Polishing up rims

AdamLX · 06-04-2001, 02:59 PM

Whats the best polish to use on Draglites?
I need to clean mine up before I put them on the car.
Also whats the best soap to use on them?
I know a lot of soaps leave them hazy looking.
Thanks

------------------
Adam

That whine?
Oh its my alternator bearing.
That idle?
My #7 is mis-firing

06-05-2001, 12:10 AM

Refresh my memory, Adam, aren't DragLites aluminum? If so, there's an easy regimen.

Let me know

------------------

Tang 350
66 GT350 Replica (drives like it's pissed off)
97 3.8L Convertible
'89 Silver Anniversary 5.0LX
I love the smell of Zaino in the morning....

AdamLX · 06-05-2001, 07:15 AM

Just polished aluminum.

------------------
Adam

That whine?
Oh its my alternator bearing.
That idle?
My #7 is mis-firing

evil jose · 06-05-2001, 01:04 PM

I'd like to know as well. I've just been washing them down with the wash met when I wash the car. I have one problem though, my dog decided to take a piss (yes..) on one of my wheels and I didn't wash it off for several days because I didn't notice it.

I noticed Sunday after washing the wheel it appears to have left a stain. I'm going to try and wash it more today and pay attention to that particular wheel and see if that helps any. If not, I'd like to know what I can do about it.

------------------
- Jose
Co-Founder DFW Stangs

http://www.dfwstangs.net

"Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

06-05-2001, 01:26 PM

OK, heres what to do for polished, NON clearcoated aluminum wheels.

Begin my cleaning with a good aluminum wheel cleaner (I like Eagle One), be sure it's specifically formulated for aluminum. Because you are working with cast aluminum (solid all the way through with no surface texture) there's little you can do to damage it.

You will need to work the surface down, just like with paint with prgressively finer polishing compounds. If they are really bad, begin with fine (00 grade) steel wool, use the aluminum wheel cleaner with it for lubrication. When you are happy with the look, go to to a finer grade like 0000. After that hit it with a dood rubbing compound followed by a very fine polish for mag/aluminum wheels (like Mothers or Meguires). In your case, and Jose's, you might be able to just use the polish and skip the rest. But if you have scratches or, God forbid, curb them, what I described above will bring them back.

Basically what you are doing is re-polishing the wheel. You'll get a good arm and shoulder work-out

, but it's worth it. When you are done, follow-up with a good wax or, as I prefer Zaino Z-2. With a consistant polish and protect regimen you should never have to go with the steel wool again.

------------------

Tang 350
66 GT350 Replica (drives like it's pissed off)
97 3.8L Convertible
'89 Silver Anniversary 5.0LX
I love the smell of Zaino in the morning....

AdamLX · 06-05-2001, 02:14 PM

Mine arent in too bad of a polish...just something to make them go bling bling in the light

I have a spot like that Jose too, not sure WTF it is though.
I will grab the aluminum polish and clean them up...gonna pimp the 295's out to the BBQ...I cant believe but they actually FIT!!!

------------------
Adam

That whine?
Oh its my alternator bearing.
That idle?
My #7 is mis-firing

evil jose · 06-05-2001, 02:43 PM

How wide is the rim? 8" or 8.5"???

------------------
- Jose
Co-Founder DFW Stangs

http://www.dfwstangs.net

"Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

AdamLX · 06-05-2001, 03:03 PM

15x8.
They bulge over but good god they are wide.
I didnt mount them, never would, but hell thats some wide tread.
I need to hurry and get the car fixed so I can see how well they hook.
I was worried that they would hit the fender lip (they already have cuts from the previous car) but the suspension has to completely bottom out for it to even come close. So no super hard bumps at 80mph and I'm ok.
BTW, found another reason why the car was down on power...the pos. wire from the coil connector that I have my shift light wired into was almost all the way out of the plug.
Plugged it in and I seem to be back to normal...except for the knock.

------------------
Adam

That whine?
Oh its my alternator bearing.
That idle?
My #7 is mis-firing

evil jose · 06-05-2001, 03:55 PM

Hope you don't have any problems with that tire holding the seal if you drop tire pressure down to 15 psi or so

You need to get that car on blocks or on the lift so you can run it in gear and see where that knock is coming from.

------------------
- Jose
Co-Founder DFW Stangs

http://www.dfwstangs.net

"Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

AdamLX · 06-05-2001, 05:22 PM

Thats the plan.
As soon as I have time (hopefully this weekend) I will get to AMS and we can start checking it out. Otherwise I am just leaving the mofo at LoneStar next week and driving the Honda since my mom wont need it.
I amseriously thinking the counterweights or something is loose on the clutch. It doesnt like starting in gear, and when I revved in first from a stop the other day, the carl rolled forward a foot.
Oh well, its nothing related to the motor so I'm gonna beat the shit out of it when it's fixed to teach it a lesson!

I'm not dropping down the PSI at all in the tires...
Thats why I have the 10.5" et streets.
I figure hell, these radials should grip enough for some blasts at kennedale for a bit. Take the wear and tear off the slicks.

------------------
Adam

That whine?
Oh its my alternator bearing.
That idle?
My #7 is mis-firing

Tk · 06-05-2001, 08:13 PM

If you are doing this by hand MOTHERS is the easiest to use and it shines up quick. MET-AL is great if you are using a machine but will break your arm if you try using it by hand.

