Hey dudes...
im thinking this weekend ill be using theformula`s instructions for polishing my rims. Its the easiest and makes most sense to me compared to everyone elses instructions which were a bit different.. but so far I think theformula`s is the cheapest method right now. But from all the post ive seen, no body seems to answer the one question, (DO YOU CLEARCOAT YOUR RIMS AFTER POLISH?) Ive seen 3 guys ask this question.. but no body answers them. SO whats the dealy? Yes or no? im gonna be doing this in like 2 days .. gimmie feedback!

Im also going to be painting my GFX white!
I guess im gonna sand it down, (its plastic but whatever)
and than ill just go over it carefully with the white paint and make a new ride.

Answer me ASAP plz ppl.

 

If you don't clear coat them, you'll have to keep your wheels clean a LOT more then regular..with no clear, you're lacking a protective layer that would usually prevent rust and such.

 

Dave... it looks like you have the stock 15" "Z28" style rims on your car. Those are sand cast rims, and you can NOT polish them just by stripping off the paint and polishing. You must grind off all of the casting texture using a die grinder with emery barrels. I have the same wheels, and I polished mine. It is a big job, but definitely worth it.

 

well I dont have tools for such a job like that.
I was just gonna use my hands and just sand them down by hand. Is it still worth the polish than?
or should I just paint it white with the gfx white. It will match but I kinda liked the idea of teh polish look.
what do you think>?

 

holy cow man, your gona be there for years hand polishing them. Do you have an electric drill at least? If you do maybe you can adapt some polishing stones to run on the drill. Id do anything you can to avoid having to hand polish cast rims. And BTW yes i would clear coat them. Either the spray on clear coat that u can buy at like ACE or go to a paint store and buy the good stuff for a paint gun if ya have one. I used the ACE stuff on my plenum and TB plate and it looks pretty good but im afraid it wouldnt work as well on your wheels where there is going to be brake dust and a lot of heat coming off the calipers and such. Id try to find some high-temp clear if i was you. good luck

 

i used to think like you... after i got 1 rim done i said to myself... this is too much work! its way to time consuming to polish thoes wheels. i used sandpaper and dremel wire brushes... here was the only rim i polished...
i have tips if u still gonna go thouugh with it, here is my pic


after doing one wheel i realized it was too time consuming

 

so now i had a conclusion... ill just pollish the lines and paint the insides black!! i dont have any real pics of what they currently look like, but i photoshoped them black... this is what they look like now...

 

oops... here is the final painted version:

 

Wow man
those look sharp!
so your saying should I just sand them down and just re-paint them white? and clearcoat.. and walla?
Cause, I dont have a drill and none of that other stuff..
its all ghetto from here boys

 

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Do not clear coat the areas that you polish. It will never be as mirror like if you do and clear is subject to yellowing and damage from chemicals (aka. SUper Clean) Use Carnauba wax to protect the area you polished. You COULD clear the painted sections, but that removes the ability to touch them up easily. Plasti-Cote High Gloss Engine Enamel (available at Advance) is the best stuff I've ever seen to paint wheels with. My brother's IROC wheels have been painted with it for a year now and there are no chips at all! Even if there were, all he'd have to do is mask off the rest of the wheel and do a quick touch-up to get them looking like new again.

 

how does aluminum rust?

 

you can use zoop seal to protect polished alum parts. clear will work but it will yellow over time and that is the problme anyway.

i usewd a dremil tool with the remote attachment it feels like a fat pen in your hand works great for tight areas like rims. i got all my supplies from eastwood company thay have all shapes of sanding barrles and cones that make sanding for polishing a breeez. the also have the buffs for the dremil to buff up the small parts.
i like the painted idea looks sweet and will be less work sanding. you will have to start by striping the ol clear off everything with aircraft stripper or something like it.

Jeff

 

White, chalky, flaky residue.