We need to repaint the gold lace on our 87 GTA wheels, can anyone offer some tips or links to articles on what to do or not to do? Any specific paint to use or to avoid? Tips or tricks?

Thanks- MJ

 

22people read and not help.. geesh..

1st goto a auto paint shop and get a color matched gold you like to repaint them.

Your best bet it to strip all the paint off with a good paint striper. I like the Stuff in the Blue/White can. Air Craft paint Striper.


a can each should do ya good. Once you strip em all.Rinse them off really good.
Glass bead the mesh area only. (mast off the polished lips) use a 180grit aluminum oxide.
Blow em , wash em down with some pre or denatured alky.
Again tape off the polished lip area.

Get some self etching primer and use that 1st. Make sure you got a good even coat on it. Then onto the gold. Then clear.

Id pull the tape off the lips and clean em up if they dont look so good. once they are done clear coat the complete rim again.

 

For what it costs I'd just take the wheels to a refurb place and get them done professionally, they'll make them look like new.

 

I'm all about doing it myself, but I would probably just have the wheels redone by a wheel shop. I was quoted $400 dollars for my whole set, and that was polishing/refinishing the lip too, and removing some curb rash.

 

Search my name, I'm sure my thread will come up. I've done 2 sets so far. 1 set for my old GTA and now another set for my Camaro. If you can't find anything, PM me.

 

I wouldn't use paint .. Just powdercoat them again, Paint doesn't last on rims .. as for the curb rash just spin the rims on the back of the car and use sand paper.

 

Demon355: I was able to find your October 2007 posts when you did black GTA rims....has this continued to work out? Recommendations for paint type? Do we need to get heat resistant paint.....Thanks, MJ

 

Anything out of a spray can is a temporary fix, unless it's a garage queen car that will never be driven. Even spray can paint from a body shop is 1 part, not catalyzed, and will not last like 2k paint. 1k paint = soft = very easy to scratch or chip. I would get the wheels pro refinished if you plan on keeping them. Otherwise, you can rattle can them and just touch them up every couple years when they get scuffed. Some spray can paint is more durable than others, but a real 2k finish would be even better. All depends on what you expect from the finish.

 

I will be getting them professionally done this coming summer but I just wanted a project I could do this past summer and I think they came out pretty good. I only had them on the car for about 2-3 weeks before the snow hit and I had to park the car but for the most part, and a couple washes later, they are still holding up. I used some form of engine enamel so that it could withstand the brake heat. Sanded the wheel down with various grit of sandpaper, 3 coats of Black and 2 coats of clear with a little wetsand then 1 more coat of clear.