Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

Trans Am Information => Trans Am Information => Topic started by: SoonerTA on April 22, 2009, 08:40:31 PM

Title: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 22, 2009, 08:40:31 PM
I just started cleaning up my rims and it looks to me that there is NO paint on the rims.  Is the argent grey color so close to the aluminum color that I may not be able to tell??  Were some rims not painted? 

On another note...I started to clean up the back on one of my rims and WOW, I was just testing out my polishing skills before I started on the front and it looks amazing.  I can't wait to do the fronts. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Hitman on April 22, 2009, 09:17:25 PM
Yes, some rims were not painted and left bare aluminum.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 22, 2009, 09:38:04 PM
Thanks Hitman for the help.  I guess that takes a huge step out of this process...

I guess another question would be...Would it look better if I painted my wheels?
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: jphillips3333 on April 22, 2009, 10:21:13 PM
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  White car, nice Argent Silver wheels would look nice .... or perhaps a matching blue inset (for the bird color) might look nice ...

(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll178/jphillips3333/Snowflake04a.jpg)
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 23, 2009, 06:22:51 PM
I like the idea of them being painted.  Makes the wheel look finished. 

Does anyone have a close up picture of the Argent grey on there wheels. 

Also...blue would look pretty cool.  Thanks for the pic jphillips333
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Hitman on April 23, 2009, 09:07:01 PM
Here is one:

(http://www.78ta.com/fpics/a9481450.jpg)
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 24, 2009, 10:01:18 PM
Thanks Hitman

That wheel just looks more finished than mine without the paint. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: RainMan on April 27, 2009, 01:06:01 PM
I like the idea of them being painted.  Makes the wheel look finished. 

Does anyone have a close up picture of the Argent grey on there wheels. 

Also...blue would look pretty cool.  Thanks for the pic jphillips333

I'd send them to Hitman and get them polished to a high gloss for that chrome look ,inside the snowflakes and all .
Brett loves polishing I hear
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Eagle 1 on April 27, 2009, 01:13:33 PM
Hey SoonerTA, I live a little over an hour north of Austin in Goldthwaite, which is 36 miles north of Lampasas.
We are having a car show in our park on May 9 with no entry fee and several awards.
I hope to see you there.   
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 27, 2009, 09:11:27 PM
Hey SoonerTA, I live a little over an hour north of Austin in Goldthwaite, which is 36 miles north of Lampasas.
We are having a car show in our park on May 9 with no entry fee and several awards.
I hope to see you there.  

I would really like to show my car but I have the whole rear suspension of the car ripped apart.  I do not know if I will be able to get it back together in time.  I could...but I don't know if I will have the time. 

BUT I would really like to attend the show.  Where exactly is it and when does it start?  Also, keep me posted on any other shows or anything going on.  I want to get involved.   Thanks for the invite!
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 27, 2009, 09:14:43 PM
Back on the topic real quick...I was thinking about painting the inside of the wheels black.  I have seen a couple that way and it puts a real depth to the wheel.  What do you guys think??  On my white car?   
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Joker (§ir£Ðragon) on April 27, 2009, 09:20:33 PM
Back on the topic real quick...I was thinking about painting the inside of the wheels black.  I have seen a couple that way and it puts a real depth to the wheel.  What do you guys think??  On my white car?  

I like that look. That's my plan as well assuming my car will still be salvageable after everything going on.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 27, 2009, 09:30:49 PM
Back on the topic real quick...I was thinking about painting the inside of the wheels black.  I have seen a couple that way and it puts a real depth to the wheel.  What do you guys think??  On my white car?  

I like that look. That's my plan as well assuming my car will still be salvageable after everything going on.

Whats going on, if you don't mind me asking? 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Rick on April 27, 2009, 10:12:27 PM
I'm not Larry, but he's dealing with a major flood up where he lives.  He got caught in the unfortunate combination of a big snow melt perfectly timed with a large amount of rain.  The end result has been a 100 year flood (only happens on average every 100 years), and most of his town is underwater.  Municipal water and sewer systems are out of order, and his shop (unluckily located close to the river) is in large part underwater.  All in all an unfortunate and very messy situation.  Larry now has a completely different opinion of a river-front view... :-\
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Eagle 1 on April 27, 2009, 10:52:11 PM
Hey SoonerTA, I live a little over an hour north of Austin in Goldthwaite, which is 36 miles north of Lampasas.
We are having a car show in our park on May 9 with no entry fee and several awards.
I hope to see you there.  

I would really like to show my car but I have the whole rear suspension of the car ripped apart.  I do not know if I will be able to get it back together in time.  I could...but I don't know if I will have the time. 

BUT I would really like to attend the show.  Where exactly is it and when does it start?  Also, keep me posted on any other shows or anything going on.  I want to get involved.   Thanks for the invite!

