steel wheel help
 

Does anyone know where I can buy a new set of 16 x 8 or 16 x 10 / 8 lug wheels without powder coat? I want a stock type wheel, so I can use the factory dog dish hubcaps.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I almost pulled the trigger and sent a link to Wheel Vintiques at Summit Racing, but then my reading comprehension skills finally kicked in and I realized you want wheels WITHOUT powdercoat, which don't appear to exist readily for sale.

Any reason why you want to avoid powdercoated wheels? The two sets that I've purchased are wonderful, and bare steel wheels would require some sort of protection either way. Might as well have the factory do the application.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Well, I want them in white and I have no experience in painting over powder coating, not even sure it's possible?

Re: steel wheel help
 

They can't powdercoat in white? I think the only way to get wider wheels is to buy the custom ones from Wheel Vinitque.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I've looked around quite a bit, and haven't found any in white., black must be cheaper to produce. How wide are the stock rims? 7"?

Re: steel wheel help
 

I think most are 6" or 6.5"

Re: steel wheel help
 

I would contact Wheel Vintiques and speak to them about what you want/need. They have the wheels you want (8 lug 16x8) and I'm pretty sure they can just primer them and ship so that you can then either paint or powder coat them.

Wheel Vintiques: 1.877.458.2412

Re: steel wheel help
 

Nope. I did just that last year and they only come in black. It's because that's the arrangement they have with thier Chinese supplier. I have no respect for Wheel Vintiques.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I wasn't aware Wheel Vintiques stuff was made in china, I won't be buying from them. Looks like I'll end up going to an aluminum or chrome spoke wheel, might get lucky and find a USA made wheel.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Other potential options:

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/

http://www.petepaulsen.com/home.html

Both are located in the valley in CA.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I remember Stockton Wheel from way back, didn't know they were still going, probably my best bet. Too bad GM never made a 16"x 8- 8 lug rally wheel. Thanks for posting.

Re: steel wheel help
 

You most definitely can paint over powder coating.

Just scuff the areas that you want to paint, hit it with epoxy primer, then whatever color you want. If you use an epoxy like the PPG epoxy you can shoot the BC/CC the same day, some others like Tamco's epoxy you have to wait a day.

Painting over powder coat is a great way to protect those hard to get at shapes like a wheel.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Powder coat wasn't around the last time I picked up a gun, still have my Binks #7 hanging on the wall. ( don't laugh) Thanks for clearing that up!

Re: steel wheel help
 

Summit doesn't sell them? I could have sworn I saw a some there looking for wheels...time to double check....

Re: steel wheel help
 

I believe some factory 8 lug wheels were 7" with the nubs also

Re: steel wheel help
 

I'm told that the widest stock-type rims available from a junkyard are some Ford van rims at 16" x 7". They are said to fit Chevy hubcaps.

I've got wheel vintiques 16x10 rims. They're black. I was told after-fact that WV could have special ordered them in white. True or not, I don't know.

Re: steel wheel help
 

That's what I was thinking also.
GM's center hole is smaller but they are interchangeable.

Re: steel wheel help
 

my notes from a few years ago..

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/ Javier 800-959-2100 ext. 625
81 & 82 series 8x6.5 pattern only option [11 5/8” wheel cover]
http://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels...ack-8-lug.html
http://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels...ug-chrome.html
custom offset $25 ea
custom paint $50 ea [powder coat white]
6 week delivery made to order in house


and numerous accounts of Ford 16x7 working just fine..

I actually have a couple of sets but can't even get them painted with all the rain here in 'sunny' ca :rolleyes:

Re: steel wheel help
 

Well, nothing wrong with an old Binks. For one set of rims, it's probably not worth buying a new gun unless you want to.

If you are in Northern California, you could bring them over to my house and I'll shoot them, I even have the epoxy as I buy it by the gallon. Of course you'll have to do the prep!!

Re: steel wheel help
 

Ford E350 rims are 16x7, some will hold the stock Chevy/GMC dog dish hubcaps and some only take the larger 16" hubcap. I put a set on a 1977 K20 I sold three years ago and have another set for my current 1978 GMC K25. both sets I have would not take the dog dish hubcaps, bet in both cases I am fine without any.

The stock GM rims were 16x6.5 for the 1980's square bodies.

