C3- Wheel Clearcoat

[John Wissocki]

I desperately need help. I need to re-clearcoat my 1982 Collector Edition wheels because this idiot (me) decided to clean them with straight degreaser and all the clearcoat just oozed off. This car is mint with 11,000 orig. miles. I need to find out what these wheels were originally clearcoated with. Part #? Clear finish or Satin? Does anyone know the 100% correct answer? Thank You very much. I owe someone a case of beer if they know.

[Mike M.]

Re: C3- Wheel Clearcoat

wish i knew the answer 100% as i just got in from the hay fields and am
real thrusty but unfortunatly my knowledge is lmited to c-1 and c-2s .sorry, mike

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3- Wheel Clearcoat

John, I can't say I know the "100% correct answer", but possibly there IS NOT ONE 100% correct answer. For example, I am relatively sure there never was a GM part number for the clear on vendor supplied wheels, but I could be wrong.

You have a couple of choices: (1) send the wheels to one of the companies that restores alloy wheels, and let them clear coat them for you...probably expensive; OR, (2) take a shot at clear coating them yourself. I would probably do them myself. Relax...Collector Edition or not, it's still just a car. Do a craftsmanlike job, and nobody will ever know the difference. If you mess them up, you can always have them restored professionally. If you do them yourself, I would try to do it quickly to minimize the cleaning and polishing.

There have been several articles on refinishing alloy wheels in "Vette" and "Corvette Fever" magazines over the years. I am not sure how you would be able to access these articles; maybe research the periodicals at the library and/or contact the publisher for back issues or reprints.

There are many clears available these days; if you have a spray gun, find a knowledgeable paint store person to recommend a clear that will work best for this application (clean, bare aluminum). If you want to keep it simple, go with aerosol cans; Eastwood has a product called "Diamond Clear" (address below), but for $10/can, you may want to shop Pep Boys for something cheaper. Aerosol finishes, however, will probably not be as durable as the coating you would get from the wheel resorers.

As far as the gloss level, I am thinking satin would be closer to the original than full gloss, but I know zip about Corvettes after 72. Replicate the gloss level that was on the wheels before you stripped them.




Eastwood Diamond Clear

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3- Wheel Clearcoat

John,

As Chuck says, it shouldn't be that tough to do.

If it were me, I'd find another Collectors Edition car, and take a LONG look at the glossiness of the rims. Then, I'd find a professional painter (auto body or even one who does, say, cabinets), buy clear coat paint of the correct gloss (likely from an auto body store) and have the painter shoot it on. If you don't think the gloss is originally 100% gloss, I'm sure the store can show you various examples of gloss, and you can pick a "percentage gloss" for them to mix up for you. Flattening the clear coat is not an unusual thing to do, especially in door jambs.

Eastwood's Diamond Clear and some others in a can always seem to thick and too glossy to me. That's why I'd go the Pro painter route.

Patrick

[Bill W.]

Re: C3- Wheel Clearcoat

Clearcoating alum. wheels is NOT a do it yourself job. the company we send our wheels to is the hub cap and wheel store in St Louis. I have the number at work. Average cost about $100 per wheel. that inc repair.who ever you use tell them ahead of time what you expect the finished product to look like. they can also re weld curbed & chipped wheels and remachine them .they do a very nice job.turnaround time 3 to 5 days. Bill

[Gregg Plapas]

Re: C3- Wheel Clearcoat

I know the exact answer to your question. Send case of Bud-Light, and I will divulge to you the information you seek.