Any suggestion for color on these vintage aluminum mage wheels?

[68Gold/white]

Look'n good in the Chevrolet Neighborhood!!!

Those bowtie centers look good. Another thought is to take the center caps to a sign company that makes vinyl lettering. They could make the round pieces, with the bowties. Making them any color you want. AND...make some spares for future use. THey are not difficult to apply...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Look'n good in the Chevrolet Neighborhood!!!

Those bowtie centers look good. Another thought is to take the center caps to a sign company that makes vinyl lettering. They could make the round pieces, with the bowties. Making them any color you want. AND...make some spares for future use. THey are not difficult to apply...

Interesting thought. The guy who refinishes a lot of my parts can fabricate most things. He can even make a badge if you want him too. Former cop of all things.

Originally Posted by special-K

Those look great! I bet rattle can flat black would stick well all over

The '72 SWN I was going to rebuild, but sold to start from scratch on the '67, had these wheels painted black. I hated them. Ugliest looking wheels I ever saw. If they were wider than stock (never cared for custom wheels that aren't wider) I would had taken then down to bare like you did. I had similar wheels on my K2500 a while. They were so dirty they were almost black. I got them clean using Scothbrite, wheel cleaners, and even fine sandpaper. I like the dull clean look of aged aluminum wheels

These wheels were painted with between spokes. Horrific job but boy did it stick. Tempting to spray bomb for sure

I just spoke to the guy who's powder coating the wheels (clear:bling2): I only polished the wheels to 300 and satisfied. Anyway I asked him about finish grit, and he's talking 600 or so. I was surprised to hear as much as 2000 grit (what the?). Apparently he went to a top school for powder coating and his equipment top notch. I can say everything he's done for me is top notch.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by special-K

I love the clean raw aluminum. I would also powder coat clear. If you want to put some work into them, just polish or even sand to fine grit on the faces of the fins and bead area. Polish to shine or at least just sand to smooth

Love the polished look also. It will pop in the sun. I had a set of those cyclones on a 78 Camaro when I was a kid. Biggest thing I did not like about them was they are the same color all around. Doing them in a dark with matching the truck somehow, black always looks good.

Or if your doing the truck in Blue a deep dark metallic inside the fins would make it pop even more!

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Options are endless, some really neat ideas.

I've been talked into clear. I like the idea polishing/sand spokes and bead. It will suit the caps I've already got, though in hindsight some black in that chrome would look better. Could paint the caps, "matching" blue caps might look trick.

I have something similar on my truck now, they do not last. Pita China Chrome. Looks like junk now. Rusted and pitted. especially inside.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

I have something similar on my truck now, they do not last. Pita China Chrome. Looks like junk now. Rusted and pitted. especially inside.

I can see why, cheap junk. I think I paid $50 for the four.

[toolboxchev]

They went about 2-3 before problems started, Winters up here are wet. I tried to keep wax and polish on them 2 times a year.

[Killer Bee]

looking great! am I next?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

looking great! am I next?

That's my goal right there, I have a few holes to match too Are those 9.75"

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Just picked these up from the powder coat guy. Ordered tires yesterday, can't wait.

The picture doesn't do these justice, he does nice work. Dude only wanted $100 after having to do one over again from scratch, I met him at $170. He has a tendency to run cheap knowing I always give him more I think that's code for what's it worth to you.

[Killer Bee]

looking great!

what size tires?

btw, late reply, mine are 15 x 8.5 Westerns..

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

looking great!

what size tires?

btw, late reply, mine are 15 x 8.5 Westerns..

9.50R16.5 for 16.5 x 8.25 Westerns.

[Warrens69GMC]

Nice!

[Ol Blue K20]

Very nice

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Had them installed Monday, strange the difference, somehow the truck appears smaller and more manageable. Surely it's more practical. My steering box could be tighter for sure, but I noticed it handled better on the freeway with the 9.75", though better low speeds with the 8.25". Works for me, I don't drive it further than 5-15 miles anyway, and this aint no metropolis.

As mentioned I did this because I don't want to spend $450ish a tire for fat mags on the rear. Heck, the truck was only 3K. When all said and done the new wheels and two tires cost me $900 anyhow Pending trying to sell off the old for couple hundred bucks.

I have to get the blue bowtie stickers Tim mentioned for sure, the guy showed me a chrome valve stem, he ends up installing yellow gold instead No big deal, the more flash the better the contrast, the pictures don't do the body rust justice.

Go figure yesterday the battery dies just as I arrive home. Suited two trucks 6-7 years, I don't need to test it. When it rains it poors man, just bought one for my Tundra and it needs tires too.

[Warrens69GMC]

Looks great!!

[Ol Blue K20]

I like 'em they look good.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Thanks, it's definitely my dog's and mine preferred driver. The newer vehicles where everything works can sit

[Warrens69GMC]

Not sorry to say it, But you have more pride in your ride!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Not sorry to say it, But you have more pride in your ride!

Probably so, plus these trucks are the cat's meow. Still doesn't mean I'm fixing anything I don't have to on it. It would be a huge project bringing this truck back, lots of patches I can't do, and I'd need to buy my first torch to remove a lot of it. I like it simple, if I need headlights, heat or wipers I'll use another vehicle

It was a beauty off the showroom no doubt. Supposed to be light blue and dark blue top. The truck had everything short 4x4, roof lights and bumper guards too. Some cool parts I needed for my C10 as well

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Thanks, it's definitely my dog's and mine preferred driver. The newer vehicles where everything works can sit

Very Nice! Makes the old $3k beater look like a million buck$.