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The 15 X 7
Turbo Cast Aluminum Rims. Anyone who's anyone wants these for their replica.
Many people don't realize what they are worth to anyone making a knight
replica. The Recaro edition came with 15" gold painted wheels. To make an
authentic replica, these must be gray in color. Here's a process that costs
about $60 all together to get your 15" wheels up to snuff!
The following
is just to give an idea of how to restore these wheels. Easiest way to do this
is to do it with no tires on the wheels.
Time to get down to work. I've already removed the black bowling
ball hub caps. For anyone who's yet to see this wheel in person without the
cap here's a good look.
Step one:
Spray a degreaser such as Formula 409 or Greased Lightning onto the wheel and
let it sit while you remove the wheel from the car. Do this to each wheel.
After it's
off the car towel dry every crevasse of the wheel you'll be surprised what
comes off. Then, mask out the tires very carefully. I ran tape all the way
across the wheel and then cut the center out. If you have no tires mounted on
the wheels, no masking is needed!
Then spray
Duplicolor gray sandable primer onto the wheel. I put a rather thick coat on.
It will take a while to get every single grove coated.
Then repeat
the process 3 more times... **yawn**
Allow time
for the primer to dry then spray Duplicolor steel gray wheel paint in two
light coats over the wheel. Allow it to dry and then spray two coats of
Duplicolor clear coat over that.
Once again,
multiply by four. Remember take your time.... it will show later on.
After the
clearcoat has dried, remove the tape and check for overspray. In order to
remove any overspray use a DRY S.O.S. pad and keep blowing the blue soap
powder off as you go. Then use some black wheel cleaner like "Black Chrome" or
something that's wipe-on, NOT spray-on like tire foam. Don't spray any cleaner
on the wheels for 48 hours.
Here's the
very same wheel that we've followed all the way through.
Here is a
good comparison of before and after painting. I was very shocked to see the
finished product. I have no experience in paint at all either. I just took my
time.
Wanna see it
with a cap installed? OK.
Painting caps
is probably another guide. I lucked out that mine looked good to begin with. I
have no clue how to work on these.
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