Came across this while surfing, they look nice...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FACTO...eZWDVW#howship

Raf

 

I think there was a thread on something like these before, but I didn't see any pics, those are sweet.

 

I have "Knight Rider" Turbo Casts and big Hubcaps... before knowing a lot, I thought it would be cool to chrome them, but after some research, a lot of the wheel is rough cast, so it wouldn't look good unless all of it was smoothed first... then the plating and just how long it would last...

I went with edges polished, then clear powdercoat...



But damm that chrome is shiny

Raf

 

Damn....$940 for a set of stock 15X7 wheels....that's crazy. You can pick up a set of them in a yard or off Craigslist for less than $100 for the set, then have them chromed for $300-$400 for the set. I seriously considered chroming mine, but being the tightwad do-it-yourselfer than I am I opted for polishing mine. I get complements on them all the time. Here's pic, the pic doesn't do them justice.....they look so much better in person.

 

That price isn't far off because it's for both, the wheel and the chrome job.

Most places that dip factory wheels charge about $400-$500-ish for the set(plus shipping, if necessary). But that would be to either dip your own wheels, or exchange yours for theirs. So if you were buying their chromed wheel without an exchange, you'd prolly be around that $900-$1,000 mark.

I didn't use the place in the ebay link above when I had my wheels chromed, but the one I used is also in the LA area:

http://www.wheelconcepts.com/

I took mine to them. So there was no exchange and no shipping, and it was $450. But that was a couple of years ago. It might've gone up.

Checking out the "Chevrolet" category, I see a wheel that I know A LOT of people have been wanting and looking for, but have never found--a chrome 16" '88-'90 IROC wheel:

http://www.wheelconcepts.com/CHEVROLET.htm

Here's a pic of mine after I got them. They came out very nice!

 

Nice, but I like them polished instead.
That chrome will fail at some poit and start to look like crap.
A polished wheel is alot easier to keep looking good, ove the long run, IMO.

Leon

 

Those in chrome look pretty good, I've seen wheels like the ones I have which are the 91-92 16's that were chromed and the chrome actually made them look to shiny, they actually looked like they were plastic, so I just went the polished route. I think they turned out pretty well.

 

One question, why would you go to all that trouble, and not fix the curb rash and get rid of the wheel weights?

What's polished looks good though!
Leon

 

The curb rash is pretty deep in some places so I smoothed it out some and left it. If I would have fully sanded them out I would have had some pretty deep divots. When I went to get my tires put on I told the guy at the shop to put the weights in the back when he balanced them, but he didn't listen, and I didn't look before I left the shop (Stupid me), so that's why they are on there. Thanks for the compiment though!

 

Your wheels look very nice, too, but I prefer chrome over polished, especially on these "Hi-Tech" wheels.

The chrome on these is no more likely to fail than the chrome on any wheel. Whether or not the wheels were new to begin with makes no difference. New or old, they're all cleaned, polished and prepped the same way before the plating process begins.

And the process is exactly the same for any chrome wheel on a car coming from the factory. All the "factory" chrome wheels these days are plated by companies like these. Even the wheels used in "dress-up" packages that dealers add-on come from these companies.

As for maintenance, our opinions differ here, too. I think the chrome wheels are much easier to keep looking good. They're virtually low-to-no maintenance.

On the 'vert I bought this year, someone had previously polished the factory wheels. They look nice, but they start to look bad very quickly. They're high maintenance. I've actually gotta WORK to keep them looking good, lol, and I don't wanna work!

Whereas, in the two years I've had the chrome wheels on my Formula, I've done nothing to them, other than wash and wax them. Cleaners, rubbing, buffing, and polishing aren't necessary to keep them looking great(and are not advised, nor recommended by the plating company).

Believe me, "bling" isn't my style at all. In general, I don't care for chrome parts of anykind. But I do like it on wheels, and I'm very happy with mine.

 

If I'm going to drop anything close to a G on wheels, they will not be 15" or 16" stockers, not even chromed.

For that coin, you are getting close to Ronal territory, or some other, more impressive than stock wheel.

I like the 16" Formulas, don't get me wrong, but not for that money. Polishing the stockers, as some of you have done, looks like a lot better option.

 

If you already have the wheels(I did), then it's only a little less than half a G. And when you consider that you don't have to buy new tires, versus dropping a G(or more) on larger aftermarket wheels, plus another G for a new set of larger tires to fit the new wheels, then it's not a bad deal to have them chromed.

