Restyling Stock Wheels Options

[rave2n]

Picked up some stock rims from a member here. I figured they would need some work, being they are over 10 years of age, and road rash is bound to happen.

When I got them




Began the process of stripping and sanding




Sanding


Skipped a few photos here, mainly because it was some busy work.
Process included, stripping and sanding to bare metal. 3 Coats primer, 3 Coats Color. Going to put clear on tonight. Took 1 1/2 half to just tape it up to spray the inside of the spokes..but I like the results...can't wait to see'em on the car.





Now I only did one wheel to just see how it would turn out. Now I got 3 more to do.

Heres a pick of the car without them on. So when all is done, there is reference to the old steelies =P (Shocks, coils on the way, BTW =))

[Keiri]

Watching this with interest; thinking of refurbing some Scion TC rims to be painted black.

GL with the project.

[rave2n]

Watching this with interest; thinking of refurbing some Scion TC rims to be painted black.

GL with the project.

Thanks!

If you doing just one flat color, I assume it should just be strip, sand, prime, sand, paint, clear, sand, compound. Dunno though, havn't got that far yet. Tonight is the real test on the clear coat. I'll spray it tonight, and take a pic in the mornign before I head to work. This is also some fun painting training for me, because I have a big hood I need to paint as well, and havn't had much hands on experiance.

[SwissFerdi]

Watching this with interest; thinking of refurbing some Scion TC rims to be painted black.

This. My wheels are calling for flat black and a red pinstripe.

[richee3]

Nice job, dude If the factory wheels had a better offset and were in inch bigger, they would be the perfect wheel for our cars. Can't wait to see the other 3 finished and put on the car.

[rave2n]

Can't wait to see the other 3 finished and put on the car.

Ty Sir.

Its gunna be a few weeks most likely. Probally 3 weeks to be exact. I got sturts, coilover sleeves, raiser blocks, and an axle to get done (Majority still in the mail). Then of course a nice clean up and buffing, then she'll be picture ready =). Just happy to finally get some look to her, almost a year and a half of ownership, and i'll i've done is CC panel, clear tank lid, and a strut bar. Excluding general maintence. Being my first project car, its teaching me alot of patience. No patience, means wasted mula! Specially with those rims, you mess up, be ready to go buy more paint!

[BonzaiCelica]

anybody know how much stock steelies on a ST Celica weigh?

[rave2n]

Alrighty, finished product with the clear.



I only notice one little spot on the edge I didn't sand down enough. So on the next one I'm correcting that by filling in those deep gashes with some fiberglass putty, Aquameld to be exact. It has worked wonders for me in the past, not sure how it will hold up once the fine sanding is done tonight but we'll see.

Some picks of the sanding, and my wonderful mouse that makes sanding so much easier. I really only have to spend about 15 mins sanding by hand.



Filling the gaps



Going to try to sand the remaining 3 tonight, fill the gaps, and fine sand the next day, and hopefully start applying paint. All the parts I've ordered came in, so I gota get rolling =P

[SwissFerdi]

I want to see a writeup from you, good sir. I might also have to resort to aluminum putty for my wheels, not sure...so yeah. Make a writeup!

[rave2n]

Make a writeup!

Lol I'll do that on the last wheel. Pull out the digital camera as well, so I can get some better pictures.

I attempted to reference to some of the old threads about restyling your wheels, but they are a bit outdated and pic links no longer works. Guess I could update it =P

[cheela]

sweet! I really need to do this to my wheels too. Looking forward to a write up!

[manphibian]

Awesome job fella

[Ted95]

i did the same with my rims last summer, only i painted the inserts black, came out sickkk lol .. i like the color, good work my dude

[rave2n]

All done! Finally! - I have a heathly respect for people that paint now.

Going Monday to get some tires on them, would go tomorrow, but the joint is closed =/...couldn't hurt to let the paint cure anyway for 48 hours, less chance of that new paint getting damaged during installation.



One more post/pic to come, when they are on the car finally!

Will do a write up if enough people want it, i'll just edit down the OP with more pic, supplies, and process/timing.

[Espo]

Watching this with interest; thinking of refurbing some Scion TC rims to be painted black.

This. My wheels are calling for flat black and a red pinstripe.

HP Lite Ocho rims - I'm putting them on my car.

