Sneak Peek ZQ8 Rim Redoux

[Mikz86TA]

Ive been wanting to do this for a while now and finally got a few hours a day to get it rolling.

I wanted to polish the spokes a bit more luster than they came from the factory. But didnt want them to look chrome.
I also wanted the insets to be a few shades darker than they came from the factory.

There are quite a few post on the net on polishing aluminum rims and a few specifically on the ZQ8's
But I will be doing my own thread soon and linking it to my S10Project thread.
I will cover a few OEM differentiations between the wheels. Show the clearcote stripping. Show the painting of the insets, taping techniques and some finishing details that can pop up. Then show my polishing of the spokes to a luster that I want.

B4 (after stripping clear and paint) :
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/Mikz86TA/Truck/Mods%20and%20Work/S10-Wheel1stripped1.jpg

Aft (painted insets but not polished or cleared)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/Mikz86TA/Truck/Mods%20and%20Work/S10-Wheel6paint2.jpg

On Truck with cap (rear is the new painted darker/front is stock)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/Mikz86TA/Truck/Mods%20and%20Work/S10-Wheel12comparison1.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/Mikz86TA/Truck/Mods%20and%20Work/S10-Wheel14mounted1.jpg

I have only done the 2 rears so far. Stripped and painted.
Ill be taking some better B4 pics of the fronts. Taking better pics than I currently have of the stripping process. Then I will at least be able to post up the start of the how-to thread with those pics.
At this point I am done with the rears. I will be playing catchup on the front pair (strip and paint).
After that I will jump back on the rears and start the polishing and than final clearcote.
Then back to the fronts to finish them as well.
Its a time-consuming process. Took me 4-6 hours to just strip the pair. Took about 3-4 hours this afternoon to clean, dry, tape off and paint the pair. So I have about 10 more hours of work to do the fronts in the next week.
Then it will take a good couple hours each wheel to polish and buff I am estimating.
IDK if I am just going to clear the painted surface or the entire wheel. I have to lightly wetsand what I painted on the insets (dirt nibs) B4 I clear also. So there is a good hour of work as well. LOL

[bespurcell]

Looks good. What's with the rear piece behind the tire missing?

[Mikz86TA]

Oh, I know its hard to tell just how darker the rear is from the front on that 3rd pic. But lemme tell you, it is definately noticable. Ill try to get some good daylight pics in the next few days of a similar shot. That way its a on-vehicle side-by-side comparison.

[Mikz86TA]

Looks good. What's with the rear piece behind the tire missing?

LOL! Guess I need to explain that.
So I was doing a burnout.......:D





J/K

Seriously. In 2005 I was rear ended by some stupid chick at a redlight because she was jabbering on her cell phone with her head up her azz. Amazing she got reception up there.
So they had to replace the rear bumper and the rt rear side step....along with some brackets. Of course they had to paint them as well.
Earlier this year, just the paint on the side step started to bubble up. I took it to them and they said for me to drop the truck off and they would repaint it. Well, I need my truck, so I removed it myself and took it to them.
I took it in last Monday (week ago). Got it back on Wednesday. Upon installing it, I noticed there were a bunch of fu<kups on it that were just unaccptable. So they got it back on Thursday and hopefully I will have it back by tomorrow.
It really looks like crap without it. Im tired of running around with it off. But what can u do...better than not having my truck for over a week.

[King_Ice_flash]

That thing needs to be lowered.

[firefighter]

X2 on the Lowered.

I like how it is subtly different and I'm also glad you didn't go for body color it never seems to work out IMHO. Looks good though.

[Bone Crusher]

Looks awesome Mike....

[bespurcell]

X3 on the lowered.

[Cameo_S10]

Looks good Mike!:D

[Mikz86TA]

THX.
It is lowered LOL

[Bone Crusher]

LOL

[stealthsuper]

I like that . Ive always liked the ZQ8 wheels.

