Hubcap painting

[Gitanesteel]

Anyone done hubcap painting? I have a plan for how to repaint these 4 that I picked up but wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone has done it and see what process was used. I am slowly working out some of the small dings. There were two larger dent issues that I've got mostly and the flat paint finish won't make the remaining dimples very obvious.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/SAM_0340.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/SAM_0340.jpg.html)

[Gitanesteel]

Started the first hubcap tonight. Went with the one in the best shape - no dings.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0363.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0363.jpg.html)


Masking took well over an hour.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0364.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0364.jpg.html)

The best lighting was next to the Falcon so extra precautions were taken to avoid any potential contamination.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0365.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0365.jpg.html)

After two coats of self etching primer. I'll sand it on Wed or Thurs before heading out of town.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0366.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0366.jpg.html)

I picked up two cans of stainless steel color spray paint. Auto Zone had some cast aluminum color but it was lighter than the original. This stainless steel color will be darker than the original but may make the shiny stainless portion of the wheel stand out more.

I would welcome thoughts on the color.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0367.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0367.jpg.html)

[ew1usnr]

Started the first hubcap tonight. I would welcome thoughts on the color.

Wow! I am impressed. Did you get the "self etching primer" as a can of spray paint? Where did you find it?

The color looks great to me. I like seeing original wheel covers and hub caps on cars.

Good job!

[Gitanesteel]

Wow! I am impressed. Did you get the "self etching primer" as a can of spray paint? Where did you find it?

The color looks great to me. I like seeing original wheel covers and hub caps on cars.

Good job!

Thanks Dennis.

Yes, the self etching primer is a can of spray paint. I picked it up at the local Auto Zone. I actually wasn't going to use any but changed that plan after stopping by a body shop and talking with their painter yesterday.

I'm looking forward to putting these on the car. I located a set of steel wheels with tires for $60 that I'll pick up this next weekend. Depending on the condition they may get a fresh coat of paint as well. The tires will go and I'll put on a new set with thin white walls for the original "effect".

[SmithKid]

Good looking job,Scott. I recently masked my grill and repainted the black on it. Wow, what a bunch of masking, but makes the masking of wheels seem a much smaller task if done one at a time. Kinda encouraging me to re-paint the black my Magnum 500's. A couple of them are starting to flake the black. The WIAI bug seems to be spreading (pandemic?)!!! :WHATTHE:

[Gitanesteel]

Good looking job,Scott. I recently masked my grill and repainted the black on it. Wow, what a bunch of masking, but makes the masking of wheels seem a much smaller task if done one at a time. Kinda encouraging me to re-paint the black my Magnum 500's. A couple of them are starting to flake the black. The WIAI bug seems to be spreading (pandemic?)!!! :WHATTHE:

I couldn't imagine masking a grill. After masking the first one last night I kind of cringe thinking about three more. ;)

I couldn't wait - did a light sand on the primer and sprayed two coats on it. Took the stainless steel color back to Auto Zone and went with the aluminum color. Much closer and I like the out come. Gonna need to let it cure for awhile. Now to game plan the "center cap" area with raised letters. That has me a little nervous.

Final look after paint:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/SAM_0369.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/SAM_0369.jpg.html)

New look on the left, old (dirty) hubcap on the right:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/SAM_0370.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/SAM_0370.jpg.html)

[SmithKid]

The new paint-job is great, Scott. Can't wait to see the final after the center cap is done (I can't imagine doing the trimming around the lettering!).

[BadBird]

Instead of using tape, go to a local hobby store. They carry a spray on material that you trim around the letters and then peel off the area around the letters. I have some and trying to find the name for it. All hobby shops carry the stuff. I will get back to you when (if) I find it. Larry

[Gitanesteel]

Instead of using tape, go to a local hobby store. They carry a spray on material that you trim around the letters and then peel off the area around the letters. I have some and trying to find the name for it. All hobby shops carry the stuff. I will get back to you when (if) I find it. Larry

Ooooh, now that will be cool. I'll actually be at either Hobby Lobby or Michael's this afternoon with my wife so that would be fantastic to find

[Gitanesteel]

Ok - the best one was completed today. 3-4 hrs total into this one. The other three were painted. I suppose more sanding could have been in order because they will show some small dimples but most of the bad dents were worked out and the high spots diminished. They were definitely not NOS.

I chalk it up to an "experience" but would have loved the tutoring of a body repair man as I was going through the process. For me it's a step in the right direction since I have very little trust in myself for this type of work or mechanical things.

I found a large piece of cardboard to use for isolating the center cap area:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0371.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0371.jpg.html)

Primer was sprayed and the letters scraped off as it dried. Then a coat of flat black Testor's spray enamel went on - yep, it's model paint.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0373.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0373.jpg.html)

Then the tedious part of scraping the letters off began all over. I ended up using model detailing spear shaped q-tips and the sharp point of toothpicks.

Not perfect but I'm definitely happy. I pick up a set of 14" rims on Monday and next week the white wall tires will be mounted.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0375.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0375.jpg.html)

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/scozim/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0376.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/scozim/media/Hubcap%20restoration/SAM_0376.jpg.html)

[ew1usnr]

Ford put effort into the design of your wheel covers to create something that looks good. The cheap plastic wheel covers on new cars are comparatively plain and uninspired.

[Luva65wagon]

Great information here. I often wondered the best way to repaint hubcaps - apart from how I saw Kenny do it (and then do it again on Don's car) with the bottle-cap hubcaps. Gives me hope to maybe fix-up some I have.