Alcoa wheels (is clear coat the answer?)

[mark grady]

Nothing like a good myth, Arch, that's what makes our country great!

This may seem like a dumb question, but so many new cars have aluminum
wheels, and they always look great. They're covered with "clear coat" when
manufactured.

Couldn't you just spray that sort of clear urethane coating on the Alcoa's
and be done with it?

I haven't checked at a body shop, but there's a place in Huntington, IN that
specializes in repairing these types of wheels. I've had many cars with
factory issue aluminum wheels over the years, and they never needed more
than a little armor-all type of spray to knock off the brake dust.

Mark Grady
'77 Kingsley (steel wheels keep on turnin')
N Webster, IN
mgrady

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 1998 8:58 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheels
>
>
> Well, folks I think I see another myth brewing. Just put in 520
> miles today
> on I-57 today-----BTW saw a GMC headed south near Champaign, IL.
>
> The CB crackled near every major truck stop with wheel polishers oh
> yes tanks too. At least we don't have that problem.
>
> Now we must find a viagra for our wheels. Gosh and I thought retirement
> was going to be easy. Now its shine that defines us. That may be better
> than 3 inch exhaust-------not sure yet. Was hoping that the 455 would
> do it. Guess not. 80 MM calipers were never in the
> running------they don't
> show. Better quit before I make everyone mad.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>

 

[zachary zehnacker]

Mark,

A clear coat does seem like the ideal solution, but I'm not sure how well
it would stick on polished wheels. Most of the cars we have seen that have
clear coated wheels either have a dull aluminum finish or are painted a
color. I believe that the really shiny wheels are actually chromed (not
sure though). We have painted and clear coated cars and even our GMC.
Paint usually needs a "rough" surface to stick to. By rough, I don't mean
really rough, but at least 600 grit sandpaper and usually even rougher (300
grit). This would dull the finish on the Alcoas. The clear coat might
fill in the scratches, so it still might give a good finish, but a primer
is also usually necessary for good adhesion results. We even like to use a
self etching primer on aluminum. I do not know of any clear primers, but
they might exist. Another possibility might be a clear powder coating.
I'm not sure what the required surface prep for powder coating would be.
Also remember that once any of the coatings got chipped, oxidation would
start. Brake heat might also be a problem. I would tend to think that
Alcoa would offer a coating as an option if there were any that really
worked well.

Zak

>Nothing like a good myth, Arch, that's what makes our country great!
>
>This may seem like a dumb question, but so many new cars have aluminum
>wheels, and they always look great. They're covered with "clear coat" when
>manufactured.
>
>Couldn't you just spray that sort of clear urethane coating on the Alcoa's
>and be done with it?
>
>I haven't checked at a body shop, but there's a place in Huntington, IN that
>specializes in repairing these types of wheels. I've had many cars with
>factory issue aluminum wheels over the years, and they never needed more
>than a little armor-all type of spray to knock off the brake dust.
>
>Mark Grady
>'77 Kingsley (steel wheels keep on turnin')
>N Webster, IN
>mgrady

 

[thomas g. warner]

Have them on my 87 Corvette and they still look like new. they are
clearcoated and GM has a kit to redo if you want.

>Nothing like a good myth, Arch, that's what makes our country great!
>
>This may seem like a dumb question, but so many new cars have aluminum
>wheels, and they always look great. They're covered with "clear coat" when
>manufactured.
>
>Couldn't you just spray that sort of clear urethane coating on the Alcoa's
>and be done with it?
>
>I haven't checked at a body shop, but there's a place in Huntington, IN that
>specializes in repairing these types of wheels. I've had many cars with
>factory issue aluminum wheels over the years, and they never needed more
>than a little armor-all type of spray to knock off the brake dust.
>
>Mark Grady
>'77 Kingsley (steel wheels keep on turnin')
>N Webster, IN
>mgrady
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
>> [mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
>> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 1998 8:58 PM
>> To: gmcmotorhome
>> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheels
>>
>>
>> Well, folks I think I see another myth brewing. Just put in 520
>> miles today
>> on I-57 today-----BTW saw a GMC headed south near Champaign, IL.
>>
>> The CB crackled near every major truck stop with wheel polishers oh
>> yes tanks too. At least we don't have that problem.
>>
>> Now we must find a viagra for our wheels. Gosh and I thought retirement
>> was going to be easy. Now its shine that defines us. That may be better
>> than 3 inch exhaust-------not sure yet. Was hoping that the 455 would
>> do it. Guess not. 80 MM calipers were never in the
>> running------they don't
>> show. Better quit before I make everyone mad.
>>
>> Take Care
>> Arch
>>
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach