Chroming Aluminum Wheels

[BigRed]

Hehe Just came back from my Stalker thread and Nicholas B posted a picture of a white S.Vette with my wheels or similar.

Im wondering how much $$ does it cost to chrome a wheel (or set)? Someday soon I'll replace em and use these for racing but in the mean time I think this would add HUGE looks to my car!

Can't be that expensive can it?

 

[6 Shooter]

BigRed,

Heck, what's 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Hundred Dollars to make your favorite Red Head look better?

My neighbor 93 Polo, had his wheels polished, it cost him around $250. They were pitted and had some nasty curb action and other road rash issues going on from previous owner's.

Now they look like chrome !

His Vette is not a daily driver and is garaged. He polishes them every now and then, but that's just part of keeping his girl looking good !!!

6 Shooter

 

[WhalePirot]

For about the same money or less, your wheels can be polished. Chroming will last some years, but I'd expect it to start chipping as ones I've owned have.

Polishing seals the pores in the wheels and will last for some time with minimal MX.

 

[BigRed]

Cool thats what I'll do then. The previous owner must have felt his hood was to big because the front wheels are chewed a little bit.

Lucky me Im surgical with a angle grinder. (4 years on the end of one will do that to ya)

Im going to buck off the rubber and grind off the chew then flap wheel for the finish. When Im done all you'll see is a little bow in the metal. (Alot better than curb rash)

(Remember Im replacing them eventually)

From there I'll take em to a shop (Have to find one) and get a Quote for both Chroming and Polishing.

I REALLY like the Chrome but if its insane price I'll polish em if not I'll do the chrome.

I don't care if it only lasts for 3-5 years (Pbly more because Im a seasonal Vette driver), Im replacing them LONG before that time and these will be considered FANCY racing rims hehe.

 

[C6 CRZN]

wheels

I had my wheels polished, I think they turned out nice. If you don't want to grind the curb rash the people that polish the wheels should do it all for the same price. I am the neighbor that 6 Shooter was talking about.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

yea I have chrome ZR1 knock offs.. they came with the car they are chipping one or two of them is getting bad with a couple chips the size of a dime.. How do they remove chrome? I am thinking of having them polished instead or just re chromed now shure yet.. something I am looking at doing within the next couple of years.. and I'm low on cash because of the trans job I'm doing to it..
-Rick

 

[Vettelt193]

You can actually polish the wheels yourself if you have some time and a couple power tools on your hands.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

You can actually polish the wheels yourself if you have some time and a couple power tools on your hands.

True but what would you use to get the chrome off? I mean what is the perferd method?

 

[tntcorvette]

my understanding is that you cant re-chrome wheels, but then again I found a place on the s.w. side of Chicago that will rechrome my wheels for a couple of hundred dollars.

Due to the bonding/chroming process I do not think the chrome can be removed. If it can then i'de like to strip my chrome wheels and polish them.

Or better yet, trade them for a set of polished ZO6 rims. Yeah, thats what I wanna do before I hit daytona beach in the spring '03

 

[BlackNBlue95]

Can't afford new wheels, the trans job is kinda killing my budget... Just something I was thinking of in the future... Thats my goal to go on vacation down there in spring too.. if my trans ever gets together and works.. damm automatics... LoL no I like both stick and auto.. atleast I'm getting to learn alot from this second rebuild..
-Rick

 

[Vettelt193]

I am not sure about polishing chromed wheels... maybe someone else will chime in

It is easy to polish a regular aluminum wheel though, with some time on your hands.

 

[tntcorvette]

I dont think chrome wheels can be polished due to the chroming process.

 

[Vettelt193]

that is what I was thinking

 

[Jack]

Aluminum is porous ... kinda like a sponge. Polishing helps. But if it's OLD USED aluminum it's had plenty of time to soak in grease, grime, detergents, polishes & schmutz. You can polish the surface out & it'll be fine for a while. BUT ... I don't suggest chroming OLD USED aluminum as those impurities can leach back out & cause the chrome to bubble & then lift. Have had this happen ... and seen it elsewhere many times. New aluminum ... go ahead & chrome. OLD USED aluminum ... don't chrome. Personally, I prefer the lustre of finely polished aluminum to chrome.
JACK:gap

 

[Vettelt193]

don't foget, C4's have a clear-coat or powder-coat on the aluminum wheels.... that is stripped first, so it should be a stain-free wheel even used.

 

[klb76]

I have been kinda following this thread hoping the answer would come up but it hasn't yet... could I have my steel wheels chromed? What kind of shop would I have to find to do it, and what kind of price am I looking at? I know this is in the C4 section but it seems like you guys would know the answer.

klb

 

[BigRed]

I don't even have the stock wheels for my C4 I have these Prime Slanted 3 star wheels. These are the ones Im after. One wheel had a little coffee stain (Not serious) and the rest just have the be grinded.

When I polish them up they look like new so that being said can I consider then "New" aluminum and have them done?

 

[Vettelt193]

I have been kinda following this thread hoping the answer would come up but it hasn't yet... could I have my steel wheels chromed? What kind of shop would I have to find to do it, and what kind of price am I looking at? I know this is in the C4 section but it seems like you guys would know the answer.

klb

I know ford makes chrome plated steel wheels from the factory... I don't see why you couldn't, but am not an expert on chrome

 

[Bonnell]

Polishing Aluminum Wheels

Hi Everyone,

I recently purchased a 1988 Coupe (White/Flame Red) and now that it is idling well I'm having a great time.

My wheels are aluminum with the Corvette symbol in the center. All four have some degree of pitting. If you stand back and look at them, it really looks like road grime but it is pitting.

Can this be polished out? If so, what kind of place do I search for to have this done? I live outside of Little Rock, Arkansas so I probably don't have much to choose from but I don't even know where to look.

Thanks,

J