Cleaning/Polishing Firebird Wheels
#1
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 6
From: Rowlett, TX
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt, 3.45
Cleaning/Polishing Firebird Wheels
I have a set of firebird wheels that i got from the junk yard for cheap, and due to a blowout today on the way to work, they will be going on sooner than I thought, since they have a decnet set of tires on them. Anyways, the wheels are in good overall condition, no curb marks, but the clear coat does not look all that great. It is a little faded looking, and it has marks on it which look like some liquid etched it, like acid or something. Its only in the clear, though. I tried some 600 grit sand paper and it took alot of the garbage out of the clear, but i was afraid to sand it all off. Could I jsut sand off all the clear with like 400 grit, and then buff and polish the actual aluminium to make it shine like chrome?
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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."
------------------
1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."
#2
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 1
From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Car: 92 Trans Am 'Vert
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5 Speed
If ya wanna get the clear coat off the rims without damaging the aluminum, use paint STRIPPER. Put it on there, let it sit about an hour, swirl it around with a brush and you'll see the clear melting away. Hose em off, wipe em down, it it with some Mothers aluminum polish a few times, and theyll look awsome. The only thing is that with out the clear coat, the aluminum tends to get dirty easier. Your gonna have to clean them more often. Good Luck!
-Rob
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92' White Trans Am Convertible, 305 TPI, 5 spd. 2:73's, Edelbrock TES, Accell 8.8's, Hypertech Stage II, TPIS Air Foil, Ported Plenum, K&N TB Cone Filter, AFPR, & A Little Bit Of Attitude!
-Best ET: 14.944 @ 93.11
88 Gunmetal GTA Hardtop... Project In The Works!
"GUYS, WE NEED TO FIND A MUSTANG TO RACE... THERES ONE! HOLY SH*T SHES HOT! SHES NOT GONNA GO... NAH... HOLY SH*T SHES GOIN!"
-Rob
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92' White Trans Am Convertible, 305 TPI, 5 spd. 2:73's, Edelbrock TES, Accell 8.8's, Hypertech Stage II, TPIS Air Foil, Ported Plenum, K&N TB Cone Filter, AFPR, & A Little Bit Of Attitude!
-Best ET: 14.944 @ 93.11
88 Gunmetal GTA Hardtop... Project In The Works!
"GUYS, WE NEED TO FIND A MUSTANG TO RACE... THERES ONE! HOLY SH*T SHES HOT! SHES NOT GONNA GO... NAH... HOLY SH*T SHES GOIN!"
#3
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 6
From: Rowlett, TX
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt, 3.45
They sell a product at Autozone called 'aircraft paint stripper', and I have used it before to remove paint, it works good. Is this what you're talking about? I dont want to use the wrong stripper and eat through the aluminium...
------------------
1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."
------------------
1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."
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