C4 Wheel refinishing

[Frank K.]

What is the steps to eliminate curb rash,clear coat refinishing and basic wheel refinishing on the C4 wheels?

[Kenneth P.]

Re: C4 Wheel refinishing

What is the steps to eliminate curb rash,clear coat refinishing and basic wheel refinishing on the C4 wheels?

You can remove the clear coat with aluminum paint stripper such as http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/ai...-paint-remover along with some fine steel wool and a stiff nylon brush. Some people recommend breaking down the tires but I did mine with the tires on the rim. Just use a paint brush to apply the stripper and rinse with plenty of water.

As for the curb rash a Dremel like tool will work wonders just be careful not to get carry away. Buff with mag & aluminum polish and I mean buff!. It takes a lot of elbow grease and time but you'll be please with the end results.

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Wheel refinishing

What is the steps to eliminate curb rash,clear coat refinishing and basic wheel refinishing on the C4 wheels?

Frank------


I would recommend having this professionally done. Wheels America did a WONDERFUL job on a set of original wheels I bought as a secondary set for my 1992.

[Leonard M.]

Re: C4 Wheel refinishing

If the rash is not to bad (mostly cosmetic) and of course the wheel is not bent, you can "restore" them close to original yourself. Here are 3 silver factory powder coated C4 wheels I just finished this afternoon. 2 had significant "rash" and the other 1 was light. I remove the bulging metal and the fill the voids with JB Weld; multiple layers are needed for deep gouges. Masking off the good areas is a must to contain your work. I use all hand files and wet sand to 1000 grit. On these I only sprayed the lips with Eastwood silver argent which was a very close match. The last picture is 4 unpainted repro wheels. The rash was not to deep. Filed out the rash and went down to 2000 wet before using Mother's. The greatest expense is your time and if you don't feel you are going to end up with a job you will be happy with, you can get then professionally restored.
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[Duke W.]

Re: C4 Wheel refinishing

You can remove the clear coat with aluminum paint stripper such as http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/ai...-paint-remover along with some fine steel wool and a stiff nylon brush.

Steel wool will leave iron particles in the surface. I recommend Scotchbrite. Once the wheel is mechanically cleaned, etch the surface with Alumiprep, which is a mild phosphoric acid solution, then followup with Alodine conversion coating. These are PPG products, but available from other manufacturers.

Now apply the color coat and follow up with a catalyzed urethane clear coat. The result should be very durable. I refinished a couple of sets of Cosworth Vega wheels 30 years ago using this procedure and materials, and they still look like new. The original clear coat was just lacquer and didn't last, which allowed the gold color coat to rapidly fade due to lack of UV protection.

Back in the day PPG published a "Ditzler Repaint Manual", which was a great source of information on repainting including aluminum using the above procedures and materials. Maybe it's online now.

Duke

[Kenneth P.]

Re: C4 Wheel refinishing

I did my 90 rims last year and haven't had any issues with rust from the steel wool left behind in the aluminum (I use 0000 steel wool). After cleaning and buffing I doubt that would be an issue anyways. Also these wheels have no finish other then the clear coat. I've talk to many people who have refinished their C4 rims this way and not one has had a problem. Some even elect not to reapply the clear coat and just buff them every once in awhile. But I guess it all depends your personal preference and how you drive your car.