Wheel painting questions

[snakebit31]

I have pretty much decided that I am going to paint the coupe a darker shade of blue with white stripes, split tail, and maybe meatballs, without numbers.(I have cling vinyl numbers)
I also am going to do the pipes white. I currently have Halibrand Cobra III wheels, chrome lip with grey spokes. My thoughts are to use a wire wheel on the grey to rough it up, then paint with a white wheel paint.

Anyone have any luck painting wheels, and do they hold up? I hate the thought of screwing up good wheels. I did consider powder coating, but after the quote to media blast the centers and coat the wheels, I could just buy new wheels.

Rob

[riptide motorsport]

properly prepped they will hold up fine.

[Russ Thompson]

Rob, what did they quote you? I know guys that have had their centers powdercoated for about $50 per wheel.

Like I mentioned I did paint mine and they are holding up well. Using PPG it did cost me about $300 to do it by the time I bought everything I needed. :-)

[snakebit31]

Hey Russ,
Blasting the center spokes, then masking to keep the chrome sides, coating only the spokes, about $1300. For that price, I would sell the wheels and buy the correct new wheels in white.
Probably going with the paint.
Rob

[mcmustang]

Painting wheels is easy, and unless you really screw them up, nobody will notice minor defects. Wheels get a lot of scuffs and brake dust, and most people don't look at them as closely as they do the body. I have used scotch brite pads and rattle cans to make wheels look pretty good. A little more care in the prep and some careful masking, and I think you could do a great job very inexpensively.

Mike

[Russ Thompson]

Rob, man, I don't blame you, that price is silly. I know it's now where nere that out here.

I'm happy with the job I did on my wheels and they have held up well, I have even trailered it a couple times and run straps thru them without any bad effect.