Has anyone painted their rally wheels to match the color of their car?
What about to match the color of the interior? Or the conv. or vinyl top?
I've got a white '67 conv. with a black top and a Brite Blue interior. The car looks kinda bland with the 16x7 and 16x8 silver rallys. I have disc brake caps and the narrow "hot rod" style trim rings.
I'm thinking of painting the wheels either white to match the car (which may be too much white) or Brite blue to match the interior and the top boot when the tops down.
The good thing is I could always re-paint them again if it looked bad.
Aslo, how would I get the wheels clean enough to paint? I would need to get all the nooks and crannies. I'm not going to remove the tires.
Anyone? Pictures?
Thanks,
Dennis

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1967 Chevelle convertible, SS clone, White w/Bright Blue interior. Powered by an all aluminum 1999 LS-1 engine with EFI and a 4L60E electronically shifted 4 speed auto transmission.

I had to make a similar decision on my 1964 Malibu Conv. I painted my rims to match the color of the car “Green”. I also used thin hot rod rims and 1950’s caps. My rallys rims were new so I primed, painted and then clear coated. You might consider powder coating tires will have to come off.

I have not installed the rims yet I’m still building the car.

I had mine powder coated white, to match most of the other parts on my car (car is blue with white top, interior, brackets, etc)

see my sig for pictures (I hope the wheels are visible...)...

As for cleaning... I good cleaner (I use Simple Green-works pretty good), several stiff nylon brushes of various sizes and a lot of time... follow up with lacquer thinner and make sure to scuff the surface or use a product like Paso or Sand-no-more to etch the surface of the silver paint to provide good adhesion of the new paint. If the silver is not flaking off, then no need to remove it, maybe a primer coat to also help adhesion... This would be best and easiest with the wheels off the car...

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"Once you go RAT, you never go back..."
TC #1366
Tony
The Chevelle (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleA.jpg)
Dual Quad 396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleC.jpg)
Side View (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleD.jpg)

Maybe you could at least deflate them and break the outside bead and tape off the tire? I think that would be a good compromise.

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Interior (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/interior.jpg)

big block (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/motor.jpg)
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Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)

Tony,
Your's match your interior and that looks good. Kinda breaks up the Blue and what otherwise would normally be flat Silver wheels.
Brob,
I'd like to see your's when it's done.
I'm not worried about the tires still being on the wheels. I can but vasoline or something on the tires, and the trim rings cover the edge anyway. I would probably paint the lip of the wheel Black if it showed between the trim ring and the tire anyway.
Dennis

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1967 Chevelle convertible, SS clone, White w/Bright Blue interior. Powered by an all aluminum 1999 LS-1 engine with EFI and a 4L60E electronically shifted 4 speed auto transmission.

To get to the nooks and crannies, use a wire wheel and a drill. Thats what i used to do my rally wheels.
Then go over it with some 4-600 grit sandpaper and it will look fine. Sorry no pic's yet..car is still in body shop.