06-04-2001, 02:59 PM	#1
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	Polishing up rims Whats the best polish to use on Draglites? I need to clean mine up before I put them on the car. Also whats the best soap to use on them? I know a lot of soaps leave them hazy looking. Thanks ------------------ Adam That whine? Oh its my alternator bearing. That idle? My #7 is mis-firing

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06-05-2001, 12:10 AM	#2
Tang350 Guest Posts: n/a	Refresh my memory, Adam, aren't DragLites aluminum? If so, there's an easy regimen. Let me know ------------------ Tang 350 66 GT350 Replica (drives like it's pissed off) 97 3.8L Convertible '89 Silver Anniversary 5.0LX I love the smell of Zaino in the morning....

06-05-2001, 07:15 AM	#3
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	Just polished aluminum. ------------------ Adam That whine? Oh its my alternator bearing. That idle? My #7 is mis-firing

06-05-2001, 01:04 PM	#4
evil jose Rolling with the homies Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oak Cliff... that's my hood... Posts: 42,415	I'd like to know as well. I've just been washing them down with the wash met when I wash the car. I have one problem though, my dog decided to take a piss (yes..) on one of my wheels and I didn't wash it off for several days because I didn't notice it. I noticed Sunday after washing the wheel it appears to have left a stain. I'm going to try and wash it more today and pay attention to that particular wheel and see if that helps any. If not, I'd like to know what I can do about it. ------------------ - Jose Co-Founder DFW Stangs http://www.dfwstangs.net "Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

06-05-2001, 01:26 PM	#5
Tang350 Guest Posts: n/a	OK, heres what to do for polished, NON clearcoated aluminum wheels. Begin my cleaning with a good aluminum wheel cleaner (I like Eagle One), be sure it's specifically formulated for aluminum. Because you are working with cast aluminum (solid all the way through with no surface texture) there's little you can do to damage it. You will need to work the surface down, just like with paint with prgressively finer polishing compounds. If they are really bad, begin with fine (00 grade) steel wool, use the aluminum wheel cleaner with it for lubrication. When you are happy with the look, go to to a finer grade like 0000. After that hit it with a dood rubbing compound followed by a very fine polish for mag/aluminum wheels (like Mothers or Meguires). In your case, and Jose's, you might be able to just use the polish and skip the rest. But if you have scratches or, God forbid, curb them, what I described above will bring them back. Basically what you are doing is re-polishing the wheel. You'll get a good arm and shoulder work-out , but it's worth it. When you are done, follow-up with a good wax or, as I prefer Zaino Z-2. With a consistant polish and protect regimen you should never have to go with the steel wool again. ------------------ Tang 350 66 GT350 Replica (drives like it's pissed off) 97 3.8L Convertible '89 Silver Anniversary 5.0LX I love the smell of Zaino in the morning....

06-05-2001, 02:14 PM	#6
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	Mine arent in too bad of a polish...just something to make them go bling bling in the light I have a spot like that Jose too, not sure WTF it is though. I will grab the aluminum polish and clean them up...gonna pimp the 295's out to the BBQ...I cant believe but they actually FIT!!! ------------------ Adam That whine? Oh its my alternator bearing. That idle? My #7 is mis-firing

06-05-2001, 02:43 PM	#7
evil jose Rolling with the homies Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oak Cliff... that's my hood... Posts: 42,415	How wide is the rim? 8" or 8.5"??? ------------------ - Jose Co-Founder DFW Stangs http://www.dfwstangs.net "Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

06-05-2001, 03:03 PM	#8
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	15x8. They bulge over but good god they are wide. I didnt mount them, never would, but hell thats some wide tread. I need to hurry and get the car fixed so I can see how well they hook. I was worried that they would hit the fender lip (they already have cuts from the previous car) but the suspension has to completely bottom out for it to even come close. So no super hard bumps at 80mph and I'm ok. BTW, found another reason why the car was down on power...the pos. wire from the coil connector that I have my shift light wired into was almost all the way out of the plug. Plugged it in and I seem to be back to normal...except for the knock. ------------------ Adam That whine? Oh its my alternator bearing. That idle? My #7 is mis-firing

06-05-2001, 03:55 PM	#9
evil jose Rolling with the homies Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oak Cliff... that's my hood... Posts: 42,415	Hope you don't have any problems with that tire holding the seal if you drop tire pressure down to 15 psi or so You need to get that car on blocks or on the lift so you can run it in gear and see where that knock is coming from. ------------------ - Jose Co-Founder DFW Stangs http://www.dfwstangs.net "Is it because I'm Mexican?????"

06-05-2001, 05:22 PM	#10
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	Thats the plan. As soon as I have time (hopefully this weekend) I will get to AMS and we can start checking it out. Otherwise I am just leaving the mofo at LoneStar next week and driving the Honda since my mom wont need it. I amseriously thinking the counterweights or something is loose on the clutch. It doesnt like starting in gear, and when I revved in first from a stop the other day, the carl rolled forward a foot. Oh well, its nothing related to the motor so I'm gonna beat the shit out of it when it's fixed to teach it a lesson! I'm not dropping down the PSI at all in the tires... Thats why I have the 10.5" et streets. I figure hell, these radials should grip enough for some blasts at kennedale for a bit. Take the wear and tear off the slicks. ------------------ Adam That whine? Oh its my alternator bearing. That idle? My #7 is mis-firing

06-05-2001, 08:13 PM	#11
Tk Time Served Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 443	If you are doing this by hand MOTHERS is the easiest to use and it shines up quick. MET-AL is great if you are using a machine but will break your arm if you try using it by hand.