PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I tossed around the idea of getting new wheels for my '89 Formula but after some shopping and looking on here I decided to go with powder coating the OEM wheels. I saw a couple I really liked (IMissMy86TA your GTA rocks!) NOT rattle-canned, which apparently according to the guy at the hobby shop is done all the time. I wanted to stay away from spacers (Are they illegal in some states? Didn't know that. Not that I'm a Legal Beagle or anything.) And there are just not too many options for wheels for this car, unlike a damn Honda Civic! I like the classic look of the Bird and want my car to look like something Mad Max would cruise around in hunting for gas, post-apocalypse (minus a .50cal mount).


In the spirit of "doing it myself" I'm utilizing the auto hobby shop and my driveway. Started yesterday by loosening all lug nuts. 3 wheels, no worries. The 4th was an a**kicker! Destroyed the OEM socket, stripped my socket AND my buddy's! Finally got it off with a "high end" tire iron, jeeeeeez! The lug nuts disintegrated. Car went up with a jack I borrowed and 4 jack stands borrowed from the auto hobby shop. Took wheels to hobby shop, busted them and dumped the old tires that were dry rotted, with bubbles and 4 different brands!


Headed to powder coat them today. I'll probably do 2 today and 2 tomorrow.


A little odd was there were very thin spacers on the rear wheels? Put on backwards? Aluminum too. I have no idea why? The wheels are OEM. These are not GM are they? I highly doubt the old man, I bought the car from, put them on there. Maybe a Mom & Pop tire change shop back in the day? I can't figure out why they are there? Anyone know?

Excuse my grammar, I'm kinda a meathead

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

those spacers were hit or miss as to what cars got them. I believe they are typical for rear aluminum drum cars, but they ended up on various setups.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

//<86TA>\\ - So GM put the 2 rear spacers on the Bird at the factory? They say "OUTBOARD ONLY" on the sides that were inboard. They are super thin. Should I put them back on with the stock wheels? Do I need to use them?

Included a photo of spacers

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

If the wheels fit without them, you can leave them off

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I guess the spacers are OEM. They were on backwards. It's funny because the guy at the shop I purchased my new tires from was like "If there are spacers on the car, we can't touch it!" Don't worry, you won't touch it. Then he showed me his "Plastic Dip" '12 Smart Car that he rattle-canned himself...looked cool, like a MW3 Smartcar, but I can see that crap just peeling off. What's wrong with kids these days? I'm a old man.



Finishing wheels today.



I added a diagram of Chassis Lift Points for a 87-92 Firebird & Camaro in case someone was looking for it. Where to put the jack stands.



And photos of a before/after model mock up I constructed of how my car will look with black wheels. Always do a mock-up.

mitchberry

iTrader: (1)

dang, it's too bad you're in cali and it's all done with, i do powder coating.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

mitchberry - Too bad dude. Sweet Camaro.

The wheels are all done. Need to put the tire on the rim and pop 'em on the Bird. I should have some photos in a few days.

The black chrome lugs nuts I ordered off ebay came in. Just waiting on the 4 black center caps. I have 2 WS6 gray/silver center caps if anyone wants them cheap, my car was missing 2.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

What is cheap? Shipping to 33809?

Thanks!

Oh, where are the pics of the wheels?

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

KrisW - Photos of the 2 old WS6 gray/silver center caps as promised. Did you want to put them om your MRAP?!

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Sold! PM me the info.

No caps for MRAP, hahahhaha.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Info about the spacers below:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-10-bolts.html

JamesC

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

JamesC - That's a GREAT link. Thanks.

"Why Does My Rear Have Spacers?
The spacer was apparently used on 16" wheels when GM switched from aluminum to iron drums, which created a .187 size difference. The spacer, however, seems to be hit or miss and essentially unnecessary. Even some disc brake cars received them."

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Almost done with the wheels. I finished powder coating them, put the new tires on and put them on the car. The black center caps just came in today but it's too dark to get a picture. Here is a pic off my phone. It looks REAL good, it will look even better when I stick the black center caps on and take some pictures with my pro camera by the beach and not in my ally! I'm real happy with the way it looks. Way Evil!

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Those wheels look fabulous!

Great job!

IMissMy86TA

Found your thread. Looks nice man! BTW mine did not have spacers.
also I have the silver WS6 caps still if anyone wants them drop me a line!

Dude, enjoy the look. I am glad you like it! it will turn heads!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

KrisW - Thanks man, I dig it. Your center caps are boxed up and go out today, I'll PM you the tracking number.

IMissMy86TA - They do turn heads! The car looks pretty sick! I need to tint the windows next.

IMissMy86TA

You gotta get the right tips too dual pipe

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Looking into tips now. I think the duals look better on a TA because of the ground effects. Planning on going slash cut in matte black also...what would Mad Max do?

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

I have the same set of those black lug nuts as you that I bought for my new wheels but they are too fat. Had to go with tuner lugs. Would have sold them to you for...name your price...cheap. What center caps are you going with? I have 2 black/silver-bird center caps for the same price+shipping.

-Jim

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

CharcoalBird - I paid like $20ish for all 20 of the black chrome lug nuts and around $60 give or take for 4 plan black center caps on eBay. All brand new. Post them up, they'll sell, people always lose them

IMissMy86TA

I spent about a year looking for my tips.. they are from the 80s and have 2.5 inch inlet which is VERY hard to find. most that size are rolled edges which I did not want or were not slash cut. Someone sold me a pair of stainless that were amazing but they were also 2.25 inlet which they didnt measure. I bought them for 50 and sold them for 100 on fleabay.
Good luck finding a pair!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to run over to the hobby shop on base and get a second opinion today. I'm measuring a 3in inlet out of the flowmaster.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Wanna sell the spacers? Ill buy them!!!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

karl's-92'z28 - I stuck them back on there, Dude.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Some good shots of my wheels all done. I love it.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for all the advice, you guys were spot on!

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

What size tires are you running? They don't look big enough. I run the stock size 245/50ZR16 on those rims.

Just curious.

GREAT looking setup. I might just do that to one of my sets...

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Yup same size.

IMissMy86TA

Lookin sharp!!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

IMissMy86TA - Thanks Bro, I couldn't have done it without checking out the pics of your Bird first!

Al Hasse

That looks very similar to chevymad's 87 Formula. He did his in an old oven in his garage that he bought just for powder coating. His car is very dark blue instead of black like yours, he did his wheels in a black chrome, IIRC.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Al Hasse - they look great on his car. That's a great blue also. The backyard oven powder coating is the way to go!

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

What did the powder coating cost?

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I did it myself, with lots of help, but they charge around $50 a wheel.

IMissMy86TA

Not bad at all my friend!

IMissMy86TA

I wanted black chrome but it would of cost me much more.

IMissMy86TA

by the way. it is a great idea to wax the rims to get them shiny and to shiny up the tires!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Trevmust

Can powdercoat be two-toned?

IMissMy86TA

I believe so. You can also exclude parts of the wheel. kinda like painting, you mask off parts. then mask off others.