Cookie cutter wheel questions

[iplagolf]

Hello...Picked up a nice set, but cosmetically challenged, early off set 15 X 7 cookie cutter wheels today. The clear coat is shot and there are a few issues with the black coating. I have read the threads on this forum about re-finishing them, great stuff and beautiful work. I'm going to strip them and prime in a good etching primer. I'm not a lazy guy, but the definition of insanity is doing something over and over with the same outcome, ie. polishing the outside ring. I'm a wash and go type person. I disassembled the wheels on my Indian, de-chromed the rims, primed and painted them black. So much easier to keep clean and look great. Was thinking powder coating, but if you damage the wheel you either have to re-powder coat or fix with paint. I was thinking of priming the whole outside of the wheel and spraying the center gloss black and the outside ring a shiny silver. Any thoughts on this? Second question, on two of the wheels there is a "guard" on the valve stem, what's this all about? I saw it on a 84 944 at a car show. They were on the back wheels. I am going to remove them as they are butt ugly. Am I making a mistake? Thirdly, I need black center caps with the Porsche logo in color, got a good source? Thanks, Fritz

[GreenWater]

The valve stems on the back wheels are at an angle. At high speed the force will bend the valve stem over. If the valve stem is old it could break and all the air pressure would be gone.(at high speed, that would be bad.) I would keep them on, I think they are kind of cool and different.

[GreenWater]

I just spray painted the inside black on mine. I need to redo mine as well. I will just spray paint them again. I think it comes out good enough, atleast for me.

[ernie9944]

This is how (Stogie 25) when about redoing his polish lips/black center.Came out pretty good if you ask me.About 8 yrs ago I redone my Fuchs on my ex 944 & also went this way polish lips/black center & polish lugs.Patience & attention to details is the name of the game when redoing wheels.Btw don't go with (shiny Silver) paint on your lip it will look tacky,do it rigth get them polish.

[iplagolf]

GreenWater...I can understand the guard, but I an going to replace the present stems with metal ones, would this still apply? Thanks, Fritz

[iplagolf]

OK, you convinced me, polished it is. I'll post some pic's when I'm done. Thanks, Fritz

[GreenWater]

If you have metal valve stems then it shouldn't matter. They won't bend.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by iplagolf

GreenWater...I can understand the guard, but I an going to replace the present stems with metal ones, would this still apply? Thanks, Fritz

No problems replacing them with chrome one,as for the painted center they are very expensive to buy new approx $90.oo each.So suggest you shop around E-Bay for them.

[alan6272]

I took my valve stem supports off because I think they are ugly besides I only drive as fast as the speed limit 75 on our hwy here. I would also polish the outer ring and paint the inside.

[GreenWater]

I just noticed that my car only has the supports on the front tires. And that the angle of the valve stem is the same on the front and back wheels. And, like wise, the speed limit is 65 here, even though people drive 75 or 80.

[alan6272]

The vavle stem supports are just stick on, At least mine were so there for they could fall off at some point I think..

[iplagolf]

Hello...47 degrees here in southern Indiana today. Directions on the paint stripper can says do not use under 65 degrees. Not one to always follow direction(s) (as I was told by a naval intelligence recruiting officer as I was about to graduate college) but that's another story. Anyway, as I tried to pour the stripper into a glass bowl it looked like something falling out of an ox's nose! Just a big blob hanging from the spout. Tipped the can back upright and the pressure in the can sucked it back in. Supposed to be in the high 60's this weekend, we'll try again then. Fritz

[GreenWater]

My brother lives where it get really cold and he has a little trick for painting when it is to cold to do it right.(with spray cans) He will heat up the spray can. Caution!!! Heating up a spray can is very dangerous. He has had one almost explode. I haven't seen a paint job after being done like this, so I don't know how it actually looks. It is probably not the best. I would wait until it warms up.

[CHICKS]

To heat up spray paint, I put the cans in a sink with hot water. I wouldnt try to heat them any other way.

[GreenWater]

Yeah, that is probably a little safer than what he does. He will put them by a heater or any heat source he has.

The problem is the metal needs to be warm as well so the paint will dry properly.

[iplagolf]

The project is coming along. I've done two coasts of stripper on the wheels. One wheel the stripper has had no effect on the coating. Picked up a can of aircraft stripper, that sucker's going down. I found a place on the outside edge (where I will be polishing for the rest of my life, LOL!) a half pea size hole that was filled at one time with bondo, touched up with silver paint and re-clear coated. Going to tig weld the spot with aluminum wire and work it down smooth. HERE'S THE QUESTION, these wheels are ALL aluminum, right? No magnesium in the wheels. Wouldn't want a fire I couldn't put out. Going to paint on Sunday. I have a window of good warm weather. I'll protect the paint and then start working down the outside ring. Going to start with 400 W/D and then go to 800 W/D and see what I've got. Thanks for everyone's help. Fritz

[ernie9944]

Not 100% sure they are all aluminum so I'll be very careful
even with the tig.Glad your having good weather that will help a lot when it come down to do the respray.About the painted center cap instead of buying new one (Stogie) went at it this way he hand painted them himself,lol no drinking before attempting to paint them got to do it cold sober.

[GreenWater]

I was thinking about painting the caps as well. I am glad to see that someone has done it. They look good. Might try it some day.

[iplagolf]

Got a set of center caps coming. Five years ago I could do brain surgery with a bad hang over, no tremors or shaking. Diagnosed with hyper-tension, the meds give me the shakes and sometimes a little dizzy. Hell to drive early in the mornings sometimes. I stay away from any "heavy" drinking, (more than two drinks) skip my meds for a day and I have a steady hand. That's what I'll do to re-paint my caps. I just re-read this and it sounds like I'm a brain surgeon, I'm not, just that my hands were very steady before the meds. Sucks to get old, well in some ways...Older pays better, LOL!!! Those caps look great. Hope mine turn out as good! Thanks, Fritz

[iplagolf]

Hello...I have three of the wheels in paint. Where I live I can't find anyone who can tig weld in aluminum to repair the forth wheel. Will go to Evansville Monday to find a shop. On a side note, for anyone doing or going to be doing a wheel re-finish job, you need a power washer of at least 3000 psi. When I applied the stripper and let it work I was thinking what a messy job it would be to scrap and or steel wool the old paint off. Trying to get in all the nooks, then I saw my power washer sitting in the garage, Eureka, the answer. It blasted the old paint right off. Reapplied second coat of stripper, and clean as a whistle!