Thread: Stripping silver paint from aluminum wheels

Has anyone stripped the paint from a set of '95-96 GP 5 spoke wheels and polished them out? I'm talking about a set that is currently painted factory silver.

A company called Eastwood makes products for that particular task. Here's the link Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating

Originally Posted by Bio248

they make a polished set of those, why not find them and save yourself a lot of work? my brother started to do that with his wheels and decided it was too much work and then just painted them again.

They're few and far between from what I know of them. Do you know where I could find a set?

Detroit Wheel and Tire. $225.00 a corner for the polished twisted 5 spoke and $200.00 for the polished straight 5 spoke.
Hope this helps.

I thought all the torque stars were polished and clear coated from the factory. Is that not right?

I've looked at the help menu there, but I didn't see a way to search the whole USA for a particular item. It seems I have to search city by city.

Anyhow, I already have the silver wheels - that's the reason I asked about stripping and polishing them. I polish my aluminum wheels on both my truck and my wife's truck, but they were bare aluminum from the factory.

not to butt into this post but if he did strip the paint from his painted rims, would he have to clear coat the bare aluminum?

No, they would not have to be clear coated. They could be clear coated, but I would rather have the ability to polish if they need to be done again in a few years, so I would leave them bare. I'm in the same salt belt you're in. We're just east of you outside Marion, Ohio.

haha yep i hear you man. These winters are rough. I think they put as much salt down as we get snow. I've done some searching for the stock polished 5 spokes and people want an arm and a leg for a set. I have stock white ones that came on my white gp (97) and I'm definitely not fond of them. I'm still working on painting some crosslaces gloss black with a polished lip. I't looks good but i'd still rather have some polished 5 spokes. I think I may work on stripping these white ones. If I end up doing it, I will let you know how they turn out. You're in Marion eh? Do you go to larue ever? I used to go every friday for test and tune.

I haven't been there for a LOT of years. I've never ran anything there, though.

Let me know how your 5 spokes turn out - I'd be really interested. I really believe that once they're stripped, a guy could use some microfinishing compound on the bare metal and shine it up. I know it will take work, but I would think it could be done. The corners would be the toughest parts. The leading outer corners where the brake dust seems to settle is where I mean.

the only think i'm worried about is if they are anything like my trans am wheels were. underneath the paint the aluminum itself had a pitted texture to it. That would require sanding correct?

Well as long as u don't mind doin the work its worth it. And I mean work. I stripped,primed,painted black, and clearcoated my 18" wheels for like 60 bucks. Bought all of this stuff from oreillys. Its not factory perfect but if u spend a good solid day doin the work its worth it. Mine look great. Look up the videos on how to paint ur wheels on youtube.

Originally Posted by Bio248

but if you clear coated them with an automotive clear after you polished them, then all you would have to do is wax them like the ones on my car.

That's the effect I'm looking for. I'll still wax them, but I prefer no clear, so I can polish them if needed. I wash ours off every day in the winter, anyhow, on our trucks. One more set will only add a few minutes.