Gents - I just purchased a set of (4) 1964 Formula Five wheels over the weekend for my Wildcat. The fellow I bought them from said they were on a later Riviera, but the Unistyle 15x6 L and lack of registers confirms the year. I have two questions: 1st - I believe the chrome on these wheels to be saveable - does anyone have tips for the least abrasive way to clean up the few rust spots that they have? I've heard of using aluminum foil, but I'm a little wary of it, having never tried it myself. The two rims shown are the best and worst of the set, to give an idea of what I'm working with. I had gotten a suggestion over on the AACA forums for "Blue Magic" chrome polish, which I may try. 2nd - I know these wheels should have the argent / light silver accents - was the accent also painted on the side of the spokes, and what is the best way to prepare the chrome areas to receive paint? Also, if anyone has any tips on the best paint to use. Thanks in advance
Lucky fellow. I've been looking for a couple of these wheels for longer than I care to mention. I have 4 and one of them needs a dent removed, plus I have the center caps. I put a set of 802s on the car in the meantime, after cold chiseling out the register rings. I used the small bead blaster at the local machine shop to clean off all the old paint and rust, (be careful not to hit the chrome as it will dull the chrome) then masked up the wheels (there is an 'almost' kit available on eBay that does a lot of the masking) then sprayed multiple layers of primer, paint and a gloss clear coat on. Sorry, No actual wheel pictures.
Nice wheels. On the '65 rally wheels the paint does go up the side of the spokes and it looks like yours should to. To prep mine 0000 steel wool and Zip Strip was used. Will not harm the chrome. For paint see the attached picture. Also shows a finished wheel.
I got lucky on a set that weren't advertised with proper info - but no center caps, you've got me there! Two of the wheels have already been blasted, and I'm going to do the other two before I paint (I have a small blaster set-up) Did you spray clear over the chrome as well, or just on the painted areas? Those wheels look great! Yes, based on the discoloration I assumed the paint should go up the side of the spokes. Did you do a single coat of paint, and any clear?
I left the masking on until I'd finished the entire job, so the clear coat was on the paint but not the chrome. Pic of the Wildcat center caps. They fit the 2" center of the 64/65 wheels but fall off if used with the 2 1/8" later #802 & #853 wheels.
Nice score James, as the earlier chrome road wheels are not that easy to come by !! Any good chrome cleaner and some 0000 steel wool should perk up the chrome on those wheels. The holes in the hub should be 2" for the proper centre caps, and the webs in the wheel were a light metallic grey/silver (...argent silver), '65 wheels had a darker grey colour (...pewter), and then they went to the semi-gloss black centres. The sides of the webs should be painted, and the front surface of the webs are chrome. Do a search here, for tips on refinishing the Buick chrome road wheels. :TU:
I used a gray primer coat and two coats of paint. Think one coat would be too thin to last. Nothing scientific.
Does anyone know a good place that will rechrome these road wheels? If someone has had it done, what was the approximate cost of plating per wheel? Thank you very much for this information!! Terry Stinehelfer Bucyrus, OH
There is a place you can get them done Terry, but it is not cheap - I will locate the info, and update this post. . . . update: Here is a source from the ROA section of the AACA forums - the cost was about $225 per wheel, and worth every penny, according to Jason !! :TU: http://forums.aaca.org/f177/rally-america-rechromed-wheels-325496.html
Rivman, Thank you very much for the information and the link to the other forum. The price is now $300 per wheel which I feel is very reasonable. I will be sending my wheels to Rally America when I get ready!! Terry Stinehelfer Bucyrus OH
