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Author
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Topic: cleaning aluminum wheels
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70SportsRoof
Gearhead Posts: 854
From: Glendale, AZ...soon Orange County, CA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 04-10-2003 06:53 PM
   
I've got an old set of American Racing Outlaw I's on my car and was wonderng the best way to bring back a like new, or close to new finish. The wheels have been on for a few years, so they are showing thier age, but budget says I can't get new ones yet. So, what do you all recommend to clean them? Cleaners, sprays, polishes...etc? Most things I have tried don't really clean them up too much.------------------
Gary M.-
1970 Mustang Deluxe SportsRoof (daily driver), 1946 Ford pickup, 1947 Ford pickup, 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Vic
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Fastback68
Gearhead Posts: 1880
From: Sucat, Paranaque, Philippines
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 04-10-2003 08:57 PM
There are shops out there with buffing wheels just for this kind of job. I believe they're hard to beat.
And after that, I've heard of folks protecting the shine with urethane clear coat.
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BLstangin
Gearhead Posts: 398
From: South Central MN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 04-10-2003 11:37 PM
Mother's mag and aluminum polish is the best stuff that I have found for polishing aluminum rims, also you could wet sand them, this is was I did when I bought my used rims and they look like new.------------------
1970 coupe restored with the help of my dad. 302 with 600 holley, aluminum intake, headers, pertonix ignitor 2 with matched coil, lakewood bellhousing, 4-speed toploader, and 2.79 open 8" rear. Soon to be 9" 3.25 trac-lok
1986 f-150, 5.0, factory towing package with original c-6 trans
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johnmustang
Gearhead Posts: 4727
From: British Columbia , Canada
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 04-11-2003 01:09 AM
Best polish I have ever used on anything is called "FLITZ", should bring them back to life. JOHN  ------------------
65 2+2 FASTBACK
87 TAURUS WAGON
98 F150 XLT TRITON V8 4.6, 4 WHEEL DRIVE
Member:Vancouver Island Mustang Association
M&M #1710
MyPhotoPage
MY TRUCK
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68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 1175
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 04-11-2003 07:10 AM
I can?t remember but what kind of finish did the rims have? Did they have a high polished finish or a machined look?
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 04-11-2003 08:28 AM
All the stuff recommended here will work, but only with a lot of elbow grease.
I was the D/O of a large chain of car washes for a few years, and the industrial stuff availible is far better than any consumer product availible.
Try getting a product called 'Show Wheels' from a chemeical distributor if you can. It is sold by 'Castle Products', and industrial car wash and detail chemical company. They are headquartered in Rochester, New York.
The same chemical is sold by 'Wellworth Chemicals' in Buffalo, NY.
They are basically an HCL based cleaner (hydro-chloric acid), and you just spray it on and rinse it off. This stuff is very dangerous and poisonous, so be carefull. It will burn your skin, and inhaling it can really make you sick. I learned that the hard way. Its pink, so I wasn't too scared of it. Oh well...
It works amazingly well on aluminum and chrome wheels, and it makes bumpers shine like crazy! Good luck!------------------
1971 'J' code 429 Mach 1
1976 'Starsky & Hutch' Torino (460)
1973 Grande
1973 Mach
1973 Convertible
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 34763
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-11-2003 08:32 AM
I remember Castle products from my dealership days. That was good stuff! They also had some of the best glass cleaner I've ever seen, IIRC. {Crystal Glass?}------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19964
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-11-2003 09:54 AM
We have good luck with Mothers products.
As CV says though, it requires lots of elbow grease. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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70SportsRoof
Gearhead Posts: 854
From: Glendale, AZ...soon Orange County, CA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 04-11-2003 12:12 PM
The wheels are not polished, they have a machined finish on them, kind of like some new car aluminum wheels. So, it's not really polishing I'm trying to do, but more of a good solid cleaning. And then I can coat them w/ some kind of clear coat?------------------
Gary M.-
1970 Mustang Deluxe SportsRoof (daily driver), 1946 Ford pickup, 1947 Ford pickup, 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Vic
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mustangs68
Moderator Posts: 18494
From: Hampton,Virginia,USA MCA#39406 M&M #12
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-11-2003 05:14 PM
http://www.castle-comply.com/
sam
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 04-11-2003 07:00 PM
The 'Castle Show Wheels' product will clean those wheels great for you.
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