OEM Wheel Modification Thread
My friend (doc2278) just painted his 18'' touring wheels bronze so thought I would post to show u guys. I will be painting my as well but I'm going with gunmetal. Sorry not the best pics taken with my cell phone.
So this is more the "how many colors can I paint my stock rims" thread than the "stock rim modification" thread... what happened to the guys with custom widened OEM rays, polished rays, people sitting on stockers with spacers and a drop,etc.? Most of these painted wheels look worse than OEM in my opinion.
Hey guys, I like the work most of you have done on your stock rims. My question is this. What brand spray paint did you use, and how long has it lasted?? I plan on using automotive black and a spray gun. thoughts?
So this is more the "how many colors can I paint my stock rims" thread than the "stock rim modification" thread... what happened to the guys with custom widened OEM rays, polished rays, people sitting on stockers with spacers and a drop,etc.? Most of these painted wheels look worse than OEM in my opinion.
What else can you do to a rim to make it a mod other then paint it?
Rays Track Mod
Hi,
I just purchased these wheels from another member, and they are in good condition except the curbing mark on the lips. My future plan is painting them black with red lip. I'll keep them as is since they're still good, but thinking to paint the lip red for now.
I just want to see what you think before doing it.
Thanks.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3513971876_2acd6b6c54.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rays" /></a>
I just purchased these wheels from another member, and they are in good condition except the curbing mark on the lips. My future plan is painting them black with red lip. I'll keep them as is since they're still good, but thinking to paint the lip red for now.
I just want to see what you think before doing it.
Thanks.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3513971876_2acd6b6c54.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rays" /></a>
Last edited by 350Speed; May 8, 2009 at 02:24 PM.
There's a member on previous pages that has already done that... it should resemble the way you're picturing it. I personally just painted my track spokes graphite, and left a silver lip...
Last edited by jubes; May 8, 2009 at 01:35 PM.
^That is nice and clean. Forget painting the lips red or blue or anything. Go simple or they look horrible. I actually like the look of the 17" 03's (that and roads around me really wouldn't permit a low profile tire), so I will be powder coating mine a graphite color soon.
So jealous of the track rim guys....
So jealous of the track rim guys....
Getting my stock 03 track rims back in 3 days as well as my lights back a couple days after, Ill post pics when I get them back on the car. Candy Blue Brembos as well, black rims, smoked lights.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Myrtle Beach
I've started polishing mine. This one is almost done. Can't wait 'till I get the others done and drop it a little. If anybody knows any tricks other than plain ol paint stripper to get the OEM finish off, chime in.
you can use aircraft remover to strip the paint off, and then just worry about sanding it down and polishin it up rather then sanding the finish off... you can get ACR from pep boys in the paint aisle i beleive... i used it when i stripped my wheels on my old wrx
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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From: Myrtle Beach
Thanks! If you look close, there's some more detail work to do, like around the lugs, but I have decided to just paint that part black. I have also considered painting the inside of the spokes black. Not sure. May just have to try one and see how it looks.
Yea That's the kind of stripper I used and it ate off the top layer of paint with no problem. It would only soften the lower layers at best. I got a little impatient and used a wire brush drill attachment which removed the coating but also scratched the metal. It probably ended up making more work for me because then I had to also polish out the scratches left from that. When I do the next one, I plan on finding a tray large enough to set the wheel in and soak it in paint remover over night and see what that does. I know its prob gonna take a couple of gallons, so I would rather just find something stronger than aircraft remover. As a side note, I got a kick out of reading the directions on the aircraft remover. It says "DO NOT USE ON AIRCRAFT". LOL.
Yea That's the kind of stripper I used and it ate off the top layer of paint with no problem. It would only soften the lower layers at best. I got a little impatient and used a wire brush drill attachment which removed the coating but also scratched the metal. It probably ended up making more work for me because then I had to also polish out the scratches left from that. When I do the next one, I plan on finding a tray large enough to set the wheel in and soak it in paint remover over night and see what that does. I know its prob gonna take a couple of gallons, so I would rather just find something stronger than aircraft remover. As a side note, I got a kick out of reading the directions on the aircraft remover. It says "DO NOT USE ON AIRCRAFT". LOL.
Okay sorry the the image size, but taken with my iphone and much too late to resize them 
Rims and Calipers came out really nice. The last picture of them together on the car is really shaky and bad quality I apologize and I will get better ones once the car is all set and I bleed the brakes.
Caliper color is candy blue/Rims are black with 15% gloss. Powder coated.
Like I said I will take better pictures and full shots of the car once it is off the stands. I only got to the rear brakes tonight, waiting to get the bleeder valve hole tapped (stripped at powder-coating place) so I can rebuild that one and throw the front back on and finally bleed the brakes to get the car back on the road. Lemme know what you think so far. The last picture doesn't do it justice, its bad quality and I was beat from doing this all day.
More soon. Hopefully tomorrow or the day after.
Rims and Calipers came out really nice. The last picture of them together on the car is really shaky and bad quality I apologize and I will get better ones once the car is all set and I bleed the brakes.
Caliper color is candy blue/Rims are black with 15% gloss. Powder coated.
Like I said I will take better pictures and full shots of the car once it is off the stands. I only got to the rear brakes tonight, waiting to get the bleeder valve hole tapped (stripped at powder-coating place) so I can rebuild that one and throw the front back on and finally bleed the brakes to get the car back on the road. Lemme know what you think so far. The last picture doesn't do it justice, its bad quality and I was beat from doing this all day.
More soon. Hopefully tomorrow or the day after.
Thanks! If you look close, there's some more detail work to do, like around the lugs, but I have decided to just paint that part black. I have also considered painting the inside of the spokes black. Not sure. May just have to try one and see how it looks.
Yea That's the kind of stripper I used and it ate off the top layer of paint with no problem. It would only soften the lower layers at best. I got a little impatient and used a wire brush drill attachment which removed the coating but also scratched the metal. It probably ended up making more work for me because then I had to also polish out the scratches left from that. When I do the next one, I plan on finding a tray large enough to set the wheel in and soak it in paint remover over night and see what that does. I know its prob gonna take a couple of gallons, so I would rather just find something stronger than aircraft remover. As a side note, I got a kick out of reading the directions on the aircraft remover. It says "DO NOT USE ON AIRCRAFT". LOL.
Yea That's the kind of stripper I used and it ate off the top layer of paint with no problem. It would only soften the lower layers at best. I got a little impatient and used a wire brush drill attachment which removed the coating but also scratched the metal. It probably ended up making more work for me because then I had to also polish out the scratches left from that. When I do the next one, I plan on finding a tray large enough to set the wheel in and soak it in paint remover over night and see what that does. I know its prob gonna take a couple of gallons, so I would rather just find something stronger than aircraft remover. As a side note, I got a kick out of reading the directions on the aircraft remover. It says "DO NOT USE ON AIRCRAFT". LOL.
