 3rd gens either. My buddy put the OER stuff on his 69 Camaro, and it's too thin. He has to take a pile of towels with him when he goes through an automated carwash. Any company that really cared about quality would refuse to sell subpar garbage like that. He also bought a reproduction rosewood steering wheel from them and waited two years before they finally claimed they had resolved the problems with them and shipped one to him. Then it cracked within a year. I bought a reproduction tachometer from them for my 69 a long time ago. It cost over $200, had a plastic face, a silver decal was supposed to emulate the brushed aluminum ring, and the damn needle bounced up and down like a basketball when the motor was running. The repro tachs they have now look 100% correct, but I'm still dumbfounded that they had the balls to sell one like what I got back then. Nowadays I only go to them as a last resort. In other words, if it's something that nobody else sells. Forget trying to get anywhere with them over the phone. My impression is that they're so big nowadays they treat customers like meaningless cattle. I'd rather deal with a company that actually cares about each customer they serve. Ok, rant over now.

84 1LE · 01-28-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat Hall

. Nowadays I only go to them as a last resort. In other words, if it's something that nobody else sells. Forget trying to get anywhere with them over the phone. My impression is that they're so big nowadays they treat customers like meaningless cattle. I'd rather deal with a company that actually cares about each customer they serve. Ok, rant over now.

Typical I guess, classic is no different than any other business out there.Out sourceing as much as they can to keep the profits up.Seems they're less concerned with customer service.It was only a matter of time.Im happy with my wheels, but they are not equal in quality with the two wheels i bought a couple years back.I dont buy (& wont be) as much from them as i used to.Even the OER weatherstripping i purchased years ago seems better quality than the stories(like yours)i read about now & days.Too bad they used to make good stuff

Mikos_89 · 01-29-2009, 07:45 AM

Well...I called Classic Industries and told them how I was very disappointed in the quality of their GTA style wheels. They said that someone from customer service would call me back in a few days to document the problem. A guy named Edgar called me back and said that he would look into the clearcoat problem on the new wheels for me. He proceeded to tell me that the black painted GTA style wheels I purchased several years ago were actually NOS stock from GM. The new wheels being produced right now are all reproductions. I didn't know that. I thought the old ones were reproductions as well. I guess that's why the black ones I purchased back in '01-'02 looked just like the originals in quality. CI bought up all the NOS GM wheel inventory and then sold them through their catalog. Too bad they weren't able to get any NOS gold painted wheels during that time.

So, if you have the older CI rims that were sold a few years ago, they are NOS originals, not reproductions.

I'm not really expecting any resolution to the clearcoat problem though. When I was talking to this guy, I got the sense that he was justifying the shoddy quality due to the fact they were reproduction wheels, not the NOS originals like before. If you have that mindset, it's no wonder shoddy workmanship gets approved down the line. I can only hope the manufacturer will correct the problem, but if people still buy them and don't complain nor care, then what motivation does CI have to talk to the manufacturer about fixing the problem?

For me, I can't justify spending $200 a pop for wheels that look like they need to be polished or resprayed. At those prices, I can just get the ones I have refinished at a wheel shop.

I know on some reproduction parts the quality can be a problem, but these wheels don't have to look like this. In fact, the color match, texture, etc, on the painted centers is dead accurate to the original gold GTA wheels. Just fix the clearcoat on the outer lip and they would be almost perfect.

87_GTA_5.7 · 01-29-2009, 09:29 AM

I agree 100% with taking your org. and Polishing and then painting them. Iv done a few sets for myself and a few and sold them. I charge $150 a wheel to redo them and they look great.

Pat Hall · 01-30-2009, 03:48 AM

I realize my little rant in the last post is a wee bit on the venomous side, but the lack of quality/accuracy on a lot of the repro stuff just frustrates the hell outta me at times.

About a month ago, I ordered a repro lower clutch pushrod for my 69 Camaro since the original one was kinda worn. The repro came with this puny, 5/16" threaded rod instead of the correct 3/8" rod, so I just left it on the workbench and put my worn original one back in.

And yeah, I totally agree that for $200 a rim, you shouldn't have to do anything but mount the tires and put them on.

