Painting steel wheels

[jono]

Unfortunately the chrome plating was too far gone so I have had the wheels blasted back to bare metal

I was going to do them one colour but did like the 2 tone nature of the originals. Any thoughts on painting the rims silver and centres black to try and 'replicate' the original scheme?

Is there a silver paint which is almost chrome effect which might be 'passable' or is it better to stick with a std silver painted rim and black centre or perhaps to just paint the entire wheel silver?

Cheers for any comments.

Jono

[RichC]

just did my wheels silver as per standard on early +2 . someone else had painted them black in middle which is I presume a later style... more difficult to keep looking smart i would think, but would look right on a later model. not sure when the new paint scheme kicked in. do you have the push fitr chrome embellishers? that would help cover up any dividing line between black and silver...
RichC
p.s. this week getting the kids to paint up the later manifold u sent me

[Elanintheforest]

My BDA Plus 2 has black wheels with 'rimbelishers' which looks OK, if you like that scheme! You are right Rich that this colour came in with the later cars (the 'S' I believe, but with chrome rims and black centre), but many early cars, like mine, were updated to this scheme. Mine will be going back to silver.

An alternative Jono is to fit a nice set of the Lotus Alloys, which were an optional extra for the 'S', and standard on the 130

Mark

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Not much help regarding colour but a tip I got from the man in Reddich who blasted & powder coated my steel wheels.
Apparently the blasting can reach areas which the paint doesn't.
His advice was, after painting, to run a bead of clear silicone around the joint line where the rim meets the centre to prevent moisture getting in there & starting the corrosion once again.
Many years ago I bought very bright silver paint in spray cans from Halfords to paint wire wheels. They almost looked like chrome & would have looked even better with an additional coat of clear laquer.
Try Demon Tweeks I'm sure they have a modern equivalent.

Cheers
John

[jono]

Cheers guys,

My car is a May 1970 Plus 2 S -I think the chrome wheels were original?

I am going to Tigerseal the joint in the rim prior to painting.

Mark -I am going to fit Minilites when the car hits the road - anthracite black with polished rims, should look nice

Rich - hope the manifold is okay for you. Nice to see you have gone down the MM driveshaft route - just fitted mine, they are indeed lovely

Jono

[Jason1]

just did my wheels silver as per standard on early +2

Hi Rich

Can you post some pics of the painted wheels, I am interested as to how the silver paint looks. Did you use Rustoleum Hard Hat #2115 Aluminum?

Jason

[RichC]

hi Jason ,
yes i did . The wheels were in a shocking state with the black having been put on v cheaply. probably hadn't been touched for 30 years (very rusty!). i rubbed 'em down by hand , used few coats primer, then the rustoleum ~2115 bright aluminium .I finished off with a coat or two of clear lacquer & i did it in the heat of June & probably rushed it a little ( working on wheels is not the most interesting of jobs) cos i ended up with a very slight , even wrinkle finish effect!
Purists will probably blench at the idea that i left the weights in-situ, but as the PO had put on brand new tyres I wasn't going to mess about with taking them off & starting again- i just did some v fine masking of tyres & painted over the weights, as you can see! ( Uh! , just noticed there isn't a weight on this wheel ..)

[Jason1]

Hi Rich

It looks good to me, I like the colour, the paint on mine is also very thick; I am going to get the paint stripper out and give it a go.

How many cans of spray did you use for 5 wheels?

Jason

[Roy Gillett]

[quote="
An alternative Jono is to fit a nice set of the Lotus Alloys, which were an optional extra for the 'S', and standard on the 130

Mark[/quote]


Hi Mark,

It is not my understanding that the alloys were standard equipment on the S130. Certainly my S130 is on steel wheels.

Roy

[M.J.S]

[quote="
An alternative Jono is to fit a nice set of the Lotus Alloys, which were an optional extra for the 'S', and standard on the 130

Mark

Hi Mark,

It is not my understanding that the alloys were standard equipment on the S130. Certainly my S130 is on steel wheels.

Roy[/quote]


My late 1972 registered 130/5 was also originally on steels Roy, I aquired my set of alloys later. I do recall seeing an options list from 1972 listing alloys for about ?40 a set if memory serves.

Mark S.

[M.J.S]

By the way if anybody is interested I do have a set of 4 brand new 13 inch chrome rim embellishers I bought at a classic car fair a few years ago but never used. Now I have alloys they are gathering dust somewhere in the garage. I recall there are a few scratches from the clips where they had been taped up together but it's obvious they have never been on a car. Would want about ?50 including the post if anyone interested.

Mark S.

[Elanintheforest]

Mark, you're right, when the 130 came out it was on steels as standard with the alloys optional. I think that the alloys were optional on the 'S' as well. At some time in 73, I think, the steels were dropped altogther. I guess that the car was being run out by then so maybe the steel wheel contract wasn't renewed? Or maybe just everybody wanted the alloys.

Mark

[trw99]

At some time in 73, I think, the steels were dropped altogether.

Mark

The 11 May 1973 factory price list (http://www.lotuselansprint.com/Document ... y%2073.jpg) still lists the centre lock alloy wheels as a ?35.75 cost option for the +2S130. I don't have any price lists for the period after that, though.

Tim