1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

[Paul L.]

Were the 1979 alloy wheels clear-coated at the factory?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Paul------

I believe that they were clear-coated, but I'm not 100% sure. I suggest that you look at a 1979 Owner's Manual in the "wheel maintenence" or general vehicle maintenence sections. Usually, it will provide such information or it can be inferred from the sort of wheel cleaning methods/instructions that are described.

[Paul L.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Joe,
I am not sure either. This was spawned from a question in the CorvetteForum. And since I have sold my 1979 I no longer have the Owner's Manual. Richard Prince says they were not but others (owners) say they were. It's one of those mysteries I guess.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Paul-----

Part of the confusion likely stems from the fact that there were a number of different aluminum wheels used over the 76-80 period. Discounting the special wheels used for 1978 Pace Car and 1982 Collector's Edition, there were a total of, at least, 4 different wheels used. For 1979, there were TWO, and, possibly, THREE different wheels used. GM #465252, GM #14009704, and GM #14008687 were all possibilities. How were these wheels different? I don't know. However, I'll wager that they were different in some way and clear coat or not COULD have been one difference.

Actually, though, I still think that all 1979 wheels were clear-coated, regardless of part number. I don't know about the earlier wheels, though, especially the 76-77 variety.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

1978s were definitely clear-coated because I removed it from my 78 and I've seen similared yellowed lacquered finishes on the 79's. You can spotted wheels from those years in which the clear coat has been removed...they are too shiney!

[Dick W.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

'79's were clear coated. I bought a takeoff set in 1980 and had to remove the clear so that I could have them polished.

[Paul L.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Thanks everyone! A wealth of knowledge here as usual. My conclusion is that they were clear-coated.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Since the seventies it's been standard OE practice to clear coat aluminum wheels, but this predates the sixties KO wheels, which were not clearcoated.

Early clearcoats were lacquer and these deteriorate by yellowing and cracking or lifting. When restoring clear coated wheels, use acrylic urethane clear, which is vastly more durable. You must also prep the surface carefully by mechanical and chemical cleaning followed by "Alumiprep" phosphoric acid etching, then "Alodine" phosphate conversion coating, followed by the arcylic urethane.

I refinished two sets of deteriorated Cosworth Vega wheels using this industry standard procedure and they still look like new!

Duke

[Craig S.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Joe - I can shed some light on service wheels, and on the orginal 77 wheels. I had a 77 new from the factory, and these were brushed not polished, with NO coating and black centers. In about 1983, I bought a set of 4 Kelsey Hayes "Hecho in Mexico" 80-82 style wheels, and these are the same basic wheel, polished aluminum vs brushed, and the slots are painted black through the back. If I recall, the center is polished on this wheel, without the black accent as on the 77 wheels. I also know for certain, they are clear coated, unlike the 77 wheels. They are still NOS, stored in the original boxes from 82, in my garage. And as you always say....[not for sale]. They are for my 74 LS6 crate project, with L89 heads and a 67 tripower. You may beat me completing your ZL1 buildup as I have made little progress on this one.....still have the engine ready to install with 2 hours on the clock and I bought it in 1989........ Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Duke - 77 wheels were the exception to this, they were brushed. 78 up were clear, see my post above......Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Craig-----

What is the part number (on the box) of the wheels that you have? Likely, it's GM #14022120 or 14009704. I'd be interested in which one.

[Craig S.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Joe - just getting back after being out of town, I will check tomorrow as they are up on a shelf, my memory wants me to say 14022120, but then those recall brain cells have been wrong before....LOL Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: 1979 N90 Alloy Wheels. Clear-coated?

Joe - I was able to see a label on one box from a distance, and by squinting verified it is 14022120 (my 74 is in the way to get a ladder near the overhead storage area. The center caps are 474312, and the paste on emblems which are PSA installed I don't know, as I threw away the plastic packaging and pasted them on the center caps. I remember I bought the 82 logo center emblems, with a silver background. If I remember correctly, the 80 & 81 wheels were the same, the center caps were the same, but the center emblem was a black background versus silver as in 82. I do recall having to buy all 3 items separately for each wheel. Seems like it cost me about $170 or so a wheel at the time...not sure what repros run now...Craig