Flat black with red pinstriping on a white Celi though? Make it work I guess

[Random_Stranger]

DAYUM! I am really impressed and truly amazed! I was going to ask how you got that curb rash out! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle (G.I.JoOoOoooooE! LOL Who remembers that slogan in mid commercial break as a kid?) But I mean it! Amazing work!

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Feb 21, 2010 - 2:33 PM

[SwissFerdi]

HP Lite Ocho rims - I'm putting them on my car.

Flat black with red pinstriping on a white Celi though? Make it work I guess

I google'd them and they look good, you have good taste sir.

And she's silver. But yeah, if it doesn't work, I can repaint to gunmetal or something. I just don't have new-wheel money right now, and I like the tC style enough. Even though they're heavy.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Feb 21, 2010 - 2:39 PM

[rave2n]

knowing is half the battle (G.I.JoOoOoooooE! LOL Who remembers that slogan in mid commercial break as a kid?)

Ty sir, I still have to shine up the clearcoat a little more with some rubbing compound, few rough spots, but you can't even notice it, just something that annoys me =P.

Most the rash sands out, but for the sake of not having hills and dips on the lip, that aquameld did the trick on the deep ones.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2...49915141809363#

[CelicaST_CALI]

What kind of paint did u use??

[Espo]

HP Lite Ocho rims - I'm putting them on my car.

Flat black with red pinstriping on a white Celi though? Make it work I guess

I google'd them and they look good, you have good taste sir.

And she's silver. But yeah, if it doesn't work, I can repaint to gunmetal or something. I just don't have new-wheel money right now, and I like the tC style enough. Even though they're heavy.

Looks white in your signature haha. My buddy had tC rims on his old Cavalier...18", personally, I didn't like them on my celi. Was gonna buy them from him when he wrecked his Cav, but obviously, personal choice between us differs lol

The HPs I like because the pinstripe is on the inside rather than the outside - thanks for the compliment lol.

Also, OP, excellent work, I have no expertise in this area of cars, but you've done an outstanding job, bravo lol

[Random_Stranger]

knowing is half the battle (G.I.JoOoOoooooE! LOL Who remembers that slogan in mid commercial break as a kid?)

Ty sir, I still have to shine up the clearcoat a little more with some rubbing compound, few rough spots, but you can't even notice it, just something that annoys me =P.

Most the rash sands out, but for the sake of not having hills and dips on the lip, that aquameld did the trick on the deep ones.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2...49915141809363#

YOU DO Remember the commercials! That was funny!

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Feb 22, 2010 - 2:21 AM

[captb]

has anyone painted the stock rims another color other than the factory silver or flat black. like maybe a white or bronze? id be interested to see how that look. awesome job btw.

[rave2n]

What kind of paint did u use??

Some stuff at a local store, believe it was Dupi-color High Performane Wheel Paint, something like that, at work at the moment so not positive.

2 cans of Metallic Silver, 1 Can of Metallic Black, and 2 cans of clear.

[rave2n]

Can someone do me a hug favor, and measure the length of the just the mag on the lugnut.

Long story short, went to a shop to get tires put on. They put the tires on, and sell me some mag lugs, 3 hours later (not getting into why it took so long) they say i'm good to go. I drive back to work, car is making noises that are quite familiar, like the wheel wasn't firm on the hub. So I take it back, they test drive it, screw around..for another 2 hours, then they come to conclusion that the mags are to long that they sold me. They won't return the money for them, because they were used on my vehicle. This all being while my car is on a lift, with all four taken off, and not a set a lugs to get me home. I sit around for another 2 hours, they get another shop to deliver some acorn lugs, which don't even fully thread on the stud. All this because they wouldn't let me drive away, putting washers in place to make the mag shorter and the wheel firm to the hub, saying its a hazard to drive with washers spacing the mag...(yea they are retarded)..so instead they make me purchase another set of lugs, that are only half threaded...yea thats real safe...

So in end, I just need to know how much to space, or grind down the mag....so I can just end this headache, and never return to Tire Kingdom agian...

Then I can finally conclude this thread, and post the final pic...btw..they make the car look like a whole nother beast..i'm quite surprised at it, and its a good motivator to get the rest done!

This post has been edited by rave2n: Feb 23, 2010 - 5:28 PM

[rave2n]

Final Pic!



I think shes looking 50 times better =)

By request, here is the process I used.

