40th Anniversary Shiny wheels

[WLS Ruby 93]

Some Ruby pictures are really great and I enjoy just looking at this car let alone driving it and being a new picky owner I have many questions about car care so here is one.

Some owners have really shiny OE wheels and mine are not. After cleaning them with a couple of "Environmentally friendly" cleaners they still don't have that sparkle.

Are my wheels a bit dull because of years of a lack of maintenance or can they somehow be brought back to sparkling?

Keep on cruisin'
Bill

 

[CSS996]

How shiny? Coz some folks are running chrome plated or maybe polished sawblades. They were not OEM, but there are plenty out there.

Here is how mine looked the day I bought it, after a thorough detail. Are yours like this, or not as bright?

Earlier sawblades, say from a '92 have a more machined finish. Perhaps somewhere along the line, someone put earlier wheels on your car? Do you have the ruby center caps on your wheels?

 

[WLS Ruby 93]

Wheels

Yes, I do have the Ruby center caps and I could be a little over the top with a shine fixation. When I get a chance I need to take a close up photo and post it but I can't seem to get the hang of placing a picture in a posting.

Thanks.

Bill

 

[CSS996]

Cool. I'd love to see pix!

And I may have my terminology wrong. I am thinking the machined finish is what the '93 and later had. The earlier sawblade finish was more of a cast finish. I think I've got that right now...

Anyway, the early sawblades (was it '91 and '92?) had a more dull, rough finish. The '93 and later were a smoother, more shiny finish.

Sorry for the misinformation.:bash

 

[kenmack]

mothers

Buy some mothers polish (white creme)little tub.
Take a rough nap cloth(face cloth) and go for it.You'll be amazed how shiny they get but you really gotta use some elbow grease.

 

[Dad2BJO]

These are NOT my wheels pictured but this is what I am looking for.

Are these the shiny wheels you were talking about WLS????

 

[GS Diva]

These are NOT my wheels pictured but this is what I am looking for.

Are these the shiny wheels you were talking about WLS????

Those are definitely chrome wheels which were not original to the car. No amount of elbow grease and polishing will make the factory wheels look like that, but the work you do will make yours look better.

Let us know how you make out.

Elaine

 

[WLS Ruby 93]

Thanks guys,

About a week ago I started working on the wheels using Mother's polish and elbow grease. The wheels have the 40th logo center cap and as far as I can tell are original to the car. After the first go around I can see a marked difference already so this winter when the weather gets nasty I will take one wheel off at a time placing them on a work bench, (so no bending over), then clean them up front and back .

Thanks for the help.

Keep 'em rollin'
Bill

 

[kenmack]

You will find

The more you polish, the more satiny the finish gets.Clearcoat has a shiny satin finish,raw aluminum just gets shiny,eventually chrome looking.
Do take care not to buff through the clear coat,I've never done it but I suppose it is possible.
Post some pics here if you can when complete.