Powdercoating aluminum wheels

[jackyl9999]

I have a set of 18 coys that I bought instead of buying the gunmetal version of. They were backordered and I was not patient enough to wait. So now I would like to go to gunmetal.


Can aluminum wheels be powdercoated? Would I be better off to just order some new wheels and sell mine?

[Userone]

plasti-dip them

[jackyl9999]

I have been suggested that. I have seen one plasti dipped wheel and was not impressed. I'm afraid to waste money on something that I will not like the looks of.

I have looked online at some wheels that have been done and they look great, but how is the durabilty?

[CST10]

That truck looks awesome as is. I like the look you got going on now.

[AirSpeed]

Are those cast or billet? If they're billet you could have them anodized, some cast aluminum can be anoed as well, I've had some luck with parts I've cast myself, might be a cool look. You can powder coat aluminum, don't know if there's a translucent coating that would show the aluminum. They'd probably look painted. Check out the colors and effects anodizing has to offer, no idea what it would cost, I do small parts cheap but I don't have the power supply to ano that much surface area.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by jackyl9999

I have a set of 18 coys that I bought instead of buying the gunmetal version of. They were backordered and I was not patient enough to wait. So now I would like to go to gunmetal.


Can aluminum wheels be powdercoated? Would I be better off to just order some new wheels and sell mine?

Of course they can. They need to be blasted with walnut shells or soda first to give a 'key' to the surface but they powdercoat beautifully. When I ordered my Corvette it was supposed to have black powder coated wheels but someone dropped the ball and it was delivered with Painted Silver wheels. The Dealer sent them out to have them powdercoated locally and just got back today. Beautiful!

[Redline novdog]

I have done several sets of aluminum wheels. It all depends on the coating that is on them now.If they are powdercoated from the factory they can be cleaned and re powdercoated.If it is painted they will have to be stripped /cleaned then powdercoated.If it was me get a good paint and spray them if you don't know what kind of coating is on them.Believe me you will know if you powdercoat over paint!

[Chuck Burg]

Just my .02 I'd leave it the way it is, with the bright work on the front end of your truck it looks great, might see if someone can photo shop the wheels gunmetal so you'll get an idea of the finished look

Another .02 the gunmetal Coys, 383 and every other 5 spoke wheel that looks pretty much the exact same are way over done on these trucks, leave the polished.

[davepl]

Don't mess with it unless you're also doing the rest of the trim on your truck.

If the bumpers, side moldings, mirrors, grille, emblems and so on are all bright, I think the wheels should be bright too. And I like the way it looks now.

Then again I think the Vette above looks -way- better with the bright wheels. My teenage son, however, would (no doubt) vastly prefer the black.

I hope/plan to get a Z07 when the convertibles are no longer second-stickered. I'm torn on color for this very reason. There's so much black on the car with all of the venting that it sort of overwhelms the yellow (I have a yellow C6 Z06 now), so I was considering either buying a black one or having some of the black geegaws refinished in body color.

Edit: the more I look at it, the more I think the black wheels definitely -match- the car (which gunmetal on the truck would not). But I'm just too damned old, in my 40s, for black wheels.

Carpets should match the drapes.

[jackyl9999]

I understand what everyone is saying. I may just hold off and A) Buy intro's or something a little different or B) Save the money and make it quicker.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Whats wrong with a good scuff/prime/paint? I've spent the past two years dipping stuff, and still recommend paint or powder every time!