Polishing them yourself is definitely the least expensive option, as long as you consider your blood, sweat and tears, and time, free. But if you send them out to be polished "professionally," then you'll prolly still spend, at least, a couple hundred.

The "worth" is all just a matter of personal preference.

 

I agree. For me, 17" wheels are necessary from an aesthetic standpoint.

You have 17" wheel and tire combos priced at $2000. I paid less than $1000 for my Ronals with tires mounted...the tires lasted me two seasons.

For my '95 Formula, I bought 17" Firehawk wheels for about $500, and then dropped about $300 on tires through a friend.

For me, that's money well spent. My '92 takes on a whole new identity when I take off the 16" Formula wheels and put the Ronals on.

 

OK, let me explain what I mean about "maintainance"!
My wifes 97 SSEi Bonneville came from the factory with the Chromed aluminium "star" wheels, and they looked great! BUT, they started to flake and peel (the chrome) and started blistering so bad around the bead and valve stem, it became a weekly ritual of airing up the tires.
And how do you "maintain" chrome wheels, when they get to this stage?
I'll tell you, you have to send them out to be rechromed, and from what I have found in my area, that cost about $150 per wheel.
I instead went to the junk yard, bought some standard aluminium wheels, polished them, and have now been on these wheels longer, without the problems I just described, than we were with the chrome wheels.

Granted, polished aluminium wheels do take time and care, but I can correct any problem that they present, as where the chromed wheels goin bad, just look bad until they are replaced, and to me, thats not very economical.
Repolishing a set of wheels, far out weighs having a set rechromed.

Chrome peels and pits, where as aluminium just dulls.
Thats been my experience, and I'm not trying to tell you to do anything different, its just that for my money, I'll stick to polishing my wheels.

Leon

 

I still say spending nearly a G for stock 15" bird rims is crazy...even if they are chromed (which actually do look pretty good). If you want to go the chrome route I highly suggest picking up a set from a junk yard. They're CHEAP (usually under $100 for a set). Then you can take them to a chroming shop. It will save you a few hundred $$ that you can apply to other parts of the car.

But, if you go the polished route, I believe I spent somewhere around $30-$40 on all the supplies to strip, sand, polish mine.

 

IIRC, a set of Ronals cost about $900 new, and they were later bumped up even higher. So it sounds like you got some good deals from someone then. And if you're getting deals, then you definitely can't pass them up, as long as it's for what you want. But most new wheels and tires from their respective retailers/wholesalers would cost around $2,000(or more).

The set of wheels(17") I want to put on my 'vert will cost about $1,000 new, and the tires will cost about $700. And those are both moderately priced compared to what's out there. So that's how I arrived at my estimate of $2,000.

But again, it all depends upon what you want and the money you have to spend. And by having my own wheels chromed, I have the look I want, and I didn't have to buy new tires... and all I have wrapped-up in it is $450. So that worked for me.

 

You are right, I got a good deal on my Ronals from a mod on this board...they were in as-new condition, too.

But, we all have to search for deals to get what we want without going broke. I'd never pay $2k for rims and tires because my wife and I like to eat!

Whatver 17" (or any size) wheel you are looking for, a deal will eventually come along, so you might as well hold out until it does, and you get exactly what you want.

 

Something I mentioned in my post above: the company that plated my wheels said to NEVER use any kind of cleaners or polishes on them.

I'm not saying you did that, but I'm sure that many people do. So that could be one reason for the failing of the product.

 

For what I'm planning on getting, which will be exactly what I want(because I spoil myself, lol), the price is already a pretty good deal. And like I said, they're not even considered expensive wheels and tires.

But the 17" wheels won't be replacing my chromed factory wheels. The chromed wheels are my Formula's 16" wheels. That's what I want on it. If I'd planned to replace them, I wouldn't have had them chromed.

The new 17" wheels(chrome) will be on my 'vert, which currently has its stock 15" wheels(polished).

 

Which wheels are you going with for the 'vert?

 

They're going to be... Hey, wait! This topic is about chrome factory wheels.

...not Ronals. I want chrome wheels on the 'vert, but I also want something more "custom."

Ronals are great! I've always liked them a lot, and I'd considered them at one time. But the machined look isn't what I'm going for. So I considered having a set chromed, but then I saw some in chrome, and they didn't work for me like I'd hoped they would. That's one "factory" wheel I wouldn't chrome.

But it was just the opposite with my Formula's wheels. I'd disliked them for 18 years! I didn't like their style, and I didn't like their machined finish with my black car. The only thing "cool" about them back in the '80s, IMO, was that they were 16"! But I've always kept them because they're a unique identifying characteristic of an '87 Formula, having been used only that one year.