Supplies:
2 X RustOleum 11 oz. Metallic Silver High Performance Wheel Paint
1 X RustOleum 11 oz. Metallic Black High Performance Wheel Paint
2 X RustOleum 11 oz. Clearcoat High Performance Wheel Paint
2 X RustOleum 11 oz. Bare Metal Primer
1 X Tal-Strip Paint Remover
2 X 5 pk 180 Grit sand paper
2 x 5 pk 220 Grit sand paper
1 X 5 pk 800 Grit sand paper
1 X Painters tape - 1/2 inch.
1 X Razor Blade & Pencil
1 X Small Paint brush & cup
1 X Aquameld Fiberglass putty, or Aluminum Putty
1 X Rubbing Compound
Optional: Black & Decker Mouse Palm Sander (Highly Recommend, unless you have the forearms of a gorilla)
Optional: Notecards (This is for if you want to do it with the tire on)
400 X Patience

Begin with Tal-Strip, saturate all rims. Wait 1 hour, rinse off. Some spots may require using a plastic scrapper, or you can just sand it off.

Once rims have dried off, you can begin sanding. Start with 180 grit. Sand it down to a smooth surface. The lip will require a bit more sanding, if some road rash is to deep and sanding it down will create a dip on the lip, simply mix up the fiberglass puty and fill the gash. Wait 45 mins, return with 180 grit over the fiberglass puty and sand to a smooth surface. After all 4 have been sanded smooth with 180, whip out the 220 and do a general sanding of the whole face of the rim to create a nice smooth surface for the primer.

Clean rims throughly - Anything left behind will show. It must be spotless, use water and wait for it to dry if you have to, or dry with a microfiber cloth so a normal one doesn't leave cloth shavings behind.

Apply 1 light coat of primer - Wait 10 mins, apply a solid wet coat of primer - Repeat 1 more time, total of 1 light, 2 solid primer coats.

Wait 2 hours for primer to dry throughly, and sand down the whole face of the rim with 800 grit paper to make the primer nice and smooth for paint to be applied. Clean off dust, I suggest using a air compressor and blowing it all off, or you can just wipe it off throughly with a cloth, do not use water unless you want to wait for the primer to dry agian.

After Primer is nice and smooth, and clean. Begin to apply the Silver paint, same process as priming. 1 Coat light, 10 mins, 2 coats heavy. 10 mins in between.

The silver will be nice and tacky after 2 hours, and you can begin to apply the painters tape, be very careful because your fingernails or any amount of to much pressure will make a dent in that fresh paint. You can wait a day or two if you to do the next step, for the paint to cure more, but thats up to you. Take the painters tape and follow all the curves of the silver area outside of spot. I simply apply tape, followed the lines with a pencil, and cut it with a razor. This process is very time consuming, I believe it took me 1 and half hours per rim to tape up. You want to make sure you tape matches along these lines, or a visible corrupted line will show when the black is applied. Once done taping all face of the rim, you can then apply the black

Black simply is 2 coats 10 mins in between. Wait 1 hour, this is very important, no more then 1 hour, or the black will begin to cure and when you remove the tape it will take black with it.

Once all tape has been removed, you can then apply your clear coat. I applied 3 coats 10 mins in between once agian. This will provide a nice shine and protection for the paint. It won't be completely smooth, thats where you bring in the rubbing compound and rub like hell til its nice and smooth on the clear.

Painting the center caps is real simple. Same process as stated above. The toyota symbol must be painted by hand using a small brush and paint in a cup. I just used the spray black, and applied it..( Well i didn't, my wonderful lady did, I made an attempt and my hand just wasn't steady enough, and I figured hell, ladies apply finger nail polish, this is quite similiar. and she did a damn good job)

Thats about it, it all really comes down to how much time you want to put into it. The more you put in the better the outcome.

I made the mistake of taking them to get tires put on only 36 hours after the paint was applied, so when they balanced the tires, the weights pulled some paint and clear off. No biggie, just sand it down and respray, I would recommend waiting atleast a week before putting tires on, so the paint is nice and solid. Hope this helps!

This post has been edited by rave2n: Feb 24, 2010 - 11:07 AM

[pittfirefighter]

wow those look familiar good work!

[rave2n]

Hah, almost identical. Yours look great too.

I did go through tons of options besides the stocks, but to me, they just look perfect with it, and just require some work to make'em even better.