Mosh
10-21-2009, 12:42 PM
I posted this a few years ago, on another forum From when I built my 330 Tri-Z..
I dont know why I didnt, post the thread here at the time..I think I was having Computer problems uploading the pics..
But here ya go.
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A member pm'd me asking how to do this so I will just throw it out for all of ya.
Dont know if it has been posted yet or not.
When you get desperate and or cheap enough,give it a try.LOL
When building my Tri-z there were no aftermarket silver front rims available,so I gave it a try.It was my only option.
WARNING this takes a long time to do about 4 hours per rim.But it will only cost you time and about 30 bucks.
Materials needed.
1-2 cans of EASY-OFF oven cleaner.THE EASY-OFF CLAENER MUST CONTAIN LYE IN THE INGREDIENTS.Be sure to read the can,and confirm you have the right formula.
Rubber gloves
A box of brillo pads.
A drill or die grinder with a buffing wheel and green roloc discs Scotchbrite type polishing pads.(NOT the sandpaper type.)
a few sheets of 400,600,800 and 1000 grit sandpaper.
Jewlers rouge stick
Mothers aluminum polish
2 cases of beer.lol
1)Start off by cleaning the rim of all mud.
Spray the easy off oven cleaner on the rim and let it sit.
Using the brillo pads and rubber gloves start rubbing the anodizing off the rim after about 10 minutes of soaking.
Continue the process till all the gold is gone.
You will be left with a very dull nasty looking silver.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/wheelsteps.jpg
2)At this point a 90 degree air die grinder works the best.
Using the air die grinder and green roloc (SCOTCH-BRITE)polishing pads, sand the whole rim of the dull factory clear coat.This will leave very minor swirl scratches in the rim.The next step of sanding will remove those scratches.DO NOT USE THE 80 GRIT SANDING PADS ON THE DIE GRINDER.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/wheel2.jpg
IF you do not have a die grinder,then using 250grit sandpaper by hand will acheive the same results.as above
3)Next starting with 400 grit sandpaper,sand the entire rim surface.Keep working up on the grit range until you get to the 1000 grit and a smooth finish.
Your rim will start to appear as a brushed aluminum during the sanding process.
Once the rim looks like a stock unpolished silver, you are done with the prep work.
The more you sand the rim,the better the final appearance looks.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/310z2.jpg
4)You are now ready top begin final polish.....
Using the jewelers rouge, apply it to the buffing pad and die grinder and start buffing the wheel.Once you have achieved the final finish you want,
apply the mothers polish until it shines like a mirror.
One of those sponge balls for a drill work well for the polishing.
Hope this helps some of you.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/330Z2009.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/330Z09-2.jpg
I dont know why I didnt, post the thread here at the time..I think I was having Computer problems uploading the pics..
But here ya go.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A member pm'd me asking how to do this so I will just throw it out for all of ya.
Dont know if it has been posted yet or not.
When you get desperate and or cheap enough,give it a try.LOL
When building my Tri-z there were no aftermarket silver front rims available,so I gave it a try.It was my only option.
WARNING this takes a long time to do about 4 hours per rim.But it will only cost you time and about 30 bucks.
Materials needed.
1-2 cans of EASY-OFF oven cleaner.THE EASY-OFF CLAENER MUST CONTAIN LYE IN THE INGREDIENTS.Be sure to read the can,and confirm you have the right formula.
Rubber gloves
A box of brillo pads.
A drill or die grinder with a buffing wheel and green roloc discs Scotchbrite type polishing pads.(NOT the sandpaper type.)
a few sheets of 400,600,800 and 1000 grit sandpaper.
Jewlers rouge stick
Mothers aluminum polish
2 cases of beer.lol
1)Start off by cleaning the rim of all mud.
Spray the easy off oven cleaner on the rim and let it sit.
Using the brillo pads and rubber gloves start rubbing the anodizing off the rim after about 10 minutes of soaking.
Continue the process till all the gold is gone.
You will be left with a very dull nasty looking silver.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/wheelsteps.jpg
2)At this point a 90 degree air die grinder works the best.
Using the air die grinder and green roloc (SCOTCH-BRITE)polishing pads, sand the whole rim of the dull factory clear coat.This will leave very minor swirl scratches in the rim.The next step of sanding will remove those scratches.DO NOT USE THE 80 GRIT SANDING PADS ON THE DIE GRINDER.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/wheel2.jpg
IF you do not have a die grinder,then using 250grit sandpaper by hand will acheive the same results.as above
3)Next starting with 400 grit sandpaper,sand the entire rim surface.Keep working up on the grit range until you get to the 1000 grit and a smooth finish.
Your rim will start to appear as a brushed aluminum during the sanding process.
Once the rim looks like a stock unpolished silver, you are done with the prep work.
The more you sand the rim,the better the final appearance looks.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/Big%20bore%20Z/310z2.jpg
4)You are now ready top begin final polish.....
Using the jewelers rouge, apply it to the buffing pad and die grinder and start buffing the wheel.Once you have achieved the final finish you want,
apply the mothers polish until it shines like a mirror.
One of those sponge balls for a drill work well for the polishing.
Hope this helps some of you.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/330Z2009.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/cosmicquads/330Z09-2.jpg