OEM Wheel Refinish - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

gbmidyear66 · 02-17-2011

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 · 02-17-2011

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 · 02-17-2011

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 · 02-17-2011

Quote:

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 · 02-17-2011

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 · 02-17-2011

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 · 02-19-2011

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 · 02-19-2011

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

02-17-2011	#2
Brillo1990 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 113	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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.

02-17-2011	#3
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,828	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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.

02-17-2011	#5
ZR1Vette Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 939	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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. __________________ Michael :cheers: [I][SIZE="2"]1990 RED on RED #566[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE="2"]WAZOO MEMBER[/I][/SIZE]

02-17-2011	#6
gbmidyear66 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 252	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #2824 4.10's, Custom PROM, Flowmaster, Top End Port NCRS BC Chapter

02-19-2011	#7
jrd1990zr1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delanson, NY Posts: 916	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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!! __________________ 1968 convertible Lemans Blue, 1986 coupe Medium Blue NCRS Top Flight (sold), 1990 ZR1 #2529 Red NCRS Regional and National Top Flight (sold), 1990 ZR1 #2124 Charcoal Metallic NCRS Top Flight 2010 & 2018, 2003 Anniversary Red Convertible (sold)

02-19-2011	#8
gbmidyear66 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 252	Re: OEM Wheel Refinish 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 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #2824 4.10's, Custom PROM, Flowmaster, Top End Port NCRS BC Chapter