84 1LE · 01-30-2009, 11:45 AM

Best thing to do(if your able to) is view the wheels in person.Some wheels are better than others.Classic will let you cherry pick thru their inventory.

I would have re-done my two OEMs,but the last time i got a quote.The cheapest quote i got was over two bills per wheel.Plus i got 20% off on mine.So it was barley $345 OTD.

KITT1983 · 01-30-2009, 05:59 PM

Can you show me a link and do they make Turbocast Rims ?

mike_c · 06-30-2009, 08:50 PM

Has anyone else recieved poor quality GTA wheels from Classic Industries? Does anyone have an actual picture of the repro wheels?

mike_c · 08-23-2009, 11:27 PM

Well, I finally bit the bullet and bought a set. I'm impressed with the quality of these wheels. No milky residue on the lip like the original posters wheels. It seems CI has improved their quality control since January...or maybe I just got lucky. Either way I'm happy with them.

Here's a picture of one of them:

ellocojorge · 08-24-2009, 02:20 AM

they do look very very nice... hopefully they changed manufacturers

KITT1983 · 08-24-2009, 06:16 AM

awesome i hope they mank some turbo cast rims next

madmax · 08-24-2009, 05:43 PM

I was just there a week ago, the ones I saw looked fine to me. They are still made in China, by whom there I have no idea. Those who are picky might notice the texture of the spokes is not correct, and the clear or the machining on the lip isnt like factory either. I suspect its the clear isnt the same. From a few feet away, nobody will notice.

y84pauloflondon · 09-10-2009, 12:19 AM

My org 87 Gold GTA rims DID NOT have these little square indents on the gold part where it meets with the outer ring. Do ALL of the rims at CI have those indents?
The pic in post #15 above has those indents!!! LOOK UP

84 1LE · 09-10-2009, 11:40 AM

Yes, they are the later style wheels.

y84pauloflondon · 09-10-2009, 09:00 PM

Thankx, 84 1LE. But does anyone repo the first style, which was the style that my 87 GTA came with??? I'm looking to buy!!!

84 1LE · 09-10-2009, 09:05 PM

Doubtful if the original dies even exist anymore.I think classic purchased the later style dies from GM.Far as i know nobody is producing the early type.Your gonna have to find some OEMs.

arrowcamaro · 10-17-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84 1LE

Doubtful if the original dies even exist anymore.I think classic purchased the later style dies from GM.Far as i know nobody is producing the early type.Your gonna have to find some OEMs.

Not true.

Strange enough, I just noticed that the crosslace wheels are now listed on http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php for under $200 a wheel.

On the manufacturer's website they even list dimpled and non dimpled.
http://www.transwheel.com/

Just an FYI.

84 1LE · 10-17-2009, 12:06 PM

Like i said.Your gonna have to find an OEM wheel.

Those are reconditioned wheels,(OEM)!

arrowcamaro · 10-17-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84 1LE

Like i said.Your gonna have to find an OEM wheel.

Those are reconditioned wheels,(OEM)!

Quote:

What We Do;
Provide New & Remanufactured Aluminum, Steel & Chrome Wheel Replacement Services and wheel cover remanufacturing

So yeah, not necessarily.

84 1LE · 10-17-2009, 12:38 PM

Every GTA WHEEL listed is reconditioned.

arrowcamaro · 10-17-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84 1LE

Every GTA WHEEL listed is reconditioned.

I dont see a place where it says that. Feel free to share where you found that statement.

84 1LE · 10-17-2009, 01:24 PM

Two bottom wheels, click the take down arrow for the "choose color" box.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,7644

arrowcamaro · 10-17-2009, 01:26 PM

I was looking at the manufacturers website.

Either way, they have them.

84 1LE · 10-17-2009, 01:28 PM

For about the same price(w/20% off) you can buy the classic repos.

KITT1983 · 10-17-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arrowcamaro

Not true.

Strange enough, I just noticed that the crosslace wheels are now listed on http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php for under $200 a wheel.

On the manufacturer's website they even list dimpled and non dimpled.
http://www.transwheel.com/

Just an FYI.

link are dead