Fuchs cleanup advice

Deschodt · 07:11 PM

Spent some time on the ol' 911T today, installed new Rennline aluminum floor boards (pictures tomorrow), eradicated a rattle in the door (loose window channel rail), and got to thinking about those fuchs...

As you can see, the PO painted the black 1/2 way to the rim !!

Makes them look even flatter than they should be... 3" fuchs anyone ?

My question is can I strip that extra ring without damaging the anodizing behind it ? (Note: the search IS my friend, but I DO NOT necessarily want to strip the anodizing) I'll redo the black entirely but I want to remove that extra ring and I am not sure what to use and what to neutralize it with if necessary... Once again, looking to remove the black without destroying the anodizing !!! Then again, if there is no easy way, these shiny bits are a bit dull anyway, I might just steel wool them, R style ;-)

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Are you sure those are anodized? I always thought the anodized wheels look much grayer (ala RSR style). Looks to me like they are just unpolished. If that's the case, you wouldn't need to wory about damaging the anodize.

ubiquity0 · 03-04-2006, 09:49 PM

Yeah- weird masking job by the PO!

The wheel looks anodized to me. You should be able to bring the finish back- aluminum polish will 'clean' the surface, then vaseline will remove clouding. Steel wool won't do much for you.

I'm not sure if paint stripper is going to damage the anodizing. My gut feeling is it should be ok... but don't count on that!

Wil Ferch · 03-05-2006, 10:14 AM

Try a mild polish like Simichrome polish..or similar...it might take the paint away but won't harm the anodizing.

- Wil

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

That is NOT a weird masking job, that is a completely stock masking job.

I have close up pictures of my newly polished/painted flat 15x6 Fuchs done by Al Reed. They look EXACTLY like this...except of course I had the paddles & caps polished/cleared. Unfortunately the pictures are on my work computer and I am posting this from home. I will post them on Monday if you'd like to see them.

If you want them to look better - send the to Al, he'll mask them however you watn them. But barring that expense, you can do a clean up DIY job - follow the factory masking edge, lightly sand and paint them with a good satin black. Polish the paddles with SemiChrome or Mothers. I love this look, but it is period look and not everyone's cup of tea.

P.S. I don't know how anal you are, but I sanded & painted my lugs nuts. Let them dry overnight and when you install them put an ordinary sandwich baggie over them before putting the socket on them to tighten the nuts. This is for hand tightening only...avoid screwing up the new paint.

Deschodt · 03-05-2006, 12:14 PM

Ha... Learn one every day. I could have sworn that was a bad masking job. And My SC did not have such a weird 1/2 rim painted black. So that is something they did on long hoods before they came to their senses ? I am not saying I hate it but it looks "wrong" and makes my already small wheels look even smaller. Then again it would greatly simplyfy my job if I could just paint over that !

No offense Dan, I believe you, I just would like confirmation ;-) I'm gonna hit my books of early cars to see this up close ! Thanks !

Gratuitous shot of my babies !

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Let's see to answer your specific question.

Paint stripper won't affect the anodizing, I would also highly doubt that anything will clean up anodizing either. Vaseline might temporarily make it appear better but it's not a solution for anodizing problems.

I stripped my wheels a year and a half ago. I used the aircraft paint stipper which attacked the paint with a vengence but did nothing whatsoever to the anodizing.

Deschodt · 03-05-2006, 07:38 PM

Ok then, thanks !! That makes sense as I hear anodizing is very hard to remove. I will use paint stripper if the local wheels guy is too expensive and just clean up my anodizing somehow. If not, I'll let him sweat, polish them, and just pay the bill ;-)

Thanks !

anthony · 03-05-2006, 08:31 PM

The original wheels were dipped in black paint so the paint line should be the same on the lip as it is on the paddle.

red964 · 03-06-2006, 02:26 AM

repost of CamB fuchs item on my project host system

http://www.salenca.com/published/18.html

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Greg,
Just as a follow up, here's a closeup picture of my newly-done-by-Al Reed, flat 15x6's.

By the way, my car isn't a "longhood", its a Mid Year which share a number of visual appearence items with the Early cars and a number with the SC's....hence "mid".

To each their own, but I think this look is called "restoration" - well, kinda...

I went for polished/cleared instead of the duller factory finish....

I don't think moving the masking to the base of the paddle will make the wheel appear deeper, if anything it will only accentuate the paddles and make them look too big...well, at least I think so.

Anyway, can't miss an opportunity to post a picture of my baby, stock wheels and all. Good luck with whatever you decide to do