Fuchs

[mr.flat6]

1981 911sc.

The black/chrome rim fuchs on my car need a little appearance care. I'm trying to figure out whether the black finish was originally glossy or was it flat? Has anyone repainted them? Suggestions and comments please.....
Tx!john

[nhromyak]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/concours_corner/concours_corner-4.htm

or


http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911tech_articles.htm

then scroll down...

[Argo]

I guess I can help you out here - in a nutshell, to renew the appearance of what you have now, Porsche recommends wiping on a thin coat of petroleum jelly on the black and aluminum parts and then wiping it off. I hear this works pretty well. I have also heard of some using 3M Imperial Hand Glaze for the same job. The other option(s) are repainting/polishing in any number of ways (polish all, polish part & paint part, etc.). Repainting & polishing require a fair amount of work but, in my opinion, are well worth it. But then again, mine's stored so it makes for a great winter project. Do a search on this site for more info than you'll want; there are also a number of tech articles on this process in the tech section of this BB. Oh yeah, I believe originally that the black part was a satin finish. I used Wurth Black Satin and a self etching primer to repaint mine as well as polishing the aluminum with Mothers wheel polish. They look brand new now. Also, another tip, I hear that oven cleaner will remove anodization quickly versus endless sanding.

Argo
88 Targa

[steve911]

John--
the original black finish on the fuchs was Wurth's matt lacquer - which looks almost satin when new. the matt lacquer was used because of its higher heat tolerance (read brake heat). the wurth's satin enamel won't hold up to the heat as well.
suggest try 3M hand glaze and then a coat of wax to bring back some of the 'luster'.

I've redone center caps using the wurth's lacquer - its definitely not flat IMO:




talk to the guys at www.carcareonline.com - very knowledgeable and helpful.

I second the petroluem jelly on the outer part of the rims - works real well - owner's manual suggests it as well. do a search on the board. this was discussed in detail a few months ago. suggest using disposable gloves, unless you want vaseline all over your hands.

[mr.flat6]

won't the vaseline trap dust & dirt quickly?

[makaio]

Yes the vaseline will trap more dust if you leave it on. But you actually buff most of it off. Trust these guys! The vaseline does wonders for your Fuchs, unless they are just trashed. I coat mine every month or so.

[Early_S_Man]

john,

I assume you don't actually have a chrome finish on your Fuchs, but, if you do ... just forget about the Vaseline.

Anodizing is a somewhat porous and very thin surface layer of very hard chemical compound. The purpose of the vaseline treatment is to force the petrolatum down into the 'pores' of the anodized finish to protect from air and other aggressive chemicals. Fuchs that have been abused or ignored develop a 'cloudy' apearance on the clear anodized part of the wheel. Sometimes the Vaseline treatment will restore their appearance ...

Ideally, the Vaseline treatment is done overnight for best results ...

After washing with mild soap and towel drying, rub a small amount of Vaseline into the entire anodized finish of the wheel with a soft rag. Then go over again with a large amount of Vaseline, leaving a surplus visible excess on the entire anodized area of the wheels. Allow to sit overnight ... or, if storing the wheels for an extended period of time, just leave the excess Vaseline in place. When ready to use the wheels, wipe off the excess Vaseline, and then go over the wheels with a clean, soft rag and buff the anodized surface until completely dry to the touch with no residue whatsoever left on the anodized finish! The Vaseline is now in the pores of the anodized finish, and will protect effectively for up to three months.

[89911]

I just stripped and painted mine with Krylon Semi gloss black paint available at Autozone. It was a very close match to the orginal. A satin or gloss won't work.

[Superman]

Okay, I'm about to repaint the centers of my wheels so this is interesting. I'll just 'rattle can' it but I want to do a nice job. I'll sand first, lightly and then just mask it and spray.

I'm afraid of semi-gloss because I do not like the glossy painted centers I have seen and I think the original finish was more of a satin. The flatter the finish the deeper the wheels will look. I heard recently that Wurths sells a good paint for this, but I can't say I've ever seena Wurths truck and there is no number in my phone book. I surf for them but....

I have also wondered whether to use an enamel or a laquer. Someone educate me.