C4-95 Wheel Covers Fresh Look - DIY
#1
03-15-2009, 02:41 AM
C4-95 Wheel Covers Fresh Look - DIY
What's a guy to do while waiting for the tools necessary to change the TB?
Well... a little project of repainting the tattered wheel covers the car came with.
It was the first really beautiful, warm and sunny day after the long cold spell, so I decided to take advantage.
I already had some old supplies in the shed, so I started by trying to strip the paint.
The paint remover I had was not very good, and I was too lazy to go to the store to buy a better solvent/cleaner, so I just sanded the old paint with the 180 grit. It is hard to get in all the crevices and angles alongside the inner circles without a fine router, but I used a fine flat head screwdriver. It took some patience and determination, but in about 1 hr I had all 4 covers stripped pretty good. Hell, it is an old car and I'm not a showoff-er... It didn't have to be perfect...
Ok, time to paint the little buggers... I used two different primers; a darker one, and a commonly found and used "basic gray". Since my car is gray (Titanium gray - is a darker shade), I wanted to change the silver look to...gray, so the wheel cover will match the paint on the car. Also topped the primer with a glossy "smoke gray", and I finished with clear coat.
Total: 4 primer coats (2 of each); 2 top coats; 3 clear coats.
After the first 2 primer coats:
After the 2 gray primer coats:
Finished product - after 3 clear coats (2 thin coats 10 minutes apart; and 1 thicker, wet coat):
Comparison with the OEM look (that's a wheel I'll turn into a full spare):
And how it will look mounted:
I will let them cure 48 hours, and then apply some rubbing compound (either 3M or PlastX) to even the surfaces. I'm sure it will have a lesser quality look than one of a factory cover, but it will be an improvement from the crapped on-like, peeled off and disgusting sight they provided previously.
That's all, folks.
chefro
Well... a little project of repainting the tattered wheel covers the car came with.
It was the first really beautiful, warm and sunny day after the long cold spell, so I decided to take advantage.
I already had some old supplies in the shed, so I started by trying to strip the paint.
The paint remover I had was not very good, and I was too lazy to go to the store to buy a better solvent/cleaner, so I just sanded the old paint with the 180 grit. It is hard to get in all the crevices and angles alongside the inner circles without a fine router, but I used a fine flat head screwdriver. It took some patience and determination, but in about 1 hr I had all 4 covers stripped pretty good. Hell, it is an old car and I'm not a showoff-er... It didn't have to be perfect...
Ok, time to paint the little buggers... I used two different primers; a darker one, and a commonly found and used "basic gray". Since my car is gray (Titanium gray - is a darker shade), I wanted to change the silver look to...gray, so the wheel cover will match the paint on the car. Also topped the primer with a glossy "smoke gray", and I finished with clear coat.
Total: 4 primer coats (2 of each); 2 top coats; 3 clear coats.
After the first 2 primer coats:
After the 2 gray primer coats:
Finished product - after 3 clear coats (2 thin coats 10 minutes apart; and 1 thicker, wet coat):
Comparison with the OEM look (that's a wheel I'll turn into a full spare):
And how it will look mounted:
I will let them cure 48 hours, and then apply some rubbing compound (either 3M or PlastX) to even the surfaces. I'm sure it will have a lesser quality look than one of a factory cover, but it will be an improvement from the crapped on-like, peeled off and disgusting sight they provided previously.
That's all, folks.
chefro
Last edited by chefro; 03-15-2009 at 12:52 PM.
#3
03-15-2009, 11:56 PM
Well, I don't know what you want to accomplish, but here are some ideas:
1. Wheels + calipers painting
2. Wheel scuff Repair + Paint
3. Wheels refinishing -paint
Also, are tons of video clips on Youtube.
You can start with this one and if you're not satisfied, you can watch some other related ones.
good luck.
1. Wheels + calipers painting
2. Wheel scuff Repair + Paint
3. Wheels refinishing -paint
Also, are tons of video clips on Youtube.
You can start with this one and if you're not satisfied, you can watch some other related ones.
good luck.
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