Considering Chroming FM/5's

[HuggerC8]

No matter what I type of wheel cleaner and aluminum polish I use on them, they look dirty within 2 days. I'm highly considering dipping them in chrome, anyone use wheel cleaner that proves worthy.

Thinking about it I have only seen one ride with chromed Fikse but they were FM/10's. Anyone...........

Johnny

 

[EricVonHa]

Johnny, I've got a set of the FM5's as well. They are a biyatch to keep looking nice. I agree with you 100%! On Fikse's website they recommend using only Simple Green and not touching the wheels at all during cleaning. So, for the longest time, I used to use compressed air for drying them off. Now, they were just too far gone and the finish was starting to dull. They just didn't look mirror shiny like they did when they were new.

So, what I did was pick up one of the Eckler's polishing kits for a high speed drill. Let me tell you what! It takes a good 2 hours per wheel-- and they look just as good as new! It's tough to get in the joint where the spider center section meets the outer rim half-- but for $50 and some elbow grease-- it beats the heck out of sending them to Fikse for many hundreds of dollars to get them re-finished. -E

 

[HuggerC8]

Johnny, I've got a set of the FM5's as well. They are a biyatch to keep looking nice. I agree with you 100%! On Fikse's website they recommend using only Simple Green and not touching the wheels at all during cleaning. So, for the longest time, I used to use compressed air for drying them off. Now, they were just too far gone and the finish was starting to dull. They just didn't look mirror shiny like they did when they were new.

So, what I did was pick up one of the Eckler's polishing kits for a high speed drill. Let me tell you what! It takes a good 2 hours per wheel-- and they look just as good as new! It's tough to get in the joint where the spider center section meets the outer rim half-- but for $50 and some elbow grease-- it beats the heck out of sending them to Fikse for many hundreds of dollars to get them re-finished. -E

I tried several different brands of all-purpose cleaners and nothing seems to last more than 2 days. I'm still searching for that Vette with the chromed out FM/10s but it looked hot! I've always been a chrome fan so riding on aluminum finished wheels is still new territory for me.

Also decided to upgrade to GM's 847 cam, my CC305 just wasn't enough anymore. I heard nothing but positive results/stories from guys using this cam. Too bad I'll never be able to call my the C8 the fastest in the World.....I'm sad now!! Hint Tony!! LOL Take care

 

[Jeffvette]

Personally I would not chrome them. They are made of a high grade aluminum and polish out rather nice.

 

[FX GS]

No matter what I type of wheel cleaner and aluminum polish
Johnny

Have you tried Mother's BILLET metal polish? I used it on some underhood pieces and it is incredible.

 

[HuggerC8]

Have you tried Mother's BILLET

I will try some Zaino car polish this weekend and will make my assessment from there. Now that I'm picturing this chrome in my head with my hugger in FM/5 design, it might even spice it up some more. I'm thinking since its a high grade aluminum material, it demands more frequent washes/polishes. Can someone photoshop some chromed out FM/5 on my recent pictures?

 

[EricVonHa]

If you're using a multitude of hand polishes and not getting results... it's time to move up to the machine polishing method. What I've found with my Fikse's is that they stay pristine-- as long as you continually take the brake dust off of them. If the wheels get wet for any reason- it destroys the finish when the dust bonds with the bare aluminum. Also, repeated stops from 140mph will permanently embed crap onto the bare aluminum. So, in other words, go slow, clean often-- and/or go to Eckler's for one of their pro wheel polishing kits.

 

[FX GS]

What I've found with my Fikse's is.............. go slow,

:cry That sux!!

 

[SurfnSun]

Why not polish them up and have 'em clear coated?

 

[*89x2*]

No matter what I type of wheel cleaner and aluminum polish I use on them, they look dirty within 2 days. I'm highly considering dipping them in chrome, anyone use wheel cleaner that proves worthy.

Thinking about it I have only seen one ride with chromed Fikse but they were FM/10's. Anyone...........

Johnny

Johnny, you might find this thread interesting: :eek
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47790

 

[SurfnSun]

www.zoopseal.com

 

[HuggerC8]

SurfnSun,

Are you currently using zoopseal on your Dymags? I'm using simple green which is suggested by Fikse it works fine but I might go your direction with the product you mentioned. Thanks for letting me know...............take care

Johnny

 

[SurfnSun]

No, its not for magnesium. I am however going to use it on my intercoolers when I get them polished. Supposedly it fills all the pits in the metal and makes a semi hard shell.

Its a tossup how long it will last on wheels. For aluminum parts that don't take any abuse, polish it, zoop it, and you wont' have to worry about it for 3 years.