Aluminum wheel restoration "How to" by me

[TunedPort 335]

I figured I'd post this to give you guys some ideas if you have aluminum wheels that are startin to look old.

Tonight I restored a set of wheels I got for a 94+ Dodge Ram half ton pickup. They are made by Ultra, and have no clearcoat on them. Here's the equiptment I used to bring them back to their original, or better , shine.

Sandpaper
220
320
600
1000
1500

Buffing wheels/compounds
Can be found at Sears. Comes with 3 soft buffing pads, and 4 sticks of compounds. Emery, tripoli, white rouge, and jewelers rouge.

Final
Eagle One aluminum polish

Here's what I had to start with-
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/DSC00626.JPG
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/wheel1.JPG

First I sanded them smooth with the 220 grit sandpaper, and got all the crap off. After that, I just go in order. 320, 600, then 1000wet, and finally 1500wet. Thorougly do each step so that there are no more lines in the wheel. By 1500 wet, the wheel should look very smooth...and have a semi-reflection to it. Now it is time to start buffing.

With the soft buffing pad on a drill, spin it at high RPM and press the Emery stick into it...you will see the color of the stick starting to come onto the pad. Then buff the wheel at high rpm. After finished, wipe wheel off with a cloth to get rid of excess compound. Repeat this step with the Tripoli, and white rouge. When you're done, polish them with Eagle One or Mothers aluminum polish. Here is the finished product-

[TunedPort 335]

:thumbsup:

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/wheel4.JPG
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/wheel7.JPG
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/wheel8.JPG
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/wheel10.JPG

[igotasweetride]

how bout i just give you my 20s and some money and you do it for me? :thumbsup:

[TunedPort 335]

Sounds like an idea :smokin:

[Mike S]

Those things came out pretty sweet...What was a total time with each wheel with buffing and all you think?:thumbsup:

[igotasweetride]

Originally posted by TunedPort 335
Sounds like an idea :smokin:

come up with a price and ill see if its reasonable. they're billet aluminum, rears are lookin good, but need a light polishing, fronts have minor pitting from not being cleaned for 2 months, they would just need MAYBE 1500 and then a buffing, probably just a good polish. :thumbsup:

[TunedPort 335]

Originally posted by igotasweetride
come up with a price and ill see if its reasonable. they're billet aluminum, rears are lookin good, but need a light polishing, fronts have minor pitting from not being cleaned for 2 months, they would just need MAYBE 1500 and then a buffing, probably just a good polish. :thumbsup:

That sounds fairly easy man. Hit me up with an IM on AIM, TunedPort335. I'd like to see some pics of the wheels first, if you got any.

It took me about 1 1/2 hour to do that wheel. Not bad I guess, kinda time consuming but I think the results are worth it.

[WETDRM]

Originally posted by TunedPort 335
That sounds fairly easy man. Hit me up with an IM on AIM, TunedPort335. I'd like to see some pics of the wheels first, if you got any.

It took me about 1 1/2 hour to do that wheel. Not bad I guess, kinda time consuming but I think the results are worth it.

def worth it.....from the looks of that and your engine compartment your pretty good at it too

[TunedPort 335]

thanks Don :thumbsup:

[H3llphyre]

After seeing your engine, and looking at my new "heap"... I may ask you to take a whack at the LT1 intake and other accessories.