Re: steel wheel help
 

x2. This is valid info as of 2019.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I have 2 ol’ number 7’s hanging on the hook. That is all I ever used after learning to paint with one 40 years ago....guess we are in the same club

Re: steel wheel help
 

I had a bout with cancer 30 years ago, doctor recommended staying away from body work. I took his advice and had no issues since, next scan is in April. I better forget the dog dish idea and buy chrome.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Just use a rattle can. As stated, scuff the PC, wipe it down w/degreaser & spray the color of choice. Done.

I've used rattle cans to color coat for my steelies over the 30+ years I've been tweaking my rides. Never had an issue that couldn't be easily addressed. Over bare steel, over PC, over old OE paint.

Rattle can paint can chip/scratch.
Paint gun paint can chip/scratch.
Chrome can rust/scratch.
PC can chip/scratch.

Which is easiest to spot repair in a moments notice?

Re: steel wheel help
 

As Killer Bee mentioned WV will custom paint most basic colors. But they don’t offer free shipping like Jegs or Summit does. Plus add the extended lead time.

I had em blasted and powder coated white by Les Schwab for $40 a wheel.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I've painted 3 sets of powder coated wheels from Wheel Vintiques. Used a red 3M pad, single stage, and a cheap spray gun, they came out slick and shinny.

Re: steel wheel help
 

That powder coat on the Wheel Vintiques steel wheels must be just a primer. It has no gloss to it and it scratches through with ease. If they didn't say it was powder coat I would not believe it was. Coarse sandpaper cuts straight through to metal with ease, like a single stroke. It sands off better than most spray bomb paint.

If you want USA wheels you can get original GM wheels widened. The guy who bought my Highlander K/20 sent out a set of GM wheels (hub centric) and had them made into 17 x 9s. It ain't cheap, but it also ain't Chinese

Re: steel wheel help
 

I'm going to check with Stockton Wheel and see about widening my stock ones. Shipping is going to be high though.

Re: steel wheel help
 

When I had wheels done by Stockton it was twice as much as just purchasing a new set through Wheel Vintiques (via Summit Racing). It was also 5x as frustrating….

Your dime. Your time.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Powder coating (applied correctly) should not sand off that easy. That sounds more like an "e coat" but I have never heard of wheels having an e-coat applied.

Re: steel wheel help
 

The ones in my possession don't seem like they're powder coated but they definitely have some type of sealer/primer coating.

Re: steel wheel help
 

WV advertises their series 82 8 lug OEM style wheels as being proudly made in the USA, not china.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I read that as well, but then I've also heard that sometimes their wait times are a few weeks to months out because they are "awaiting a shipment". Maybe its a "Assembled in USA" from overseas steel...

Either way its an American company, with solid customer service in my experience, that provides great vintage steelies for our rides... I myself have bought 3 sets from them and never once had a problem.

Free shipping from Jegs right now and a few bucks in spray paint and you're on your way. No sure if you have a Les Schwab tire shop where you're at but they did my last set, sand blasted and powdercoated white for $40 a wheel.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ba6ff121_c.jpgUntitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e8975a44_c.jpgUntitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Re: steel wheel help
 

last time I called wheel vintique's for a quote, the delays were due to component manufacturing lead times.. they don't build every series all the time, they run in batches.. I suspect if they were made overseas they would be piled deep and wide..

Re: steel wheel help
 

Wheel Vintiques prices really jump up after the 15" sizes.

Their 18" rims look to cost more that Detroit Steel's, but I haven't priced out either one with all the trim rings, center caps, clip installs.

Detroit Steel's smalled diameter is 18" and I want 17s. Not 8-lug as I have a '63 Suburban and am probably going to change over to 5-lug 5x5s.

US Wheel's look to be less expensive but I think (from my very limited research) that they are made in China or "offshore" somewhere.

Growing up in the Bay Area, I used to use Stockton Wheel years (and years and more years) ago. But after a few attempts just to get some simple answers out of them such as "Do you have 17s and if so how much?" I just gave up on them.

Re: steel wheel help
 

Hey ShortHaul, what back space wheel are these? Thanks in advance!
Sven

Re: steel wheel help
 

4.00 backspace on 8" wide wheel.

Re: steel wheel help
 

I checked w/Wheel Vintiques on the lead time for some 17" wheels. They told me mid to late December (that was 2wks ago).

If someone wants specific vs. standard back-spacing, it could be a decent wait time.