How big of a project am I looking at

[bergeron37]

I want to refinish/paint my wheels to restore them to their stock appearance. 12 years of New England driving will do this to you, especially buying used. Can anyone tell me how much I'm looking at possibly to have this work done and if it would be easier/more cost efficient doing it myself.

I don't really have the ability to take all 4 wheels off at the same time because I don't have any jack stands. If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

Is this even worth it at this point or do I just say **** it?

Pics:

 

[jam46283]

Well if you can get all of the dirt/filth off of them and buy a jack to take one off at a time you'd be looking at about 2-4 hours a wheel depending on how many layers you wanted to do and what the paint drying time would be. Obviously it would make more sense to do them all at once but if you don't have access to a lift or 4 jacks then you don't have too much of an option. Were you going to try to do a clear coat or paint them a different color?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

yikes, yours look like mine did. really, with that flaking paint and no doubt some pitting you will discover, your looking at many hours of tedious brushing, sanding, cleaning, brushing, cleaning, sanding.... plastidip was the route i took. brush them down with a wire brush, maybe a scuffing pad then spray away. you can use a pack of playing cards to wedge into the bead/rim lip area instead of taping the whole thing up. otherwise, take it somewhere and tell them what you want, but be prepared $$$. i spent a total of $20 to plastidip mine.

 

[Steve240]

imo I would not pay anyone to do that work. It looks like a lot of sanding but doable on your own. Paying someone just in hours will be more than finding youself a set of new rims and swaping your tires over.

 

[Supra725]

When I painted mine.. I brought an second set of wheels and took my time with it..

first off. pressure wash it with simple green followed by an day of sanding it down with the help of the air compressor.. then clean with it with paint thinner and to remove debris and then spray..

honestly.. it took me several days to do it and it cost me some where around $50-$60..

 

[bergeron37]

Thanks for input guys, this is pretty much what I was fearing.

I guess I will have to try and locate 4 jacks to keep the truck up. This is my DD so I want to get this done in 1 or 2 days tops. I'm also worried about tackling too big of a project for me to handle. Oh well I guess we'll have to find out.

Also, anyone know what the deal is with cleaning painted wheels. Obviously regular wheel cleaner won't cut it for fear of taking the paint off. Thanks again guys.

 

[KHoffRunner]

Also you could sand them and what not while still on the vehicle. That would save you some time without being with wheels

 

[Doc2012]

You could sand blast them too. That would cut some time down..... I used a wire wheel on a drill with mine, and then painted them with self etching primer, then two coats of Rustolem Rim Paint, followed by two or three coats of Satin Clear. Holds up really damn well to the mud and stuff I put my rims through, as well as the tire cleaner at the DIY carwash.