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