anyone know of a rim paint that won't scratch when putting on hubcaps?

SonOfaTomP

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on my car i like alternating between full rim OEM hubcaps and dog dishes. only problem is when i put full rim caps on the edges of the rim gets scratched up. anyone know if this can be prevented?
 

Aspen500

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My wheels (Chrysler Rallye) are argent powder coated. Even that is scratched where the trim ring retaining "teeth" go so, regular paint is going to scratch even easier.
 

SonOfaTomP

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My wheels (Chrysler Rallye) are argent powder coated. Even that is scratched where the trim ring retaining "teeth" go so, regular paint is going to scratch even easier.
i used to have beauty rings that covered up the scratches when i had dog dishes on but i didn't like how they looked with white walls. i guess its unavoidable
 

BudW

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Any kind of a “gripping” hubcap or beauty ring will always scratch the paint/powder coat off and there is not much to do about it. The only recommendation I have is to have two sets of tire/wheels.

I finally got rid of the original 14” wheels on my wagon – but the ‘80’s M-body 15” wheels I have, are all scratched in the same area you mentioned (from hubcaps). I have no intention of putting beauty rings on the wagon.
Note: I wanted the same size tires for both vehicles and after I upgrade the brakes on the wagon, the 14” wheels won’t fit.

My long term goals are to purchase new 15” police wheels for both cars, but when I make that purchase, it will be a set of 10 wheels (two cars, with a spare each), but I have other projects to tackle before this project.

I have a set of snowflake aluminum wheels for the Fifth Ave, but I kinda like the bolt on wire hubcaps for that sleeper effect. The wire hubcaps will work with most of the police wheels I’ve seen (only seen a couple not drilled for the gold bolt on dome).
The dog dish caps will remain on the wagon.
BudW
 

SonOfaTomP

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Any kind of a “gripping” hubcap or beauty ring will always scratch the paint/powder coat off and there is not much to do about it. The only recommendation I have is to have two sets of tire/wheels.

I finally got rid of the original 14” wheels on my wagon – but the ‘80’s M-body 15” wheels I have, are all scratched in the same area you mentioned (from hubcaps). I have no intention of putting beauty rings on the wagon.
Note: I wanted the same size tires for both vehicles and after I upgrade the brakes on the wagon, the 14” wheels won’t fit.

My long term goals are to purchase new 15” police wheels for both cars, but when I make that purchase, it will be a set of 10 wheels (two cars, with a spare each), but I have other projects to tackle before this project.

I have a set of snowflake aluminum wheels for the Fifth Ave, but I kinda like the bolt on wire hubcaps for that sleeper effect. The wire hubcaps will work with most of the police wheels I’ve seen (only seen a couple not drilled for the gold bolt on dome).
The dog dish caps will remain on the wagon.
BudW
i currently have most M body caps. police dog dishes, pancakes, turbine and wire caps. i'd like to get a pair of 70s turbine caps with red centers used on lebarons. its nice to change things up when you don't feel like looking like an old police car. unfortunately i don't have the kind of property to be able to take off the whole rim and store em but it would be nice. i'd love to have police rims with blackwalls but be able to switch to whitewalls
 

Aspen500

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i wonder if powder coating would stand up better than paint. the other thing that comes to mind is industrial epoxy paint.
My Rallye's are powder coated from Wheel Vintique (sp?) and the trim rings scratch the paint almost as bad as regular paint. It sucks but since the rings are always on, not a problem.
 

High Speed Pursuit

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An old trick is to rub any kind of cooking oil or olive oil on the metal fingers of the hub cap or beauty ring side and also on the wheel to reduce the friction and drag while putting them on...its not a 100% prevention, but it does work. Use just enough, not a whole lot...wipe off any excess.
 

kkritsilas

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where can i get "industrial epoxy paint" especially in spray can form?

the type of paint I am talking about here:

Pro Industrial™ High Performance Epoxy - Sherwin-Williams

It is brush on, I have no way of knowing if it is available in spray form. Note that it specifically specifies abrasion resistance. It should be closely related to the factory paint used to protect factory allow wheels. From personal experience removing that type of paint from factory Mopar 5 on 5s, this is tremendously tough paint.
 
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SonOfaTomP

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the type of paint I am talking about here:

Pro Industrial™ High Performance Epoxy - Sherwin-Williams

It is brush on, I have no way of knowing if it is available in spray form. Note that it specifically specifies abrasion resistance. It should be closely related to the factory paint used to protect factory allow wheels. From personal resistance removing that type of paint from factory Mopar 5 on 5s, this is tremendously tough paint.
interesting. i'd need it in black. good to know thats out there. thanks
 

XfbodyX

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Umm, trim rings are meant to grip and dig. If you blasted the rim to bare you would see and feel the scratches in the bare steel, what makes you think a epoxy will be harder then the rim steel?

Make it too smooth and slick and you will need to buy trim rings by the box as oem ones on bare steel fly off easy with a bit of spirited driving.

I think your trying to obtain a result outside the possible boundaries.

Getting the paint off is easy, blast it or take a propane torch and burn it and wire brush it off.

But good luck.
 

SonOfaTomP

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Umm, trim rings are meant to grip and dig. If you blasted the rim to bare you would see and feel the scratches in the bare steel, what makes you think a epoxy will be harder then the rim steel?

Make it too smooth and slick and you will need to buy trim rings by the box as oem ones on bare steel fly off easy with a bit of spirited driving.

I think your trying to obtain a result outside the possible boundaries.

Getting the paint off is easy, blast it or take a propane torch and burn it and wire brush it off.

But good luck.
i'll just look into a set of police rallys so i can have those for when i want dog dishes and blackwalls
 

BudW

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The Chrysler Rallye wheel looks like (which was an option for many F-bodies).
Rallye Wheel.jpg


The Cheby Rallye wheel looks like:
Cheby Rallye.png

Which is not to be confused with the Chrysler police wheel. I can see how some from the other garage might call them that, though.
Police Wheel 1.jpg


Police Wheel 2.jpg

BudW
 

SonOfaTomP

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The Chrysler Rallye wheel looks like (which was an option for many F-bodies).
View attachment 39236

The Cheby Rallye wheel looks like:
View attachment 39237
Which is not to be confused with the Chrysler police wheel. I can see how some from the other garage might call them that, though.
View attachment 39238

View attachment 39239
BudW
Chevy rally rims are very similar to Chrysler rims. beauty rings for a 78 Camaro fit FMJ rims but i don't know if Chrysler dog dishes fit GM rims
 
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