I now have an 86 Tbird along with my 82 Cougar wagon.
The tbird has the polycast wheels and they are quite weathered. Can these wheels be refinished? If so what materials are used?
The original color seems to be a dark "army" green. Seems odd since the car is a metalic beige sort of color with a beige cloth interior.
The car is a standard that's optioned out like an LX. Cruise, tilt, pw, pdl, clock with the 14" poly wheels. 3.8 engine. It's been in the family for 5 years and we bought it from the original owner.
I have a set in mint condition if you are interested.
Nothing? No advice? I don't want to buy new wheels for a car I might sell anyway but I do want it to look nice. Those wheels don't look too bad when they were new.
This is a darn decent car. It doesn't even have a single parking lot ding. But it does need to be "refreshed". The aluminum trim needs to be polished, It needs new chrome tape on the rubber trim and new paint. I'd really like to keep the poly wheels.
Clean them real good and spray plastic-coat paint on them any color you want.
Can you post a photo of your rims?
I'll try to get some this we.
I thought that but wasn't sure. Thanks.
If they are the argent color, this would be the "official" Ford argent paint for restoration:
http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-19207A%20%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS
I use this paint exclusively for restoration and it's spot-on in color and finish for OEM rims.
You could buy mine. Just a couple of burnt valves so it runs really good. Brand new tires, rear hatch struts and a dash cover.
After I took the trim rings off they look to have been the body color. Apparently the lady that owned it only used a car wash and harsh soaps have washed to color off leaving an olive green color, maybe the color of the poly material.:D
They made a wagon?
Actually two. 1977 of which 9500+ were made and 1982 of which 19,254 were made.
(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6233/sany0017ue8.th.jpg) (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sany0017ue8.jpg)
(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/986/sany0013sx8.th.jpg) (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sany0013sx8.jpg)
The first on is wheel with thumb and the other one is without the thumb.:D
Yeeesh, those are in nasty shape. ;) I see what you mean about the greenish cast to them.
Technically they should be bead/media blasted but maybe a trip to the self-serve car wash will be good enough; those high-pressure blasts will probably prep the surface just fine. I also sent you a PM with some other details.
I already pressure washed them. I'd bet they were the body color at one time. That's something I'll never be able to match.
WOW, I had some on my car that color when I got it years ago. I thought it was to match the car as I have a very similar color green on the car. I swapped them with another silverish set right away, and never thought of it being due to the color being taken off. Interesting.
The poly material (rubbery) usually has a yellowish or greenish cast base color to it. The silver top color fades in the sun and turns to a powder, then washes off...you're left with the base cast. Very common in all Ford polycast wheels, particularly on the Mustang 4-bangers.
Just hitten them with a rattle can would be an improvement.
They can be cleaned up and painted.