Just saw the rim and masking refinishing kit offered by our sponsor for SS rims. Anybody ever used it? Is it necessary to sandblast the rims and prime before shooting them with the spray or can I just sand. If anyone has used it please let me know...my rims are chipped and rusty.

Your end results are only as good as your prep. I would have the rims sandblasted and have a body shop put some epoxy primer on them at the very least. Spraycan paint is obviously not as good as paint from a shop or spray gun. Having said that, when I had my rims done I had the primer and silver done at a body shop, and had the spray cans for the grey inserts, which I did myself.

The masking kit is a must, although it's not perfect, and some fooling around ( read: cutting ) may be required, it does help a lot and is worth the money.

Thanks 4spdrat, looks liek I will go the route you did. What did it cost for the shop to blast and prime?

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'70 SS 396 4spd
TC# 1341

"You're just jealous because the little voices are talking to me"

Midnight, In addition to the masking kit get yourself a roll of 1/8" masking tape for the edges of the inserts. The kit doesn't cut it for accuracy.

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TC #364
Aces #4309
Jeff's 69 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/daytonajeff1.jpg)

Midnight, I actually had mine chemically stripped since I didn't have a blasting source at the time.

Acid Dipping: $35@ rim

Prime & Silver Paint: $50@ rim

This is all in Cdn funds.

The paint & mask kit cost about another $45.00 Cdn.

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Dan Orgill
Tc #466

thanks guys! we'll see how it go's. If'n I screw it up i'll get 15x8's allaway 'round. and save the originals for paint practice. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

Midnight. I purchased stencils from GU and returned the one that I didn't open. I was doing ten wheels and went with stencils from Stencils and Stripes Unlimited. They cost more, but I felt that they were worth it. One hint that worked for me was to cut the stencil in half. That really made application much more accurate and gave me the flexibility needed to put the stencil where it needed to be. There is variation from rim to rim and the stencil has to be stretched and moved where it doesn't want to go. I also used the center material to cut small pieces needed to cover those areas that the stencil doesn't cover. It's kind of tedious, but if you take the time you will have good results.

Steve, thanks for the tip. A new question, if the stencils do not fit exactly, cant I use vaseline on the exposed portions of the rim I do not wish to paint, as I will be able to just wipe it off and the overspray will not stick? Just thought of this, bad idea?

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'70 SS 396 4spd
TC# 1341

"You're just jealous because the little voices are talking to me"

Hey guys, let me throw a monkey in the wrench. I'm thinking about going with 15" SS wheels (at least on the rears) so I can have more options with tires (the 4.10s with a 245/60 can be brutal on the highway). Does anyone know if there are stencils out there for the 15 inchers?

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Mark
1970 SS454 LS6 (nom)
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"Fight Apathy - the disease no one cares about."

My only thought about the vaseline is keeping it from getting where you want the paint to stick. Depending how long it was since you sprayed the silver you could use laquer thinner to clean off overspray. No matter how careful I was there always was an area to clean off. I lightly saturated a cloth wrapped around my index finger and was able to clean up without taking off the paint.

Steve, see your point. Will skip the vaseline. Mark are these rims some that you have? Swapmeet? I am wondering how hard it would be to create the stencils yourself, havent seen them myself, but I wonder how difficult it would be.

I want to go to 15x8's or x10's if I can fit them but if I do will just pick up a new set of rims, as I havent seen any x8's, used, at a swapmeet. Anyone seen or have used 15x8's, rallye II's for a 70SS?

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'70 SS 396 4spd
TC# 1341

"You're just jealous because the little voices are talking to me"

[This message has been edited by Midnight Marauder (edited 09-25-2001).]

Beaux, I sandblasted mine, primed them and did a razor blade and masking tape thing for the painting (just a little patience and a steady hand). It looks good and is pretty durable to boot. I would definately blast the rim before priming though, it will flake and lift if not. Check em out on Saturday.

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My70ChevelleSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1551080&a=11764957) "Together we stand, devided we fall"

Midnight, I've gotten very good results on Pontiac Rally IIs by making my own stencils so it can be done. I was just wondering if there were any premade ones that anyone was aware of. I don't have the wheels yet, just thinking ahead (if you run 'em, at some point your gonna have to repaint 'em).

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Mark
1970 SS454 LS6 (nom)
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"Fight Apathy - the disease no one cares about."