Take 183 north from Austin to Lampasas, then stay on 183 north to Goldthwaite.
You will pass the show in the park as you come in to Goldthwaite on 183.
The show begins at 8:00 am and should last until approximately 4:00.
There is also a show in Copperas Cove this weekend at their park.   I dont remember the name of the park, but its on the northwest side of town.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 28, 2009, 07:41:21 AM
Thanks Eagle1 for the directions.  I am going to try and make it up there, with or with out the car. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Joker (§ir£Ðragon) on April 28, 2009, 08:50:04 AM
Back on the topic real quick...I was thinking about painting the inside of the wheels black.  I have seen a couple that way and it puts a real depth to the wheel.  What do you guys think??  On my white car?  

I like that look. That's my plan as well assuming my car will still be salvageable after everything going on.

Whats going on, if you don't mind me asking? 

I'm not Larry, but he's dealing with a major flood up where he lives.  He got caught in the unfortunate combination of a big snow melt perfectly timed with a large amount of rain.  The end result has been a 100 year flood (only happens on average every 100 years), and most of his town is underwater.  Municipal water and sewer systems are out of order, and his shop (unluckily located close to the river) is in large part underwater.  All in all an unfortunate and very messy situation.  Larry now has a completely different opinion of a river-front view... :-\

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/SirLDragon/shophouse/Flood09/DSC_0069.jpg)

This was taken on April 20th   Happy birthday to me.  :-\
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 28, 2009, 09:37:59 AM
Back on the topic real quick...I was thinking about painting the inside of the wheels black.  I have seen a couple that way and it puts a real depth to the wheel.  What do you guys think??  On my white car?  

I like that look. That's my plan as well assuming my car will still be salvageable after everything going on.

Whats going on, if you don't mind me asking? 

I'm not Larry, but he's dealing with a major flood up where he lives.  He got caught in the unfortunate combination of a big snow melt perfectly timed with a large amount of rain.  The end result has been a 100 year flood (only happens on average every 100 years), and most of his town is underwater.  Municipal water and sewer systems are out of order, and his shop (unluckily located close to the river) is in large part underwater.  All in all an unfortunate and very messy situation.  Larry now has a completely different opinion of a river-front view... :-\

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/SirLDragon/shophouse/Flood09/DSC_0069.jpg)

This was taken on April 20th   Happy birthday to me.  :-\

hey §ir£Ðragon  I am so sorry.  That is aweful.  I know exactly how you feel.  Back in '94 north east Houston, Tx had a huge 100 year flood and it was devistating.  Our house got 5' of water in it.  Again, I am sorry and I know things will get better. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 29, 2009, 06:01:21 PM
Does anyone know of a good rattle can out there I could use to paint the inside of my wheels black?  I think that is the color I am going to go with.  It gives the wheels some depth, I think. 

The reason I am asking is that I do not have a spray gun.  I guess I could go out and buy one and then get a good PPG paint.  Just thinking out loud...
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on April 29, 2009, 06:08:14 PM
just curious what do your wheels look like now?
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 29, 2009, 09:25:37 PM
just curious what do your wheels look like now?

(http://www.78ta.com/gallery2/main.php/d/8681-1/IMG_2951.JPG)

They are 15x8 snowflakes with no paint at all.  I am in the process of polishing them right now and thought they didn't look finished.  So, I was thinking about painting them.   

Sorry the picture is so far away I didn't have a close up on hand.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on April 30, 2009, 09:40:29 AM
I really like the way the car looks. Nice tint. I just wish I could find a way to polish mine right up. Yours look nice and shiney. I also wanted to do black in the inside of wheel.I have 15x7's
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 30, 2009, 01:03:47 PM
I really like the way the car looks. Nice tint. I just wish I could find a way to polish mine right up. Yours look nice and shiney. I also wanted to do black in the inside of wheel.I have 15x7's

Thanks...Yeah, I think the black would look really good with a white car.  You should see the wheels now.  They look like mirrors. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on April 30, 2009, 03:18:12 PM
if you have the time can you tell me exactly what you used and how you used it? I wanna do mine but dont want to ruin nice wheels. What grit of paper or kind of polish or dremil and all that. If you have time I mean.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Joker (§ir£Ðragon) on April 30, 2009, 03:20:14 PM
I really like the way the car looks. Nice tint. I just wish I could find a way to polish mine right up. Yours look nice and shiney. I also wanted to do black in the inside of wheel.I have 15x7's

Thanks...Yeah, I think the black would look really good with a white car.  You should see the wheels now.  They look like mirrors. 

Wanna do mine next? :P
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on April 30, 2009, 06:16:19 PM
if you have the time can you tell me exactly what you used and how you used it? I wanna do mine but dont want to ruin nice wheels. What grit of paper or kind of polish or dremil and all that. If you have time I mean.