[87wildside]

Looks good, wish they made them in 18" with different widths.
THX.
It is lowered LOLhahaha

[Mikz86TA]

X2. 19s and 20s

[King_Ice_flash]

Nah, this is lowered:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/nevinsb/IMG_1929.jpg

[stealthsuper]

see that looks sweeet

[King_Ice_flash]

With 2 chicks in the bed at one time.

[87wildside]

1" with a block.

[DMP]

Looks alot better. :cool:

[Mikz86TA]

THX


Yeah, its a stock ZQ8 with 1" block on the rear to level it. For some reason it looks higher in that pic....maybe cause its dirty? LOL

[87wildside]

THX


Yeah, its a stock ZQ8 with 1" block on the rear to level it. For some reason it looks higher in that pic....maybe cause its dirty? LOLNo bumper makes a huge gap to the ground and it's less weight. :bunny_125

[12sws27]

Mike, do your ears pop when you drive that thing around? :D I get nose bleeds in the Jimmy..

[Bone Crusher]

Mike got pissed off so he went and lowered his truck in 50 minutes flat
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/chirodude/S10-Wheel12comparison1.jpg

[firefighter]

Now that is too low. lol

[bbodycaprice]

LOL i wish i could work that fast.

[Mikz86TA]

Mike, do your ears pop when you drive that thing around? :D I get nose bleeds in the Jimmy..

Thats pretty clever....did you think of that one all by yourself?

LMAO:D

[Mikz86TA]

Mike got pissed off so he went and lowered his truck in 50 minutes flat
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/chirodude/S10-Wheel12comparison1.jpg

Def too low. But I wouldnt mind one inch in reality lower

[manofthehour114]

Looks great!
I think a 1" block in the rear would be a good idea.
I love your truck as it is though.
Where did you get those side mirrors?

[Mikz86TA]

Mirrors are StreetScene. Got them used from another forum. Power but not heated....but who needs more heat in Fla?

I got a stock ZQ8 suspension with already the 1" block in the rear to level it.
I enjoy it. But wouldnt mind 1" more all the way around for asthetics. Handling its great

[Mikz86TA]

I got most of my pics in order now. I stripped the last 2 wheels today. So I have them ready to go for the How-To thread.
So far I got before.
Before differences close ups of the OEM's and the Replacement wheel. Yes, there was a difference in the finsh between them.
I got some good pics of the stripper working (not what ur thinking).
Got pics of the wheels stripped clean.
Some side-by-side pics of all 3 (stock, stripped and painted) next to each other.
Pics of of the taping off process I have a few but will get more during the painting of the next 2.
I also need to get more pics of them during the painting process.
I got good after-paint pics in many varieties.
I also got some pics of some tips for final finishing of the edges to 'perfect' them.

Next process after getting the 2 painted is going back and wetsanding the cured surface for inperfections. Then onto the clearing process.

After that (or B4 depending on if I clear the spokes or just the painted part) I will be going over the polishing process of the spokes. Im not going to smooth the ridges that are machined onto the rims. Because Im not going for a chromed look.
I prefer a lusturious machined aluminum look. Kinda like the 2002 Anniversary SS wheels on the Camaro's. Dark background and polished machined surface.

[Mikz86TA]

And yes, I know the pic links on this thread are no longer working.

[Mikz86TA]

Here is a sneak-peek update.

I got all the pics over on the actual how-to thread working. So if you want to see the prior 'look' then go over there to view what all has been done.

Today I was able to complete one (yes only one!) wheel. From 400 grit on down to 1000. I may go to 1500 or 2000 on the next one and see if there is much of a difference.
I also polished and buffed it just before sundown. So this , tho its not the greatest picture, is pretty much a finished polished ZQ8 wheel.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/Mikz86TA/Truck/Mods%20and%20Work/S10-WheelTeaserPicture.jpg

I will try to have the details, steps and pics of the steps posted on the other thread by tomorrow. Im uploading them now.

[Cameo_S10]

Looks very nice!

[12sws27]

GOOD LoRD tHem things are shining! I like. What a difference! Good job Mike that looks really good.

[Mikz86TA]

THX =)