Want to refinish Regat T type wheels

[canadianregal]

I was wondering if anyone knew what the T type wheels are made of and can they be sandblasted---I read somewhere that magnesium wheels can explode if they are sandblasted-- I really dont want that to happen after the months of work i have in my reagl

 

[DMan]

I read somewhere that sand blasting is not the preferred method since it leaves a rough finish, which is where stress cracks can begin to propagate.

Glass bead or walnut shell blasting is preferred.

I am also trying to figure out whether an acid-based wheel cleaner will work. Seems like it.

 

[canadianregal]

bead blasting

Thanks ill check out a local bodyshop that does bead blasting

 

[DMan]

One more thing..

Do a 'title' search in this category for 'wheel'.

You will get a bunch of posts on wheel cleaning. A lot of people have had success with various types of acid and non-acid based cleansers.

 

[canadianregal]

acid cleaners

Thanks ill try that

 

[turbopete]

Try this

Look up www.trudesignwheel.net They could help answer your beadblast questions.

 

[WeSS]

t wheels refinished

true design did these

 

[at7we2]

I have a set of '87 "T" wheels at the shop right now getting refinished. I'm having them done as reproduction '85 GN wheels with black in between the spokes.

The reconditioning process involves:

1. dip the wheels in chemical cleaner

2. remachine the machined surfaces on the face of the wheel to expose fresh metal

3. repaint the area between the spokes

4. clear-coat the entire face of the wheels.

I may have the steps out of order, but the key is remachining the surfaces that were originaly machined. I don't think any form of sand or bead blasting will give you the same look as the original machined surfaces. although it will probably work fine if you just want to clean them up.

As a side note, I wish I hadn't gone this route now as I discovered this afternoon there aren't many tire options for 15" rims anymore. Especially if you're looking for V or Z rated. A few years ago you could get BFGoodrich Comp TA ZR's (and VR's!) in a 235/60/15 which was perfect for a stock rim - same overall height as the OEM 215/65/15, but wider and still fit nicely on a 7 inch rim.

 

[JC Turbo]

true design did these

WOW they look like new! If you don't mind my asking what did they charge to restore your wheels?

 

[WeSS]

t wheels

WOW they look like new! If you don't mind my asking what did they charge to restore your wheels?

I believe I have 300 in just widening the rears & another 250 to refinish, polish spokes, & clear powder all four. Plus the cost of buying them for just the cores. Which were like 300 bucks. They are available if anyone is interested.

 

[JC Turbo]

I emailed the company and they told me this:

Hello,
We can do the restoration on your wheels. Without modifications to the wheels, we can straighten them, refinish, remachine, and make them like new for $175.00 per wheel.

We also offer to make these wider on the inside or the outside or we can re-rim the t-type wheel to 10" wide.


That's seems pretty steep to me, $700.00 just to restore the stock wheels. I think I'll just sell them like I did with the rest of the stock parts :biggrin:

 

[aminga]

Well I did mine myself. I bead blasted the wheels with 80 grit glass beads. This of coure left everything textured.

I then went back over the spokes and rims with polishing compund, Tripoli and then white rouge and recoated with Eastwood diamond clear. Lots of time and labor but not too difficult.

 

[at7we2]

refinished GN wheels (pics)

It may be too late for this, but here's a pic or two of my refinished GN wheels. They started out as '87 T wheels. I'm really happy with the look. I'm dissappointed in the selection of 15" tires currently available though.

 

[urhstry]

Unless your wheels are bent and in REALLY bad shape, I think the base price for a redone wheel from these guys is $75. I had many wheels done from here and I can't say enough about them.

www.wheelcollision.com

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

ya, now add on shipping too.