These are some pics of my polished stock rims. I don't have any before pics, but believe me they're a million times nicer looking now.

http://personal.smartt.com/~gbriere/polished.jpg

http://personal.smartt.com/~gbriere/carside2.jpg

http://personal.smartt.com/~gbriere/carside.jpg

Each rim took about 5 hours each. I can list the exact steps if anyone is interested.

 

nice 6000 it must fly

 

It's not that bad for a little 2.8. I do plan on building a 3.4 for it though. My camaro is just to hard on gas for a daily driver.

 

it is a 3.4 just not bored yet the 2.8 and 3.4 are same block

 

Nice. I need to polish a set of mags for my wife's Trans-Am. I did one wheel so far, and it does take time. Good luck with your car. Fingers

 

still looking for somebody who polished the stock salad shooters on their 93-96
but nice job on the rims, look sweet

 

Were those originaly Painted?

I'm looking at Stripping and polsihing my Sotck 5 stars this winter.

I'd like exact steps!

Thanks!

 

20 Hours of work?

I almost don't wanna say it but an electric or air powered grinder MAY have been able to knock about 19 hours off of that job. They do bling quite nicely though! Job well done!

 

how do you polish them? list the steps please.

 

Ok, here we go.

No 1. Air tools, would not have shaved 19 hours off. I used a very high end electric sander to "sand" the machine groves off the rims.

First step is to remove the factory clear coat. This is a clear coat of paint, sprayed over the aluminum to protect it from the elements. I used a product called "Tal Strip" This is very caustic, and is to be used with extreme caution. It's also known as "Air Craft surface remover". So, you put a coat on the rims (rims off car) and let it sit on the rims for 10 mins or so. After this point, blast it off the rims with a high pressure water rince. You may have to apply it a few times for desired effect. After all the clear coat has been removed, it's time to sand. This takes the longest out of all the steps. I started sanding with 80 grit sandpaper. Then I went to 120 grit. Then to 400 grit. And then finally 1000 grit sandpaper. The sanding took atleast 2 1/2 hours per rim. When I was satisfied with the sanding after the 1000 grit, I attached a polishing buffer wheel to my drill. This is where air tools would be nice. I buffed the wheels with the buffer wheel on my drill, using Mothers Aluminum polish, untill they were shinny like chrome. Like I said, this takes about 5 hours per rim, that is if you want to do a nice job. My stock wheels had machine groves in them, so I had to sand them perfectly flat, before I could polish them. If you don't have these groves, then your half way there. Just be careful using Tal Srip, as when it get's on your skin, it seriously burns. I used special gloves that were chemical resistant. Using goggles also, isin't a bad idea. Set aside a weekend to do so, but you'll be happy after. You can make them shine like chrome. Oh, and the last step is to add a nice coat of your favorite wax, as to protect the surface.. since you don't have a clear coat anymore. I used Mcguires Gold Class. It worked very well. Apply it once every month or so. If you need anymore help with the steps, just ask.

Hope this makes sence.

 

that sounds like fun! but it does look good! I think with the salad shooters this would take SOOO long, and i dont have access to these kinda tools, im still trying to get the oil changed on my car, and my dad wont let me touch my car, i know how to change oil, and he wont let me....his fat *** couldnt fit under my car so we have to get jacks or something.

 

Ffingers 79, i would like to see some pictures of your car.....could you send some to me ?? tspencer44@hotmail.com

thanks,
tony

 

i attempted to polish my old set of salad shooters. i used the tal strip, and i gave up during the sanding process. it was taking wayyyy to long, and i ended up losing interest. went through lots of sanding wheels and paper.

 

There is NO easy route to polishing. It takes a LOT of patience, perseverence, and hard work.

I polish parts all the time and have all the buffing wheels, rouge bars, etc. as well. It's the sanding that takes a lot of work. If you don't do it THOROUGHLY with each grit of sandpaper, it will show up down the road when you get to the polishing stage and you'll have to go back and do it over again.

 

Damn, that looks good!