Edzred72

My Ralley Wheels need a paint job, so just to remove light rust and 23 yrs of neglect before I paint, which process would you suggest? Can someone explain "bead blasting" and the material used in the process? Thanks ton :cheers: :cheers:

lbell101

Bead blasting is the same process as sandblasting only the media is superfine glass spheres. I'd use sand on rims as you will be painting them anyway. The glass beads are used in applications where you want a more gentle media. Items like aluminum manifolds and stuff you will leave natural color come out nicer using the beads.

lars

Ditto what lbell says. I've refinished a LOT of Rally wheels (both Chevy and Pontiac), and sandblast is the only way to go. The factory epoxy primer on the wheels is very tough stuff, and bead blasting barely touches it - you'll make a career out of the process. Sandblasting will cut the epoxy after a bit of work, and it will give the wheels just a very slight surface roughness for your new primer to "bite" into. You can thus get very good adhesion and an excellent re-finish job.

Contact me by e-mail if you'd like a copy of the short paper I have published on the correct wheel colors and paint formulas for your rally wheels.
V8FastCars@msn.com

JCL

Silvr77. I think i would check with a powder coating shop about which material to use for your rims. Seems to me someone along the way said to use Aluminum Oxide?? Said it was better than sand. CHECK THIS OUT. I know i'm bead- blasting my Aluminum vette rims this winter. Have done one and it reminds me of the old Magnesium look rims had in the 60's. Really looks sharp, and something different. JCL :cool: :cool: :chevy

Edzred72

As always, great advise from all. "I" thank you, my "car" thanks you, and my "wheels" thank you. Donations will be accepted for the rally wheel fund at the following address.... bustdaftrx-mass.com :jester
Lars.. you got mail!!

ScubaJKD

Leave it to JCL to do something different :lol: Sandblasting worked well for me. Not sure if bead blasting would have removed all gunk. Let us know how it turns out. :seeya

Edzred72

Ya know, I have so many cool pics I think you guy's would enjoy... if I'd only get off my AZZ and learn how to post. I'll work on it...promise :yesnod:

Bill W

I had mine done two years ago. It turned out that the previous owners apparently had resprayed the wheels each year right over the old coat of paint. So the blasting process was taking forever to get throught 20 sonething coats of argent silver paint. We than used a paint stripper on the wheels to remove most of the layers of paint and than bead blasted them clean before painting. Still look great.

chevyman

I had a friend that had his chrome plated. I never got to see them but I imagined they looked great.

Edzred72

I've considered chroming them, but I just can't picture what they'd look like. Never saw any before...


[Modified by Silvr77, 3:58 PM 12/27/2001]

ScubaJKD

http://www.salesco.com/wheels/vintage/rallye_wheels.htm might want to email these guys. They sell Chrome Rally wheels in 15, 16, and 17 inch. I am sure they can email you a pic.

:seeya

Edzred72

Thanks Scuba. They are not as expensive as I though, and might be a better value than chroming my existing rims. After sand blasting and cleaning them up...and chroming process.. bet it's darn near the same $$$.