Clean wheels are one detail that separates the real automotive enthusiasts from the wannabe crowd. When restoring an older muscle car, the factory-correct stylized steel wheels can be brought back to a concours showroom condition in an afternoon with little more invested than some elbow grease and a few rattle-cans of spray paint.
While doing a show-quality restoration, many musclecar owners are confronted with wheels that are pitted or rusty to start with. To maximize new paint adhesion and ensure its longevity on these worst-case-scenario surfaces, media blasting is the first step. Many restorers then paint the wheels. However, this requires that the tires be hand-mounted—tire-mounting machines will scrape the fresh paint from the top edges of the rims, defeating the restoration project. If the wheels are media blasted, a light coat of primer will suffice as a rust inhibitor until paint can be applied.
Cleaning the wheels is the first and most important step before painting. You will need Brillo or SOS-type soap pads, Scotch-Brite pads, Simple Green or a similar degreaser, 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper, and a hose.
Author: Jim McGowan
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