MGB: Knock Offs Respray

I just received my WW knock offs and they are not bad for what I payed for them. I would like to refresh them a bit from the old 1967 to a new 2009 look. I was thinking just a ole can of $3.99 chrome spray paint will do..? But I sure others have ideas..?

Won't hold up to a knock off or knock on. I'd opt powder coat or the correct rechorme. The highly metallic paints are rather sensitive to use. EASY to have runs or other problems Might work for a cheap route however. Take you time and clean and prep the used units....

Robert has hit on the best alternative in my thinking, having them powder coated. The selection of colors is amazing and probably shouldn't be too expensive.

Even powercoating is going to get beat up unless you use one of those wooden wrenches instead of a hammer to tighten/loosen them. And so-called "chrome" paint always looks cheesy...and won't last at all.

Just clean 'em up as best you can and live with the patina...

Thanks guys The WW themselves need attention maybe down the road I will get them powder coated

Powder coating will cost more than brand new ones, and won't hold up to more than one or two blows from a hammer. There really isn't anything you can do to refinish them that would make financial sense, unless they are stainless in which case polish them up.

For just a freshen up, a ratle can of silver and a can of clear would be OK.

Good points on the powder coat, I'm not sure that it will chip when using a dead blow type hammer, just don't know.

James, see other emails about powder coating wire wheels. The general feel (and I just asked a powder coating company the other day) is that one should not do it due to the risk of cracks between the spokes and the rims.

James, unless they're pretty beat up I'd just use some good chrome polish and a bit of elbow grease. I'll bet you can get them looking pretty good. As for keeping them looking good I recommend a plastic coated dead blow hammer for the knock offs instead of the leather, brass, or lead ones commonly used. Not expensive and they won't mar the knock off or the wheel if you miss with a blow, and the reduced rebound makes them easy to use. A 3 or 4 pound hammer works great.
As for powder coating the wheels, I agree with Stan, they'll soon crack around the spokes and then you have a problem getting the powder coating blasted off to redo them. Stick with paint for those.

Another reason to not powder coat wheels is that it hides cracks. I'm told this is why it is illegal to powder coat new wheels, although I've heard others argue the fact.

Just FYI, the 'lead' hammers do not mark, scratch or dent spinners. You can try all day and never make a scratch. I have one in every car and two in the tool box. :)

The knock off themselves, I'd just polish up the best you can. As far as the wheels, I just use inexpensive aluminum spray paint and a clear over the top. With the clear, it looks very close to what I feel is an original looking finish, and it holds up pretty good. Maybe not concourse, but fresh and clean looking.

Rod, any photos of the silver / clear you mention? Original wasn't really a shiny silver so if the clear flattens it out then that would be interesting.

I am curious as to whether the powder coating temporarily seals the spokes to centre/rim, then cracks and bares the blasted metal behind and rust stains appear.

Blasting usually goes further than paint does.

Yes, the clear does dull down the aluminum paint a lot, Steve. Without the clear it would just look wrong. Also wouldn't be very durable. I'm in Seattle area right now without the MGBs, so this is the best photo that I can come up with:



It's just the 97 cent Colorspray (I think that's the brand) that they sell at Walmart.

Looks great, Rod!

Pooch, you got it right. The powder coat will make a solid coating, and as you drive it will crack wherever there is significant flex. This happens mostly at the spoke heads and between nipples and rim. Water can then get in and cause rust. Depending on where you live this may or may not be a problem, but it's worth noting.

You might try some autosol shine metal polish.
This works quite quickly and leaves a hard wax surface.