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Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

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Old 04-16-2024, 06:41 PM
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Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

I took my original 15x7 rims into a restoration company a couple of weeks ago and got the call today that they were done. I went in to pick them up and one of them had the Pontiac nearly polished out. The guy said that this happens, and that the wheels had probably been refinished in the past (not a flipping chance, I've owned this car for 20 years and bought it with only 75k on it).

​​​​​Is this common? Do these wheels normally get the Pontiac removed while refinishing? Or was this some kids first day on the job?



Old 04-16-2024, 07:17 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

I have very limited experience with polishing wheels, but that doesn't seem right to me. The biggest clue being that only 1 of 4 had it polished out. It's possible that wheel had more polishing needed to get blemishes out, but I'm betting on new kid with the buffing wheel not paying attention. The first couple aluminum wheels I polished I ended up taking off more than necessary. At least they were my own and not a customer.
Old 04-16-2024, 08:42 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

Originally Posted by T.L.
Those are WHEELS...
Sure. Question stands.
Old 04-16-2024, 09:53 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

Originally Posted by T.L.
And answered by Aaron R. ...
Not sure what you're trying to prove here. I used the term "rim" as a synecdoche, perfectly normal in the English language.
If you don't have anything to contribute about the whether or not the restoration is a botched job, keep moving.
Old 04-16-2024, 11:02 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

No, that's not normal.

The embossment of the letters is much too deep for a normal surface cut to remove them.

Judging by how the letters taper/fade, from visible at the P, to invisible at the C, the face was cut at an inappropriate angle.

There may have been a reason for cutting so deeply or angled like that, but if they're saying, "that's normal," then that tells me they botched it.
Old 04-17-2024, 05:26 AM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

They aren't polished, they are machined finished.
way to much was taken off.
It happened to a a set of 89 formula wheels of a friends and the company put decal in its place and cleared over it.
they were my old wheels and i was PO'd. They weren't that bad at all.
Old 04-17-2024, 07:19 AM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

Originally Posted by T.L.
Well it's incorrect. They are WHEELS.
Wheels HAVE rims, the PART of the WHEEL that the tire mounts on.
Referring to wheels as "rims" is a ghetto term...
I'll refer to them however I please. Also, insinuating that using "rims" is related with ghettos is pretty problematic. It's a component of a vehicle, no need to infer that someone is less-than because they choose a different word than you.
This will be my last comment to you. I'm sorry you are so hurt by my use of the term rim, but if you don't have anything productive to add to the conversation, please move on.
Old 04-17-2024, 12:24 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

Those letters are deep set I would be pissed and demand a replacement set or compensation.
Old 04-17-2024, 01:23 PM
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Re: Do firebird rims normally get the Pontiac polished off?

Originally Posted by T.L.
Don't tell me to move on. I'll say what I want to say. You're not going to censor me.
You have just demonstrated on the World-wide Web that you are willfully ignorant.
Aw, come on man.........I just got a new set of rims.

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