OEM Wheel Refinish

[gbmidyear66]

Just in the propcess of replacing my 10 year old rubber and 20 years of accummulated curb rash. I decided to get only the fronts done first to be sure I was happy with the result. Got them back today, and am not 100% happy.

They did a great job polishing the lips (which I believe is how they would have looed as new?), and the tool marks on the other surfaces are very similar to OEM. What I am not totally happy with is that the machined surfaces (from up close) have a kind of "mottled" look to them. The supplier says it is unavoidable when you machine the original surface.

Can anyone confirm or refute this? maybe I am too picky?

Refinised (front) and OEM (rear) pics attached

[Brillo1990]

I hate to say it but if those spots are as bad as they look in the pics I would not be 70 percent happy. I had mine soda blasted and I'm just having them powder coated silver with a clear powder coat on top. $200 for the silver and another $200 for the clear. I could have gotten a chrome powder coat but I like silver better.

[VetteMed]

I do know that machined OEM finishes are difficult to duplicate without re-CNC'ing the wheel. I agree that the spotty finish is less than what I'd expect.

[xlr8nflorida]

Originally Posted by VetteMed

I do know that machined OEM finishes are difficult to duplicate without re-CNC'ing the wheel. I agree that the spotty finish is less than what I'd expect.

Agree 100 percent.

Wheel still looks good just not ncrs

[ZR1Vette]

Something amiss here and this is simply wrong>> "The supplier says it is unavoidable when you machine the original surface"

Both of the rear alloys on my 90 ZR had marks/mares (but no curb rash)...example of pre-refinished>>



Both alloys were machined and then clear coated and this is the result>>>




My alloys now look OEM brand new (yea did take 4 weeks to get them back ...the finish you got IMHO is 100% unacceptable.

[gbmidyear66]

Michael, your wheels look awesome - damm, I want mine to look like that!

So I just called another wheel repair shop in town and surprisingly I got a very similar story/explanation to the one I received from the shop that did my front wheels. The second shop was also very familar with this type of wheel and had done them in the past. I asked them if they could guarantee that I wouldn't see any small "white freckles" on the machined surfaces when they were done. He said they had seen that problem before and that it is completely dependent on the original Aluminum casting and that you just can't know beforehand whether it will occur when they machine them (they use a diamond bit in a CNC).

So, I'm thinking I just gotta play russian roulette with my wheels?

Glenn

[jrd1990zr1]

I had a set of 1990 rims re-finished by a place in PA about 2 years ago. The turned portion came out OK. I was told the down side of these wheels is they can only be turned twice. This is due to the reveal on the open portion of the wheel. I was not real happy with the clearcoat on the polished lip however. When the car was being aligned they chipped the clear with a target. The clear seemd to be a very thin coat. The wheel refinisher wanted no part of a repair saying they would have to be turned again.

Bottom line, be careful if you have to have them done again, may be the last time you can.

Good luck!!

[gbmidyear66]

jrd1990 , thanks for the heads up on the refinish limit.

I took my rear wheels out to a second shop today. The machinist said the only time he had seen the problem I have with my fronts is when the diamond used is brand new. He was confident he would not cause this problem for me.

Guess I will know for sure on a bout a week.

Glenn