Im thinking about purchaseing some equipment from eastwood company to attempt to put a nice polish shine on my 89 fomula rims. I was told by someone that you cant have alummium rims like that chromed. Im not sure if thats true, but i figure polishing them myself will be cheaper. Ok tell me if this sounds right: First im buying an adaptor that will clamp my standered hand drill to a table, so i wont have to hold it. Then im gonna buy a flexible extention that goes into the drill and the other end is the part used for the buffing, then im also gonna get the wheel buffing kit they sell. I guess it comes with everthing i need to take off the clear coat and polish the metal, then when im all done, ill add a coat of enamiel to each rim. So what does everyone thing, will had hand drill have enough power to polish a rim, Will i need anything else. Thanks for the input

 

Read Joe Burda's "Polishing your IROC Wheels" article in the tech section. It should give you some good pointers.

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/wheels.shtml

 

thanks, just one more question, do you know where i could find the clear coat remover that he talked about. I dont know of any speed shops in the area. Thanks again. Jimmy

 

I would recommend any Napa or Auto Zone/Pep Boys or Parts America you can find.
Each of these should carry "Aircraft Paint Remover/Stripper" and this will very easily remove your paint.
If you feel cheap, take your wifes/girlfriends Easy Off Oven Cleaner.

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Duffster (age 31)
BEAT DOWN HARD 88' Camaro SC,
1978 Caprice Classic motor havin'(WITH NO COMPUTER),84' Z-28 Nose clip wearin',
84' Z-28 Hood covered,
AND THE TIRES:
245/60-16 Firehawk SS20 (1),
245/60-16 Bridgestone CompTA's(on rear),
235/60-16 Pirelli P600 w/a curb check or 3(1),
REAR HATCH MASTER OF ALL!!!
Duffster_Camaro@HOTMAIL.COM
Owner of the Camaro 0 out of 10 Third-genners approve of, also part of the non-existent Iowa crew.

 

There's a company called D&B Wheels that usually in the back of Super Chevy magazines 909-590-1702. I'm pretty sure they can chrome ur rims. Polished rims r a PITA 2 keep clean. I have 18" Enkeis that looked chrome when I 1st got them but not now. I've tried Eagle 1s never dull and Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish which worked alright but took a lot of time. Then a friend a work turned me on 2 WENOL. I spent 3 hrs by hand cleaning and polishing them. They now look like when I 1st got them again. Polished looks real nice but it's a lot of work. The article that Dirk mentioned is a good 1. But chrome is much easier 2 keep clean.

 

I've seen many attempts at polishing wheels. Usally the first one is better than the rest.
www.aaarims.com sells just about every factory wheel in all different finishes. They even take your wheels in trade and warrantee the new ones.

Up to you... Money VS Time, Effort and more Time

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92 Z28 - 5.7 - Black/Grey Leather
Macewen White Faced Guages
SLP T-RAM, 24lb/h Injectors
Accell 52mm Throttle Body
SLP 1 3/4" Headers and Cat Back Sys.

 

I vote for having them stripped and machine polished professionally. I had the lips of my Pontiac WS6 rims polished, tires un-mounted, rotated and re-balanced for about $125. I maintain them with a product called X-Treem Metal Polish 1(800)543-5553. It comes in a black jar and looks like pink cotton candy. Just tear off a wad and rub the rims, buff off with soft cloth. I only have to do it about every 2-3 weeks to maintain the luster. Good luck, Lon.

 

Drills suck, you need to get a die grinder and about 4 different grades of emery. After that use 400 then 600 autobody paper by hand, and after that use MAG alluminum pollish, you'll be able to see yourself in them. I polished my cast alluminum Z28 wheels with this method, and they are mirrors.

 

Hmm, ok, well one last question, If i dont polish them, can they be cromed? I wanna keep the factory alummiun deep dish formula wheels, but someone told me you could crome these wheels, does anyone know if thats true? I think WS6.com has a group purchase going on right now for a good deal on having factor rims cromed, Can it be done?

 

Yes, you sure can have wheels chromed, don't know where exactly, but it is a viable alternative. I have a friend that does a lot of polishing, and powercoating. He uses Eastwood for all his supplies, and the metal polish they have is just downright awesome. Pretty easy to use, a hand drill will work, like a Dremel or something. As for the clearcoat, Aircraft stripper/remover works, just let it soak for a good long time, then wipe it off, you may have to scrub a bit, but it should work.

 

there is a place called performance wheel outlet that sells both chrome and polished IROC wheels. I dont know if they will actually chrome yours, but they might knock down the price if you give them your old rims
their number is 909-825-5242. or www.performancewheeloutlet.com

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90 IROC 5.7l (L98)
ram air, K&N's, air foil,Flows