I had no idea if chrome would help them or not. I really didn't think anything could. But I'd always wanted chrome wheels on the car, yet I'd committed to keeping the "factory" wheels. So two years ago I finally did it, not really expecting much. And dang! I was floored by how great they came out! It's like night and day with these wheels. I'm very glad I kept them.

How's that for staying topical, lol.

Oh, the 'vert will get American Racing Chrome Rebels. I've liked that wheel for years. They have a simple, strong, classic, yet modern, design that I think makes them a "natural" on thirdgens. And until recently, not many people have used them. But they're starting to show-up more often.

They also come in black with a chrome lip(maybe polished lip, I don't remember). Those look great, too, and they could also work with my plans. But it's the chrome that I've always wanted, so that's most likely what I'll stay with.

Now I know it's waaaay late over there in Maine, so I'd imagine your wife would rather have you in bed than on the computer, lol. So don't respond again tonight!

 

Polished all the way !
Better shine than Chromed

 

I say chrome, I have a 97 camaro with the factory 5 star chrome wheels and they still look perfect. Nice thing is just spray some windex on them and they shine right up in less then 5 minutes to do all of them.

 

I would lean towards the polishing.... just because at some point, the chrome is more vulnerable...

I guess it has to do with the camera's too, just seeing the shine on the top link of the chrome wheels... I see pics of polished and it looks kinda dull... but I have a set or AS&M polished runners that look like a mirror...??

Raf

 

No, I never used anything more than carwash soap and a wheel brush on the wifes car.
And I don't believe cleaners and polishes would harm the chrome.
Chrome pits and peels due to moisture getting under the chrome, and that can happen when the rim is nicked with a rock or loose lugnut or the like.
And like I said before, once that happens, you can't do anything about it except have them rechromed.
A polished aluminium wheel can get nicked, sanded smooth, and repolished, good as new, all at home with power hand tools.
And that's why I maintain the statement, that they are easier to take care of,in the log run!
New for new, chrome looks like the easy, hands down winner in this debate, but over the course of several years, the polished aluminium wheels will ALWAYS be easier for the DIYer to restore at home, unless you can chrome at home! LOL!

Don't misunderstand me, as I thought as you did when we bought the Bonneville, but then the chrome took a nose dive, I was faced with having to get them rechromed, or get another set that I could have more control over, as far as their long term maintainance was concerned.
And this is why me and chrome don't mix, and never will.

Leon

 

As stated previously, I lean towards the polished side... but I had a piece that couldn't be polished.... the screen the goes on the Formula hood scoop... had one chromed

Raf

 

I vote for chrome wheels. I think those chromed forumla wheels look awesome. I've already polished and clear coated my aluminum wheels a couple of times, and they always peal and oxidize.
I plan on having my wheels chromed, possibly by Wheel Concepts. There's really no place in the midwest or east coast that chrome wheels.
LAfireboyd, those pictures look great! Did you have any problems or recommendations on using Wheel Concepts?
Lou

 

ZoopSeal works good on polished aluminum....

Same wheels up now, half price...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FACTO...QQcmdZViewItem

Raf

 

Do you understand why they are pealing?
Its because they Are POLISHED!
LOL!

The clear needs a rough surface to stick too, and polished smooth aluminium offers nothing for the clear to stick to.
I HATE clear coated aluminium wheels, because they have the same problems as the chromed wheels do, that I described earlier, only worse!

Each to his own though, because in the long run, its what you are happy with in how it looks, and how much care you put into your care.

Leon

 

I've always thought of Ohio as being a state that's into cars and racing, so I'm surprised you can't find any chrome shops there. I'd think there'd have to be one somewhere nearby.

I found Wheel Concepts on my own, not through anyone's recommendation. I'm thinking it was through a websearch for chrome wheel shops in the Los Angeles area, but I really don't remember for sure. They were nice, informative and easy to work with, and I have no problem recommending them to people.

I called them up, they told me how it all worked, and they quoted a price. Then I personally took my wheels to them, where I got to have a look around their warehouse. And together, we examined my wheels to make sure there would be no surprises.

They have a large variety of factory wheels that they've chromed, but mostly for more current car models. And that inventory is what they use to fill orders, taking your wheels in exchange, providing they have a set like you have. But they didn't have any like mine, so my chromed wheels are actually mine, the ones I delivered to them. And they were ready for me to pick-up about 2 weeks later.

Of course, they ship too, but I didn't wanna deal with shipping and its cost. That's why I searched for a local shop.