I will sit down tonight and write it down.  I wish I could take credit for it but I just followed Hitmans Advice...http://www.78ta.com/resto/rims.htm
I didn't follow it exactly but they turned out awesome!! He goes into all the polishes to use and I just added a final high gloss polish compound I found at the hardware store.

I really like the way the car looks. Nice tint. I just wish I could find a way to polish mine right up. Yours look nice and shiney. I also wanted to do black in the inside of wheel.I have 15x7's

Thanks...Yeah, I think the black would look really good with a white car.  You should see the wheels now.  They look like mirrors. 

Wanna do mine next? :P

HAHA...It really wasn't that bad just tedious (sp? I am not a great speller haha) I just took one wheel at a time. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on May 01, 2009, 10:20:42 AM
I didnt know he had all this posted.this will do. Thanks.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 02, 2009, 07:07:16 PM
I didnt know he had all this posted.this will do. Thanks.

Hey no problem.  I wish I could have taken the credit but Hitman did ALL the leg work. 

On another note.  I am about to paint one of my rims black.  I will post pictures and get everyones input.  I hope it looks good.  Just doing the one to see how it turns out for now. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on May 03, 2009, 01:23:55 PM
are you going to mask off the front and paint from the back? that seems to "sound" like the easiest way
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 03, 2009, 03:37:43 PM
I have not thought of doing that.  I was going to mask off the tire and the outer rim of the wheel.  I have spoken to a couple guys here and they say to just spray the wheel and wait till it gets tacky.  Then use laquor thinner and wipe down the spokes.  The paint comes right off if they are polished.  I will try a couple ways and see what happens.   
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Grand73Am on May 03, 2009, 03:48:09 PM
I don't think you'd be able to get the paint to reach all the outer surfaces from the backside.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 03, 2009, 08:00:55 PM
I don't think you'd be able to get the paint to reach all the outer surfaces from the backside.

I agree...I just went to take a look and you wouldn't have a good angle to get total coverage. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on May 03, 2009, 09:24:12 PM
so just mask off and take a razor and cut all the over hanging taper off? better to take tape off when paint is wet or maybe tacky so it doesnt stick to paint?
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 03, 2009, 09:52:24 PM
so just mask off and take a razor and cut all the over hanging taper off? better to take tape off when paint is wet or maybe tacky so it doesnt stick to paint?

From what I have been told.  You do not need to tape off the spokes.  You can just wipe them clean with laquor thinner.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Justin on May 04, 2009, 10:52:28 AM
sound messy.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 04, 2009, 05:59:34 PM
sound messy.

Your telling me.  I am going to take on the project this weekend.  I will keep you posted and take a lot of pics. 
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Hitman on May 04, 2009, 09:41:13 PM
I use the wipe clean after paint with thinner.  I do it after each coat of paint.  I do the primer.. then wipe the spokes clean, do the first coat of gold, then wipe the spokes clean, etc.  So, I wipe the spokes clean after all the coats of paint because it is easier that way.  If you wait til the end after all of the coats of paint, yes it takes some time and sometimes tough to do.  But, if you do it after each coat, then it comes off pretty easily.  I usually do one coat of primer, then about four light coats of paint cleaning the spokes off after each coat.  Then the clear.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 04, 2009, 10:00:16 PM
I use the wipe clean after paint with thinner.  I do it after each coat of paint.  I do the primer.. then wipe the spokes clean, do the first coat of gold, then wipe the spokes clean, etc.  So, I wipe the spokes clean after all the coats of paint because it is easier that way.  If you wait til the end after all of the coats of paint, yes it takes some time and sometimes tough to do.  But, if you do it after each coat, then it comes off pretty easily.  I usually do one coat of primer, then about four light coats of paint cleaning the spokes off after each coat.  Then the clear.

Thanks Hitman...How long do you wait after you paint to clean them off?  Right away, when they are tacky or when it had dried?  Also when you applied the multiple coats of paint, do you let each coat dry or do you spray them wet?   

Thanks again for the help!!
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: Hitman on May 04, 2009, 10:29:57 PM
I do it right away.  As soon as I am done with the coat on that rim, I wipe it clean, then do the next rim... and so on.  And yes, I wait for each coat to dry (about 30 min) before I do the next coat.
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 05, 2009, 10:04:55 AM
I do it right away.  As soon as I am done with the coat on that rim, I wipe it clean, then do the next rim... and so on.  And yes, I wait for each coat to dry (about 30 min) before I do the next coat.

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Another snowflake rim color question??
Post by: SoonerTA on May 06, 2009, 10:13:41 PM
Well guys...The plan was to get a coat of paint on my rim this weekend.  But it may half to wait, do to me getting my suspension kit in this week.  I will get back to it SOON.  Just very excited about the pro-touring f-body kit.