Cleaning Alloy Rims? Fabricated Center Caps

[DanT]

From what I can tell, the alloy rims on the early wagons are true aluminum alloy rims? (Picture attached.) I have never cleaned alloy rims before, so could use some pointers on what to do... and what not to do. I also noticed that the center caps are painted plastic, so wondered if the caps should be removed first before using some of the wheel cleaning products.

I was missing two of the square center caps... and found a way to fabricate them... so will pass this along.

1)PLASTIC: The plastic used on computer cases has a similar texture to these square caps and is about the same thickness (about 1/8 inch). I cut a chunk of plastic off the case of a retired HP printer.

2) SHAPE: It is easy to cut and shape this plastic with a hack saw and then use a sandpaper block to angle the edges to duplicate the original. Did not take very long.

3) PAINT: I had a can of rustoleum aluminum paint around the house from an earlier project. After painting I was shocked to see how closely the fabricated caps matched the originals.

4) ATTACHMENT: I fabricated a "springy circle inset" like the ones on the originals to attach the square caps to the center holes by using a bicycle reflector and then cutting 6 "spider" legs out of the outside circle to closely match the originals. Used JB weld to attach fabricated "springy circle inset" to the backs of the square plates. This part took too much fussing around. It would be easer to just epoxy 4 legs on the back of the plate at a 90 degree angle. Then pull the wheel and attach the cap from the inside using plumbers putty or similar.

If anyone knows where to find these center caps please let us know. I assumed I would need to fabricate them after searching the net for a long time... but that was prior to joining this forum.

Dan T

[dlb]

there is a japanese import wrecker here and they found a few of the caps for me last year. if you want i could go check and see if they have any more for you.

[Petros]

Most of the aluminum cleaning products assume the surface of the aluminum is still in good conditon. It takes off dirt and oxidation that make it dull. After many years of oxidation however, even if clean it will not look good. It will have a dull mat and pitted surface. If that is the case (and likely at this age), the best solution is to mechannically scrub the wheels with some abrasive cleaner, steel wool or sctoch bright pads, and prepare the surface for repainting. You can either use the aluminum paint, or even better, plan for a matching two tone color that will match your car. I think a dull red or even burnt orange color would look best for your yellow Tercel.

[DanT]

Petros and dlb,

OK, just back from the car wash. (1:00 AM and 25 degrees here.) The alloy rims turned out really well. I took off each wheel and washed it individually and then put it back on. Used an aluminmun wheel cleaner by Eagle One. Then used a cool product called "never dull" that polishes up the metal. Have not used paste wax on them yet, but that comes next from what I have read. The aluminum has a metal flake appearance similar to the original alloy rim in the factory picture that I sent earlier.

Petros, these wheels are not from the yellow car that has been driven in teh salt and the slush in the east... which I realize now would explain the difference in condition. These wheels are off the 85, which is a western car that has never seen salt... with a nearly perfect body, and essentially no rust. (That is waiting patiently in the back yard now until spring.) Maybe I should be locked up in jail for this, but I am putting these nice alloy rims on the yellow 83 to drive in the salt this winter. The look great... for now?

dlb, Thanks so much for the offer to get those caps for me. If it is easy to do that would be great. Not a big condern right now, however, and those fabricated caps that I made appear to be holding up really well. I was even able to pop them out and pop them back in during the wheel cleaning.

Thanks again for the help with this. Petros, I see what you are saying now about those wheel cleanears working mainly for folks with nice wheel surfaces to begin with. These wheels do look nice. But I can see they are going to take more fussing around then the white steel rims that I have had on all of my other wagons.

[toughtercel]

Almost three years ago , I sandblast 4 rims which it take all the laq. film off , then air blow all the dust off really good and NO finger print on the rims where you plan to paint on , I bought spray cans are made for Alum. rim only , That time there were only 3 color to choose , last week i wash my car and the rims still look new .

[dlb]

bruce, you should post some pics here of your wheels. i remember seeing them when you came by and they were stunning. share!