Repairing kerbed wheels

[Mortz]

I've just bought some BIM (Bridgestone) 17" wheels off of Hotwire on the forum for a good price because they have some kerb damage. They were off his car from Japan and they seem to be pretty nice wheels apart from the scrapes around rim of the wheel. They are really light and I quite like the design so I've decided to get them fixed up so I can replace the factory alloys on my PFL Legnum. I dont mind changing their colour so I've been thinking about getting them sandblasted and powdercoated. Im just wondering if I would need to get the rims repaired before sandblasting, keeping in mind the scrape damage is just cosmetic. I think it would be much cheaper to just sandblast and powdercoat then to repair all 4 wheels. Opinions?
Here's a pic of the worst damaged wheel:

 

[LEG_IT]

All you need is some sandpaper and a lot of time and then you can tidy them up a bit before any sandblasting and painting, should be as good as new.

 

[Hotwire]

Luke, I enquired about having them powdercoated.

The blasting before coating will only remove any surface paint etc, it wont actually fix up the rash - you need to do that first.

Basically what you need do is file/sand the scrapes out because any sort of filler (as you may use if painting them) will melt during the powdercoating process. SO like Sam suggests, start with some heavy sand paper, maybe 80 or 120 grit to get the worst of it out, then go to 200, 400 and finally finish with some 800 wet/dry to get a smooth finish.

And as for quotes, I was quoted anything from $35 to $85 per wheel for coating, so shop around. $45-55 per wheel however was the going rates from most shops for blasting and coating

 

[Mortz]

Cheers fellas, much appeciated. I think I can get a pretty good price on the sandblasting and coating so should have em looking like new in no time. Trying to wear down my tyres at the moment, which isn't hard when they're crappy compliance nexens. They were actually in better nick then I thought when I got them Lee, shouldn't be hard to fix up.

 

[Mortz]

Anyone got any ideas for colour when I get them finished? I was thinking of doing them like a dark charcoal or dark silver/grey but some imput would be great. Seems like most of the Trigger Mauve VR4's on here have silver or chrome rims but what do you fellas think would look good if you could choose a colour?

 

[ygoslo]

Green.

 

[mookers]

^^^^ ew!

 

[SiliconAngel]

Green.

HELL no!

Dude it TOTALLY depends on your taste. Can you get colour combinations? That could make things interesting...

 

[ygoslo]

Don't worry I wasn't serious. Green only works with tough offsets, big aero etc. Like that 180. It wouldn't work on a VR4.

Get used to it though - you're going to see it a lot more!

Oh and on topic, coat your wheels white and get 25mm spacers. Would look very tough.

 

[bradc]

Well I guess you're right, on an ugly old car like a silvia, the green wheels aren't any worse than the car itself.

 

[ygoslo]

Green wheels are taking over the world.

But yeah I reckon white for yours mate - would look nice and clean.

 

[bradc]

no, those posts just show how ugly the colour is!

On my trigger mauve car I've had silver wheels and R32 GT-R grey (the popular car that half R32's are in) and the grey really suits Trigger imho. Silver wheels look a little too shiney.

 

[Guest]

Black but with a pearl coat over it and polished!! I have seen these on a few dark cars and they look great if kept clean!!

 

[Mortz]

The green wheels make any car look like a hotwheels toy or something lol. I am definitely thinking dark sets the trigger off, But im not a fan of black rims on any car that isn't black or white so grey/charcoal is looking like the go.
Started sanding yesterday and Im really suprised how easy it is to smooth out the scratches and scrapes. A bit of elbow grease and a blast and coat and these should soon be wrapped in some nice rubber and on my car to replace the DREADED NEXENS!! Never have I driven with a tyre that slips so much with full tread, kinda like driving a decent tyre with no tread...pretty damn hectic in the wet actually with 1500kgs of wagon sideways.

 

[Mortz]

So im almost finished the first rim, the worst one. But im just wondering how far back I actually have to sand the tiny little nicks before they will be suitable for sandblasting? I have smoothed out the wheel pretty damn nice but there is still teeny little scratches/nicks I just can't get out.

 

[VR4 WRC]

When you are getting your prices for getting the work done ask what colour range they have available for powder coating. There is plently of colour's but the place that you go with might not have it in stock and it's not cheap to buy the stuff.
One place i went to here in Perth to get a price gave me a run down of what colour's they had in stock.

You should be able to search Google or similar for powder coating to get a colour chart. I think i found 1 through Dulux.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Hotwire]

Luke how you going with these? Would like to see them when they are cleaned up and on the car

 

[Mortz]

Still getting tread down on the Nexens, may have crappy grip but they ARE lasting ages. Also due for a service (50,000km) and need new springs so im tackling that before I get them powdercoated etc. Spending a hour or two a week fixing the wheels up so once I pay for the rest they should be on the car wrapped in some nice rubber. Will make sure I update you and everyone else once they are on the car mate, not too long.