sanding rims
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: GM Performance Parts 350 HO
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: :(
sanding rims
I just got a set of 15" z28 rims that I want to polish. Is there any inexpensive equipment I can use to speed up the sanding process or do they have to be done by hand. I have a drill, grinder, and a small woodworking tool that has bits for nearly everything. I'm sanding everything but the 'triangles' inside. I want them to look like these when I'm done:
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fort Meade MD
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4 with corvette servo
I just polished my iroc rims, do a search on polished rims and a bunch of post will come up. I used a drill for stripping the clear coat off, then I hand sanded the rest. I will try to get some pics tomorrow.
#3
Supreme Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
u no the green scratch pad u get to wash pots and stuff, well theres not just green there more but anyway use one of those scratch pads it does the job fast, just try to go in the same directions. good luck!
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fort Meade MD
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4 with corvette servo
Originally posted by icebird_1981
u no the green scratch pad u get to wash pots and stuff, well theres not just green there more but anyway use one of those scratch pads it does the job fast, just try to go in the same directions. good luck!
u no the green scratch pad u get to wash pots and stuff, well theres not just green there more but anyway use one of those scratch pads it does the job fast, just try to go in the same directions. good luck!
#5
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by bad84z
Your joking right. One of those pads will not sand throught the clear coat on the wheel. You have to use sand paper to get through the clear.
Your joking right. One of those pads will not sand throught the clear coat on the wheel. You have to use sand paper to get through the clear.
put thoes 3M sanding pads that look like it and come in various colors will.
#6
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Paris, Tx. USA
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 89 RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: TH350
Re: sanding rims
Originally posted by Fbird88
I just got a set of 15" z28 rims that I want to polish. Is there any inexpensive equipment I can use to speed up the sanding process or do they have to be done by hand. I have a drill, grinder, and a small woodworking tool that has bits for nearly everything. I'm sanding everything but the 'triangles' inside. I want them to look like these when I'm done:
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
I just got a set of 15" z28 rims that I want to polish. Is there any inexpensive equipment I can use to speed up the sanding process or do they have to be done by hand. I have a drill, grinder, and a small woodworking tool that has bits for nearly everything. I'm sanding everything but the 'triangles' inside. I want them to look like these when I'm done:
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
But, the best way to get clearcoat off is with a power sander and 80 grit. Just beg, borrow or steal some sort of power sander, slap some 80 grit on it and the clear will be gone in a matter of minutes. The rest of the polishing process is a big debate. Good Luck.
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: GM Performance Parts 350 HO
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: :(
Well the clearcoat is coming off pretty easy with aircraft remover and a wire brush. I know the sanding process of 180, 320, and 400 is what takes the most time. What type of tools will work well on these Z28 wheels for this sanding process? Any equipment that I can rent fairly inexpensively or does it have to be done by hand if you don't have the expensive equipment?
#9
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
you can just use a regular drill and a cheap buffer wheel and compounds..
if you have a drill, then totoal cost should be less then $20
if you have a drill, then totoal cost should be less then $20
#10
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Welland, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 85 Monte Carlo SS...
Engine: T.P.I L98.
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3:73 Posi
Getting them bead blasted is very quick, and does a great job getting them ready for polish work.
#11
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: London, Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just finished doing a set... I'll post pics and a step-by-step when I get home from work.
BTW It's nothing like polishing a set of IROC wheels... IROC wheels have machined surfaces, where as the Z28 wheels are raw sand castings. You are in for alot of work.
BTW It's nothing like polishing a set of IROC wheels... IROC wheels have machined surfaces, where as the Z28 wheels are raw sand castings. You are in for alot of work.
#12
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Paxton, MA
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt / 3.42
Here's what my Z28 wheels looked like after I polished them. I used a Craftsman drill with a 3M scotchbrite pad to get the paint off, then hand sanded all the way up to 2000 grit.
Then I used buffing pads and compounds on the drill and Eagle One Aluminum polish. Here's the finished product.
Notice the difference between the fronts and the backs...PS I didn't have the hood latched...so don't tell me about it
Then I used buffing pads and compounds on the drill and Eagle One Aluminum polish. Here's the finished product.
Notice the difference between the fronts and the backs...PS I didn't have the hood latched...so don't tell me about it
#15
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Paxton, MA
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt / 3.42
Originally posted by bad84z
Nice car, reminds me of someones Can I have your hood.:sillylol:
Nice car, reminds me of someones Can I have your hood.:sillylol:
PM me with the details.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fort Meade MD
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4 with corvette servo
Originally posted by TunedPort 335
Your car looks awesome. I always wanted to ask you what color the red part is, if you know the paint codes that would be awesome. I'm going to paint it a brighter red (like yours) with slightly darker red ghost flames on the front.
PM me with the details.
Your car looks awesome. I always wanted to ask you what color the red part is, if you know the paint codes that would be awesome. I'm going to paint it a brighter red (like yours) with slightly darker red ghost flames on the front.
PM me with the details.
Here is a pic of the can. I am sure it shouldn't be hard to find with the code.
#21
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: GM Performance Parts 350 HO
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: :(
Alright, went to sears today to get some sandpaper for power tools but they don't have 180 grit or any wetsanding paper. In the first post, when I said I had a woodworking tool I meant a rotary tool I found a flap sanding wheel made to attach to a drill though here . Is this the right attachment for sanding these wheels? If not, what attachments from this page would be good to use?: http://www.sears.com/sr/search/featu...&bidsite=CRAFT
Thanks again everyone for the advice so far.
BTW johnyIroc, you got that guide ready yet? I'd like to see how you polished these wheels.
Thanks again everyone for the advice so far.
BTW johnyIroc, you got that guide ready yet? I'd like to see how you polished these wheels.
#22
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
if you are going to sand it, you need to HAND sand it..... that would just tear up the wheel...
when you use the drill you use it with somthing like this: http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00928650000
only $9.99 and it comes with compound... you just need a couple more wheels so you dont mix your compounds..
try looking here http://www.sears.com/sr/mercado/sear...vertical=SEARS
when you use the drill you use it with somthing like this: http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00928650000
only $9.99 and it comes with compound... you just need a couple more wheels so you dont mix your compounds..
try looking here http://www.sears.com/sr/mercado/sear...vertical=SEARS
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Fort Mill, SC
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i agree hand sanding is always best.... i used a sanding block on my iroc rims... is started at 400 grit and worked my way up to 2000 grit... hand sanded all the curved areas and edge.... then used a mothers to polish.... then used paper towels to remove the polish to get the cloudyness out..... and did that about 3 times.... altogether i spent about 6 hours a rim.... they look great... im going to do the same to my plentem and runners... just my .02
#24
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Paris, Tx. USA
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 89 RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: TH350
Originally posted by bad84z
What kind of paint did you use for the inserts?? How is it lasting?? Is it peeling off???
What kind of paint did you use for the inserts?? How is it lasting?? Is it peeling off???
Now, the end result could use a little wetsanding and polishing (orange peel), but I'm not going to risk scratching the polish job on mine.
Also, after sanding, be sure to clean all of the painting areas totally, before painting, however that might be. If you have never painted before, then you are in for a treat. And learning the hard way is not a bad thing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
3
12-10-2019 07:07 PM
LiquidBlue
Wheels and Tires
32
12-10-2019 04:06 PM