new member with wire wheel questions

[Derek K]

Hi, I'm a new member to this site and it's great. Wish I 'd found it a long time ago.

I'm putting 15" spoke wire wheels from a MGA on my 1962 Lotus 7 I'm rebuilding and have a few questions:
1. what colour is the closest to the original Dunlop?
2. I started sand blasting them but it's taking forever and can't get everything. What are your thoughts on getting them dipped? (I know there is a residue left on them and they have to be super cleaned before painting)
3. I live in the Toronto Ontario area (the GTA) Does anyone know of a good tuner for them in this area. Some spokes sound out of tune.

I'm posting this on the Triumph MG and Austin Healey forums 'cause not many Lotus owners have spokes.

Thanx
Derek K

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Derek,
Welcome to the BCF and think the wire wheels will look great on a Lotus ! You can get the correct color paint from Moss Motors or Eastwood as they both sell a wire wheel silver paint. Also think several folks will chime in with paint code numbers from other sources that work too. I have used the Moss and Eastwood products and to me they work great. As to the sand blasting problem, maybe try media blasting where the media is actually a glass product. That will get anything off. I don't know about dipping but think it would work well if done properly, probably better than blasting.

Someone to tune the wheels is another big issue. Best guy I know of is Alan Hendrix in Greensboro, NC at Hendrix Wire Wheel. Alan is a great guy and can probably answer a lot of questions about getting your wheels set up properly, even if you get them done in Canada.

Good luck and post some pics back here in the Healey forum when you're done.
Regards,
Mike

 

[Derek K]

Thanx Mike
They problem with using Eastwood or Moss paint products is getting them across the boarder. We have strict rules on it. Some one said if we do order paint supplies, they will stop them at the boarder, and not allow you to ship them back, thereby lossing what you spent.
In the good old days before the ban, I did order it from Eastwood and like the match.
Will post the pictures, hopefully by April or May when I get the poor thing back together.
regard
Derek

 

[Derek K]

Thanx Mike
The problem with using Eastwood or Moss paint products is getting them across the boarder. We have strict rules on it. Some one said if we do order paint supplies, they will stop them at the boarder, and not allow you to ship them back, thereby lossing what you spent.
In the good old days before the ban, I did order it from Eastwood and like the match.
Will post the pictures, hopefully by April or May when I get the poor thing back together.
regard
Derek

 

[Johnny]

Chrysler "bright silver" is also a very close to original color, should be able to pick a couple cans up at any auto store.

. Some use a darker silver but I prefer the bright silver, I believe Eastwood supply offers that color. I would use a good primer before painting other wise it'll just come off. Later, after painting make sure you use the rubber bands offered by Moss, and use inner tubes as well also available from Moss.

 

[TFR1]

Derek,
I have been involved with a powder coating company in the Southern US do 25 years.
We have a high temp burn off oven that reduces the paint on metal parts to ash. The part is not harmed and can be easily media blasted an painted.
Look for a local powder coater/ header coating company and see if they can help. Our burn off process reaches about 700°F.

My wheel color choice is 1975 Ford Granada silver.
Don't have the code at the moment. But you should be able to find it.

Good luck,
TFR1

 

[Derek K]

Thanx Johnny and TFR1
We had a powder coater here in town but he's not there now. Maybe he's moved. I'll have a look.
I'm getting lots of colour choices so it seems something that is close will do. There is still some paint on the rims so I'll have to try a can of each. Will let you know what I use.
If there are any GTA people out there I still need to find a local tuner
Thanx again
Derek K

 

[Derek K]

Found a local tuner, Toronto area, so thanx anyone who was going to respond.