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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Painted rims...

  • Thread starter Thread starter fullrearview
  • Start date Start date Oct 4, 2011
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fullrearview

Member
Oct 4, 2011
65
0
6
Oct 4, 2011
#1
  • Oct 4, 2011
  • #1
Anyone have experience with stripping paint and then polishing aluminum wheels??? The previous owner painted them (more like botched) black.

Is there a way to get a high polished shine? I really like the cobra wheels, but would love to have them polished aluminum.
 
F

fullrearview

Member
Oct 4, 2011
65
0
6
Oct 4, 2011
#2
  • Oct 4, 2011
  • #2
BTW, here's what I'm working with.





 

72 fastback

Member
Apr 4, 2006
146
3
19
Hamden Ct
Oct 5, 2011
#3
  • Oct 5, 2011
  • #3
Steel wool very fine 000 and some mothers alumium wheel polish will do it if your patient I am sure you could buff them with some sort of polishing kit. I had to buff the lip on my bullit rims and they came out good.
 

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Lugnuts

Member
May 11, 2011
128
0
16
Evans, GA
Oct 5, 2011
#4
  • Oct 5, 2011
  • #4
You can with a lot of elbow grease. Be careful of power polishers as you may remove a little more material than intended. Once done you will be doomed to polish them regularly as they will turn chalky white with oxidization in fairly short order. Clear coat paint will not stick to a polished surface so you would have to clear powder coat them. Another option is to clean them off and repaint them correctly in your choice of colors. This will be the easiest maintenance route and can still look good.
Let us see them when you are done!
 

blkstanger

Member
Sep 18, 2011
45
0
6
El Cajon Ca.
Oct 12, 2011
#5
  • Oct 12, 2011
  • #5
When I want wheels polished I take them to a pro. I have a local guy that does it cheap ($25-30) a wheel. He gets them looking like chrome.
 

mustang562

Member
Sep 1, 2011
102
1
18
Los Angeles
Oct 19, 2011
#6
  • Oct 19, 2011
  • #6
Are these real cobra rims or after market rims.
 
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fullrearview

Member
Oct 4, 2011
65
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6
Oct 19, 2011
#7
  • Oct 19, 2011
  • #7
mustang562 said:
Are these real cobra rims or after market rims.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty new to stangs man, so I really don't know...

I will be working on these this coming week though... We just bought a house so I have been busy with the move.
 

mustang562

Member
Sep 1, 2011
102
1
18
Los Angeles
Oct 20, 2011
#8
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #8
Ok I see. I asked cause my rims look just like does. And I'm in the process of taking the old Chrome off on mine and to paint them black.
 
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fullrearview

Member
Oct 4, 2011
65
0
6
Oct 20, 2011
#9
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #9
from what I see, make sure you get ALL of it off... The pictures don't really show just how bad they are... Think 4x4 truck goes off road, then dude paints over mud.
 

mustang562

Member
Sep 1, 2011
102
1
18
Los Angeles
Oct 24, 2011
#10
  • Oct 24, 2011
  • #10
Just power coat them. You will be happy at the end. And by the way I think does are cobra r rims.
 
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fullrearview

Member
Oct 4, 2011
65
0
6
Oct 24, 2011
#11
  • Oct 24, 2011
  • #11
Thinking about powder coat... Not sure yet. As for them being OEM cobras.... Are there markings on them?
 

mustang562

Member
Sep 1, 2011
102
1
18
Los Angeles
Oct 24, 2011
#12
  • Oct 24, 2011
  • #12
Not sure, but they look almost identical to the Cobra R rims from American muscle.
 
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