factory fuchs and chroming

[sundevil64]

I have a set of factory fuchs (7 and 8's) that have been chromed and need refinishing. It is my understanding the chroming process in some cases can weaken the wheel (structurally) if done aftermarket. Is there a way to tell if they have been chromed by Porsche or by aftermarket? I would like to have the wheels refinished and painted.

Thank you in advance.

John

[javadog]

Porsche didn't finish any of these with chrome, so that answers that question. Get in contact with Harvey Wiedman and ask him what your options are.

I think this is current:

Weidman's Wheels
(530) 534-7903
1675 Wyandotte Ave
Oroville, CA 95966

JR

[jackb911]

A good chrome shop can strip the chrome without damaging the wheels.

The process isn't expensive. I was quoted $20/wheel by a shop here in Atlanta that did show-quality bumper plating on my '67 Chevelle.

The set of chrome 7 +9" Fuchs that were on a previous Porsche were plated in 1989 and held up very well although there was some light pitting showing up on the rears. Chrome and Aluminum just don't get along very well.

There are those that say that the chroming process weakens the wheel but I doubt that is true. Just look at all the OEM cast aluminum wheels on new cars and trucks that come chromed from the factory nowadays.

[island911]

Originally Posted by jackb911

...
There are those that say that the chroming process weakens the wheel but I doubt that is true. Just look at all the OEM cast aluminum wheels on new cars and trucks that come chromed from the factory nowadays.

bad logic.

Cast OEM wheels will have MUCH more mass than Forged Fuchs. --the extra mass is a design approach to mitigate problems from material imperfections. Where as the forging process removes (or reorients in a low-stress direction) material imperfections. --allowing for a higher stress/minimal material design.

..as such, newly introduced pits/imperfections (on a high-strung forged wheel) can magnify the already high stress levels beyond acceptable. ...at minimum, will reduce the fatigue load/life of the wheel.

To the OP w/ the 7&8s; I expect that you can likely still get a good deal life out of the wheels, refinished. (the wheels experts can advise)

Of course, knowing that the wheels have been compromised a bit, keep an extra eye out for crack development. (esp if seeing regular high loads... at the track, or on a particularly heavy car.)

[SBMW]

Hi, I have a similar situation and some questions. I have a 1989 Carrera with chrome Fuchs on it. I don't know enough about the car to know if it would have had chrome wheels since new or not(?). The car will soon come home from the body shop (after it was broadsided, boo!) with nice fresh paint and new trim, and I just realized I should freshen the wheels up before I put it back on the road.

The chrome wheels are not pretty now, they have flakes and spots on them. One question is whether re-chroming is the only option, or the best option? I don't know whether once chromed, should they always be chromed? I don't mind the look and might prefer it over black wheels. I'm in socal in the hot dry San Fernando Valley so think it would be okay wrt the comment I read in another thread about chrome being sensitive to wet, and in fact I wonder if these are so damaged because the car spent over a decade in Malibu where the climate is much wetter. But back to the question - I'd consider having the wheels anodized or otherwise handled non-chrome if that's a viable or desirable option....? Or will take advice about the having them re-chromed, anything to ask about or ask for. I already have a recommendation for a local shop for re-chroming, btw.

And, while I'm thinking about the wheels, I have a question of a different sort. It's been recommended to me that I should have different size wheels on it - I think it has 7's and 8's on it and should have 8's and 9's? (or hmmm is it 6's and 8's on it and wants 8's and 9's?). My question is which is the preferred combo of wheel sizes for this car, and why? I don't drive it much or to its potential - I get out in the local mountains quite a bit but usually on the R1100S motorbike - so I'm not certain if I should or will make the investment in wheels or not, at least now. But OTOH, if I'm fussing with the wheels now it would make sense to get them properly sorted....so I'll take a quick explanation of which sizes and why. Sorry if that hijacked the thread a bit, and thanks in advance for feedback. I'll attach a photo of the car, taken at the top of Stunt Road above Malibu.

Shannonb
SoCal

[island911]

nice looking Carrera.

looks like you have 6's and 8's. (which would be OE for 89)

Sounds like you don't need more (softer) tires; so, at most, you would want to put 7' up front; and that would be for cosmetics. --btw, the 8's & 9's look pretty much the same, but have more offset to the inside.

on the finish- talk to some refinishers - they usually remove the chrome and polish out the aluminum.

[lateapex911]

Man I like the look of a polished alum wheel MUCH more than a chrome one. To me, chrome looks cheap, and blingy, but the polished wheel has a certain depth and patina that says, "I'm the real deal".
Plus, polishing isn't going to mean you're without the wheels, or have to pay for the chroming, and you can do it yourself.
YMMV

[SBMW]

Thanks for the answers. So, can I surmise that:

1) 7s and 8s would be recommended for this car? (still curious abt why - does "more tires" mean better traction)?

2) the chrome can be stripped off and then the wheels can be polished or anodized instead of chromed?

I don't see myself polishing the wheels out as I have too many other projects, but am curious, what do you rub them with and how much time would it take?

Thanksomuch

shannonb
socal

[island911]

Originally Posted by SBMW

Thanks for the answers. So, can I surmise that:

1) 7s and 8s would be recommended for this car? (still curious abt why - does "more tires" mean better traction)?
...

better traction? not much really.

7's up front usually (barely) fit under the fenders, filling the fenders out (a cosmetic thing, mostly) and they 'square off' the 205 tires a bit better --that is, the 6's 'pinch' the 205's a bit. On the other hand, the slightly wider stance in front (7s) means more road debris will find the side of your car.

[Trackrash]

Your best bet is the anodizing. It is durable, looks good, and takes very little upkeep.

Polished wheels can look as shiny as chrome. Problem is you will have to polish them every week to keep them looking that way.

I have one set that I stripped and polished myself. Spent about three days to do two wheels.

[vracer]

Shannon,
As has been said, 6s & 8s are stock on the '89. FYI, my '89 was purchased from Vasek Polock, and has chrome wheels. I didn't think I would like the bling factor when I bought the car, but I have grown to like it, and my highly vocal P-car friends have signed off.
Polished aluminum may be the most beautiful metal there is, but it is impossible to maintain.

[RoninLB]

Zoop Seal for polished Fuchs or polishing every 3 months or so

[i live in high humidity salt air]

[blue bus]

I just redid a set of forged fuchs.
Getting the anodizing off was an adventure, but ultimately i found a non destructive and quick method to do this (Give the laziest man the hardest job and he will find the easiest way to do it)
I made a sheet metal pan big enough to hold 1 rim.
In the pan put enough water in to cover the area of the wheel you want stripped.
Add crystal Drano. the ratio is 80% water to 20% Drano.
Heat to 180 dgrees and leave the wheel in the solution for 7-10 mins. It takes the anodizing right off. I used my turkey deep fryer as a heat source.
They come out looking a pale flat grey but don't worry it wipes off with a minimum of elbow grease.
Then polish and paint.