This topic came up in another thread so I thought I would post it here...

Here is an outline :

BACKGROUND : I paid under $90 a rim for a set of 5 16 x 8 Land Cruiser rims which are straight, no gouges but have major corrosion of the aluminium UNDER the clearcoat. I also negotiated a rate of $20 per rim for clear powdercoating if I do all the prep. When done, I will have less than $120 per rim in these rims which are : Forged, OEM, 16 x 8, perfect backspacing. I could not get anything even close for less than $170 per rim and most of those are cast.

Couple of before shots showing corrosion :



1. Remove all factory clear coat with "Aircraft paint stripper" (this is a product which works really well with aluminium)

This takes two to three applications and a plastic scraper and plenty of patience.

Wear gloves and safety glasses (a respirator can't be a bad thing) when applying.

After stripping :


2. Wash thoroughly with fresh water and mild detergent (car shampoo)

3. Starting with a 'scotchbrite' or similar abrasive pad on a rotary tool and locally remove all the corrosion , spider lines, pitting from machined surface.

4. Wash thoroughly with water and dry

I purchased a kit from Eastwood company consisting of a smoothing and buffing kit - it had various buffs plus 80, 200, 320, tripolli and white rouge compounds. Can be found here

5. Using a corded drill, start with the 80 grit on buffing wheel and smooth out major scratches in areas you have removed pitting/corrosion from.

Wash thoroughly

6. Repeat above with a new buff for 220, 320, tripolli then white rouge compounds washing between each step. Any grinding paste residue or aluminium shards will quickly undo all of your work so washing is critical.

In progress..you can see small scratches which need to be smoothed :


At this point, you should have a wheel with a highly smoothed and polished outer rim and spokes.

7. Buff spokes and outer rim with Mothers Alumimium wheel polish and a Mothers polishing ball.

Finished but before bead blasting rough cast area and powder coat




8. Open a cold one and admire where you are at.

9. Mask off spokes and rim leaving just the rougher cast areas between the spokes (these are now dirty, corroded and full of metal polish etc).

When you are happy you have masked really well, bead /media blast these areas .

10. You've guessed it, wash wheel thouroughly again.

11. Hand buff polished areas of spokes with soft terry towel cloth and NO compound.

12. Wipe wheel clean with mineral spirits or some other degreaser

13. Powdercoat entire rim clear.

Pics to come later ...

14. Get tire mounted and bolt her up to car

15. Install shiny new centercaps you bought from a shady dude in Singapore

16. Pass out from exhaustion before you get a chance to admire your work.

Simple really

David

 

WOW DAVID!!!!!!

those look beautiful!! GREAT WORK!

I wish I had the ambition to do my 5th...but I guess sinces its a spare, it doesnt really matter.

Have you installed your lift yet? I cant wait to see the final product(nothing is ever final is it?)

 

Waiting for rims to be done before lifting so I can install man size tires and look a little less redneck

I have front struts assembled with new plates ready to go.

David

 

what tires did you decide on? LOL..you said man sized tires..hahha

your 4runner is going to look niceee!

 

BRAVO ! They look great....now get them mounted!

 

Wow, very nice.

 

I know this an old thread but I finally got my rims back from the powdercoater yesterday.

I worked hard on polishing the spokes and then media blasted the cast sections between the spokes.

I had them clear powdercoated and they look unreal.



Rims mounted with 265/75/16 Dueller AT REVO's that I got in a buy 4, get one free deally on line about 3 months back.

So, hopefully by Monday, I will have some lift/LC rims/Revo pics.

(lift is Taco/Tundra front and OME/OME rear)

 

Bump now with pics added of finished product.

David

 

Nice job on the wheels!! :bigclap:

 

wow..that looks awesome! my friend just got his LC wheels back from the finisher..they look brand spanking new...i wish mine looked like that. i know they'd be trashed right quick though...