Painted Fuchs

88911coupe · 01-24-2002, 08:30 PM

Okay, I understand the quality aspect of my 7/6 X 16 Fuchs but, to be honest, I don't really like the look and can't afford new 17" wheels. Waynes/Pelican's articles are good for refinishing but I was wondering if anyone has just painted the whole wheel in, say, Wurth Silver Wheel paint. Would this look stupid? I like the look of totally polished wheels but that seems like a PITA project and raw aluminum stains, doesn't it?
Any thoughts...
Buck

R22tech · R22tech's Garage

Buck- i don't see anything wrong with painting the wheels silver. It'll probably look good and modern. A lay-person will think the wheels look good too, so do it if that's what you are looking for. BUT: other 911 owners will notice and think "what a shame, another good original set of 16s gone to $hit". I, personally, like the stock look because it is unmistakably Porsche 911.

dad911 · 01-25-2002, 06:27 AM

My 15" fuchs are not in good shape, small scrapes, etc. As I use them for track only, I was thinking about glass beading wheels and repainting centers. Anyone try that?

88911coupe · 01-25-2002, 06:58 AM

I think glass beading would do a great job for cleaning up the wheels. I seem to remember reading that the clearcoat on aluminum would dull fairly quickly. However the previous posts seem to indicate the staining should not be too big of a problem so maybe I will go that route.
Thanks,
Buck
88 Coupe

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

In the '80s, color matched wheels where hot! Lots of Fuchs got painted and it worked fine.

I still like the look of color-matched fuchs on certain color cars - white, light blue, orange. And don't forget the '73 RSs replicas running around with blue or red painted wheels.

From a durability perspective I think you are fine. I've never seen an aluminum color paint on a fuch, so hard to say about the appearance.

Pursists will puke. But this is a sin that is reasonably easy to undue. Paint is easy to remove.

I would suggest you not do this to a nice set of fuchs. Use a buggered up set. If your's are nice, I am sure someone on this board would be happy to trade you a set that needs refinishing and throw in a few bucks to boot!

Rustbucket · 01-25-2002, 11:33 AM

Painted silver centers probably wouldn't look much different than this...

steve911 · steve911's Garage

and then add a set of (my) hand painted center caps to finish off the look!
I can do chromed ones too, if you've got the chromed center caps

88911coupe · 01-25-2002, 01:10 PM

That is exactly the "look" I am looking for. I wonder if they will tell me what paint is used to achieve that. Anyone know?
Thanks

BlueSkyJaunte · 01-25-2002, 01:24 PM

Yes, light blue does look nice, doesn't it?

I also like white...and I love the RS-alikes.

My tastes seem to run towards light paint with light wheels or dark paint with polished wheels.

YMMV

APKhaos · 01-25-2002, 01:25 PM

FWIW, the unpainted 'paddles' were an early car look. By the 80's, the entire center of the Fuchs were painted - just the rims remained anodised. So much for the obvious. Painted centers other than black were available as a factory option for your 89 Carrera. Several colors, including white, blue, red and others.

So, what you are planning os not absolute heresy - just so long as you paint the centers and leave the rims anodised [if they are in good shape] or polished. Once you cut through the anodise - it is quite hard - then polishing is the only choice.

A new member turned up at a PCA DE weekend last season with a nice white 88 Carrera. He had found some turbo wheels, and refished them himself. Polished the rims, and painted the centers in a Chrysler [puke reflex overload] silver. They looked great - it really made the wheels pop, without being riceish. He had chemically stripped the factory black paint, then applied seven coats of the paint, hand sanding between coats, then four coats of clearcoat. They really looked good - I thought about doing it myself before finding a nice set of BBS 3-piece 7s/8s .