DIY - How to paint 370z Wheels! (J's Garage Blog)

JordoKAP

I created a little how to paint wheels.

It is also posted on my blog site I've been working on. The site is still new, and I'm adding content daily. www.js-garage.com

please keep checking it out. Tons of cool how-tos, photos, videos, and information that simply just need to be added to the site.

How to paint Car Wheels

************** About the color, I know these are just base wheels, do I just wanted to do something a little different **************************

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This is a step by step “how to” showing how to paint car wheels.

Materials Needed
Floor Jack
Lug Wrench
4 Jack Stands
2-3 Cans of Paint (depending if your doing entire wheel or not)
2-3 Cans of Primer (depending if your doing entire wheel or not)
2-3 Cans of Clear Coat
200-400 Grit Sandpaper
1000-3000 Grit Sandpaper
Masking Tape
Newspaper
Bucket
Dial Soap
Sponge or Wash rag
Cotton Towel
Screw Driver

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Getting the wheels of the car!
Step 1
While car is still on the ground, use the lug wrench to “break” the lug nuts. Simply just a few turns on each lug will loosen them enough for when the car is on jack stands.

Step 2
Find the cars mounting locations and use jack to lift the car on each side. Set the jack stands under each mounting location on the vehicle.

Step 3
Use the lug wrench and un-tighten and remove each lug nut. Remove each wheel from hub.

Photos of progress:



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Prep work before painting
Step 1
Push out center caps using screw driver

Step 2 - Cleaning
Pour water into bucket with dial soap

Step 3 - Cleaning
Using the sponge wash the wheels, make sure all dirt and tar is removed. The dial soap will help with tar, grease, and dirt.

Step 4 - Sanding
Using the 200-400 grit sand paper, start scuffing the wheels. This is the most important step in the entire process. This step can be very time consuming, but you want to make sure you get the entire wheel scuffed. This “scuffing” allows the paint or wheel to allow the paint to stick. Make sure you do the entire wheel and get all edges

Step 5 - Masking OFF
Cut strips of newspaper and being taping edges of wheels where tire the meets. Use the tape to slide under the lip of the wheel. Tape and attached news paper around the entire rim face. Also tape back if you plan on painting the inside of the wheel.

photos of progress:



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Painting
Step 1 - Priming
Shake primer well.Apply aerosol spray primer over clean sanded metal or plastic treaded with plastic parts adhesion promoter. Many primer colors are available for better paint coverage. Primer will fill 200-400 grit wet sandpaper scratches. Apply 3 or more coats waiting 5-10 minutes dry time in-between coats.

Step 2 - Applying color
Thoroughly shake the color spray paint before applying. Apply as many medium coats necessary to cover the area waiting 5-10 minutes between each coat. Each coat should appear uniform and dry between each coat. You may gently use a tack cloth between each dry coat of basecoat. Spray light dust coats if a metallic or pearl color looks too dark. Wait 30 minutes before using clear coat.





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Clear coating and Mounting
Step 1 - Cleaning
Using a cotton rag, whip off any debris or paint that did not stick

Step 2- Masking off Tire again
Using tape and newspaper again make the outer edges where tire meet the wheel

Step 3- Clear Coating
Shake aerosol clear coat well. Allow*30 minutes after base coat color has been applied*to apply the clear coat.*Apply 3-4 wet coats waiting 5-10 minutes in between coats. Each coat should look wet and glossy but not dripping. Wait one day to use wax or rubbing compound. You may sand out orange peel and light texture, or dust imbedded in the clearcoat film with 2000 wet sandpaper and then use rubbing compound to bring out the gloss. Do not wax for 30 days.

Step 4- Remount Tires onto Car
Remote the tires onto the car, place close attention to torque specs of lug nuts. (refer to vehicles owners manual.)



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Before


After

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