I have a set of original 89 IROC rims. Rims and paint are great but the aluminum surfaces are a bit "cloudy." I don't want to cut the rim faces unless I need to. Has anyone found a solution to treating the clearing up the fogging up of the aluminum surfaces?

 

Depends on what caused the problem, but it will probably involve stripping the original clear-coat off so you can get to the aluminum, polishing it (the bare aluminum), and then re-clearing the wheels.

 

The wheels should be clear coated over the machined aluminum and the coating they used back then was not very durable. The best cleaner I have found is Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish (yes, even on the clear coat) and some elbow grease, then follow up with a coat of wax. It will take out the etched in brake dust and some discoloration, but if it’s really bad, it won’t be able to be saved. Easy enough to give it a try.

if the clear is bad, then the only fix will be to chemically strip the wheel, repaint the accents and clear the whole wheel.

 

Thx. Exactly the advice I was looking for! I'll give them a go.

 

For mine, I did strip the clear coat on the face only, wet sanded from 220 to 7000 and polished with Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish. For the sides, I used some 1500-3000 grit remover compound with a rag and my fingers. I did not have them clear coated so I need the repolish once in a while. If I would have to do it all over again, I would strip the whole thing, wet sand and polish the aluminium, repaint the side, then clear coat the whole thing.

Before after good clean-up


After with clear coat striping, gradual wet sanding

 

you might also try some compounds if you have any around. this stuff works miracles on a lot of stuff https://www.meguiars.com/professiona...cut-high-gloss

I've used it to get stains out of paint, make cloudy headlights clear again, if your clear coat is just has a little surface oxidation, it will take it out.