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Fri Aug 01, 2003 9:23 pm

what's the cheapest way to restore my 1973 superbeetle rims.?

Fri Aug 01, 2003 10:42 pm

Take a wire brush that fits in a drill and clean the rim. Then primer and color with spray paint. If you do nice light coats and give each coat enough dry time with a good brand it will look great! It's better with no tires and valve stems. Good luck!

Sat Aug 02, 2003 7:47 am

Good tips by MeanI to get good results on a budget.

I will add this, when I do a rattle can job (VS the full resto/treatment)
if your not removing the tires...
you can use a grease pencil to mark where the wheel balance weights are and take them off and put them back ( or go have them re- balanced anyway.)

besides the wire brush on the drill, get some 80 grit DRY sandpaper if you have some real rough looking rust or old layers of paint. and get some 220 and some 400 grit WET/Dry and spray the rims with degreaser like Castrol super clean or other and wet sand them/keep them wet with that stuff on them, it will get the job done and remove any old greasy residue so the paint will really stick.

when nice and dry primer them and after dry/ cured, use a "scotch brite" pad to smooth the primer, blow the dust off wipe off with a damp LINT FREE rag or tack cloth and
I use the $4.00 a can Duplicolor Auto/Truck paint. ( light coats like MeanI says) I myself like the medium metalic silver, looks good on 68 and later rims... get 2 cans for 4 wheels , 3 if your feeling $$$$

this is the budget way, about 20 bucks in materials Elbow grease is free!
good luck! take your time, be paitient...

Sat Aug 02, 2003 7:48 am

Oh I should say mark the TIRE with the grease pencil where the weights are.

Sun Aug 03, 2003 1:34 am

and if ya need new hub caps ..i've got some cause i just replaced my wheels...in fact i did the rims exactly how these cause did so i've got stock wheels..white and new hub caps..if ya need em i live in utah if you wnat the rims the hub caps i can ship...5 buck a pop.

Sun Aug 03, 2003 1:35 am

WARNING>>>NOTE GOOOD SPEILLING THE GRAPHMER ATT TOO AM IN TEH MOURNING

Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:41 am

I did mine by hanging the rim from a rope using a plasic funnel with the rope knotted in it to hang the center of the rim. After sanding down, hang up the rim, and wind it up. Then let the rim spin and apply the spray paint while it spins.
You get an unbelievably smooth and even finish this way, even with rattle can paint.

Sun Aug 03, 2003 9:40 am

Thats a cool trick J!

Once I had an idea to weld a spindle/drum on a pipe an stick it in an engine stand to use for the grinding and prep/ painting etc., but I never did get around to it.