Restoring wheels

[Lord_Naomasa]

So, I am now getting to restoring the wheels on my '87 944. I attempted to buff them using a dremel and did a small section and they came out okay but not as I wanted and is very time consuming for how much I was able to do. So now I am going to paint them and am wanting to get anyones opinion on it. Does anyone know what color to paint them specifically? Thanks a bunch!

[Thunder-71]

I just finished my cookie cutters and they look great. This is what I did:
1. Using paint remover (you can buy it at any paint or hardware store), I removed the factory clear coating completely. Make sure you tape the painted spokes real good so the remover will not get to them as you brush it on on the aluminum section. The tape will also serve as protection when you will buff the aluminum. Brush the remover on following instructions on can. One quart will be plenty for all four wheels.
2. When all clear coating is removed, sand as smooth as you can all the areas that are corroded or pitted, you may use coarser grid first and then finer.
3. Using a drill (if you have a high speed one will be better, but a regular speed will work, it just takes longer), with a 4 or 6 inch diameter and 1 inch thick buffing wheel and a bar of green cutting/polishing paste buff them out to a shine you like. They can turn to a mirror like finish if you wish. If you do not know how to use the buffing paste ask the salesperson.
4. After you buff them all out, you can clear coat them or seal them. I did not use clear coating myself since it chips, moisture gets in and eats the wheel away. Instead I used a good quality metal sealer/wax and will reseal them every two or three months.
I did mine with the tires on the wheels. It took me about 1 1/2 to 2 hours per wheel and they look real nice, almost perfect. A shope quoted me $175.00 per wheel to buff them, so it was worth the effort.
I will not even think of painting them, unless you like them painted and you pouder coat them.
Good Luck.

[Tishabet]

What kind of wheels are on your car? Phone dials?

[vital-transform]

I did my phone dials with black "Duplicolor" then a coat of clear lacquer like 3 years ago they still look great no peeling or chipping

[Schumi]

Pelican sells a lacquer paint by Wurth that is the original Silber color of the phone dials:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=POR&model=944M&section=MISCLL&page=16&bookmark=80&part_number=WRTH-892181

It's pricey.

[emoore924]

I painted mine with yellow rustoleum and a brush.

[Dwright944s]

Im sending mine to the powder coater tomorrow.

[Lord_Naomasa]

Yeah, they are the phone dials.

[Tishabet]

With phone dials, Wurth (see Schumi's post) is indeed the OEM for the finish.