I have some of the ugliest worn out color on my rims. Bought the car couple months ago and the rims really detract from the overall beauty of the car. I can't afford powder coating or new rims so this is another DIY project. Car is alibaster white and need new color suggestion. Has anyone done this to their rims? Suggestions as to what primer, paint and clear coat to use? Guess I could look on YouBoob for the suggested procedure.

 

I did my spare set in graphite

Graphite by James1549 |

 

 

I saw your car in person in Athens. It looks great!

 

I've been working on my salvaged car for two months now and am just plain wore out! Not gonna take on this big rim painting task till next spring. I gotta look up on YouBoob about painting rims. I'm pretty sure it takes special paint and clear coat for durability on rims. If it does, it better come in a rattle can! LoL. Yesterday I used some "Chemical Guy's Wheel Cleaner" and got them have way decent looking.

 

Saw this on Facebook. Dennis Lambert's 2004, "Roxanne". I lik his accent stripes!

 

"I'm pretty sure it takes special paint and clear coat for durability on rims"

Romad, when you paint your rims you should consider going to an automotive paint supply store and have them mix rattle cans of 2K ( color coat base and activator) for you. Good supply stores will be able to do this, but not all are equipped to accomplish that for you.
The two part system is sort of like epoxy in that you must mix in a hardener to the color coat. The color coat will not harden by evaporation like most paint you are familiar with. The two part single stage system also goes to a high gloss finish when it is cured so there is no need to go over it with a clear coat. Clear coats like you buy at a typical auto parts store will get quite hard and that is a disadvantage on rims. A hard coat will crack and pit from chipping. The clear glossy finish of a single stage paint is softer and does not readily chip. Going to a rattle can limits what you can do with the paint, but it certainly is the easiest and least expensive way to go.

I have a spray gun setup at my shop; Nothing fancy but it allows me to do some painting here at my home. I have done all the silver trim on my cars and the wing (graphite to rid the car of those bubbles that come from the factory paint job on many wings). I get a much higher gloss with depth to the color using the 2K single stage paints than I can achieve with the typical 2 stage color then clear application. I use PPG OMNI acrylic urethane (least expensive of the three OMNI products), Eastwood online also has their own lineup of 2K. Just be sure to prep the surface decent and use the recommended primer so you will not cause a reaction with the 2K single stage. Do the painting outside and use a decent mask, because it isn't healthy to breath this stuff. It will cost more, but it will hold up much better.

 

Found this one on Facebook. Subtle pin striping including rims.

 

I just got the "WOW" factor on my 22 year old rims! I watched YouBoob about cleaning aluminum rims and really impressed with Purple Power Aluminum Brightner. "NOT THE PURPLE POWER DEGREASER CLEANER PRODUCT." So off to O'Riley's Auto and bought it for $18 for a gallon. Very easy and very fast to use! Only used about 16oz to do all four rims "twice!" Going to investigate sealing the cleaned aluminum. I don't think I'll be worrying about rim painting or replacement for a while. Before and after pics below. They actually look better than the pics show!

BEFORE


AFTER:

 

Hi Romad, It looks someone stripped the original finish off your rims back to bare aluminium and then painted them white. A non-professional job and as such the white has come off most of the wheel. Thereby leaving the bare aluminium exposed.

I would recommend cleaning and prepping the wheels completely, priming them and repainting in 2 pack as per zip439's post above.

Good luck.

 

Received one of my vinyl strips, temporarily taped it on, and don't know that I like it that much. Maybe it's too wide looking on the car or the color or the style. Seems like a thinner decal would look more appealing. What ya think? Thinner style, different color, etc? I tried lowering it down to the rocker panel and didn't like the look at all. "Maybe" cutting off 4" off the right end applying at the door's edge.

 

Cuts the car in half, either lower or eliminate it, Keep it subtle.

 

Yes I think your right! "Eliminate." Maybe a stripe about 1/2"- 3/4" wide just below the door on the rocker panel. More vinyl arrived today to try the look. Double pin stipe on body curve front to rear. Here's pics of more ideas.

 

The rear quarter panel stripe might look better closer to the tail light. (Higher up and back towards the rear).

 

I'll tape it on further back and see how that looks. Maybe it's just to big a decal. How bout the hood decals? Yes/No?
Just wanting to be different! My car gets no looks being plain "slab side" white! LoL

 

I think the hood decals would look better if they were longer. If they started close to the grill then tapered out to the end of the hood. That would make the hood look bigger and give it that old school look.
Maybe even a single stripe like the pictures below. You can use A I and see what it looks like.

 

I like the black hub caps!