I am preparing to refinish my Fuchs...

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

I am preparing to refinish my Fuchs and have a question for you guys. My wheels are currently all black and I am going with the polished paddles look. I have read all the previous posts and technical article so I have the process/supplies figured out….however, I realized that by making this change the center caps will need to be updated as well. Question: 1) I assume my current center caps are plastics (can’t remember) and must be replaced, correct? 2) If so, is it really going to cost $126.30 (PEL-911-HC-09) for new caps….ouch! I guess I could always look for used caps…thoughts? TIA.

Wayne C.
83 SC

Steve F · 12-04-2002, 10:46 AM

Nope,the caps are alum.,and I just bead blasted them to get off the anodize and polished from there,works good

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

Thanks Steve...I just have a few more supplies to get and I'm all set for hours of back aching, finger hurting fun

Wayne C
83 SC

89911 · 12-04-2002, 02:10 PM

Just take off the black anodizing and polish. The cap below was previously black. The aluminum of these isn't forged so it doesn't quite take so long.

Moses · 12-04-2002, 02:14 PM

Al Reed in Anaheim is doing my wheels now.

The black center caps will be polished, hand painted and then powder coated with a clear coat. The cost is $15 per wheel.

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

89911, thanks for info. Also, I appreciate your writeup back in Nov, very helpful in understanding the process and supplies required. I'll post a before and after pic to let all see the results.

I haven't decide if I'm going to have the caps painted or not...although $15/cap seems like a good deal.

thanks agian.

Wayne C.
83 SC

89911 · 12-04-2002, 03:21 PM

Your welcome. Just keep your work low key. There are factions out there that will insist that you must not do this yourself but pay to send it out. On top of it, the finish will last for a brief moment. But, thats a prior post. Have fun!

Moses · 12-04-2002, 04:17 PM

Unfortunately, I have limited time to spend working on my car. I try to pick the kind of projects I love to do. Wheel stripping/polishing is not one of them.

I look at it this way, how much would someone have to pay me to polish thier wheels? Answer: A lot more than I will have to pay someone else to polish mine.

For me, the Al Reed solution was a no-brainer.

scottb · 12-04-2002, 06:45 PM

Quote:

I'm all set for hours of back aching, finger hurting fun

Why put yourself through that? You're in Escondido. Al Reed is in Anaheim. Ship the wheels to Al and let him do his magic. You will not regret the decision.

carreradpt · carreradpt's Garage

What would Al Reed charge for something like that?

Moses · 12-04-2002, 07:24 PM

First, Al Reed is a pleasure to deal with.

He is stripping my black Fuchs, polishing the paddles and rims. Powder painting the black insets, then powder coating the entire wheel with a clear coat for $100/wheel. (Less if you don't clearcoat.)

The center caps will be hand painted with Red/Black/Gold, then similarly powder coated for $15/cap.

I think this is a rare bargain in the Porsche world.

Silveresrty911S · Silveresrty911S's Garage

Send them out to get done, I spent about 30 minutes on each to sand them down, wet sand and another 15 minutes to polish them. So at least 3 hrs of time and they are not painted. If I would have known it was only 15.00 with painting, I would have paid for it. If you like tinkering around with you car then by all means do it !
Also you'll save a little wear and tear on the old digits by wearing rubber gloves.

Rick

scottb · 12-05-2002, 05:05 AM

Quote:

First, Al Reed is a pleasure to deal with. He is stripping my black Fuchs, polishing the paddles and rims. Powder painting the black insets, then powder coating the entire wheel with a clear coat for $100/wheel. (Less if you don't clearcoat.)

Moses is correct on both accounts. So, the question you have to ask yourself is this: How much is my time, and how much are my fingers, back and elbows, worth?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Al told me 300 bucks AND he would lend me a set of wheels while he did them.....

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Yeah, Al is the way to go, especially as close as you are. About $200 TOTAL, all 4. Painted, not anodized and that includes polishing the center caps and stripping/painting the lugs.

You can drop ship him your new tires and he will also mount them. I don't know what he charges for tire mounting but they know what they are doing.

Good luck and post pics!

Moses · 12-05-2002, 07:17 AM

I think the clear powder coat is an additional $25/wheel. For me, cleaning the wheels with Windex instead of metal polish is a big plus. But then, I AM a lazy S.O.B.

89911 · 12-05-2002, 07:23 AM

I knew they would arrive!

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

I can understand the benefits of having someone else do this project...but I really like doing things like this, maybe it's a pride issue but I'd like to be able to say “look at those wheels...I did that!".

Bottom line, I'll do it once...maybe afterwards I'll be a supporter of outsourcing…but today it’s damn the torpedoes!

Wayne C.
83 SC

stone43 · 12-05-2002, 03:56 PM

OK, contact info for Al Reed?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Posted this before.....

Al Reed Polishing
30 10 East Coronado #A
Anaheim CA 92806
714-632-3907

FYI....300 bucks to fully polish a set of 16x7 and 8s, AND he has a set of loaners for locals.....come down and drop off the wheels, get a loaner set to use for the four-five days that it takes to do the job....