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Posted by: gturner008 Apr 29 2020, 03:23 PM

Been cleaning. Happy with result.


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Posted by: gturner008 Apr 29 2020, 03:24 PM

Inside


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Posted by: FlacaProductions Apr 29 2020, 03:40 PM

Good golly - what'd you use?!

Posted by: gturner008 Apr 29 2020, 06:13 PM

Nothing other than alloy wheel cleaner. Original condition

Posted by: Tom_T Apr 29 2020, 06:50 PM

Get those balancing weights off of the outside on the top pic, & put them all inside as in the bottom pic. That was a lazy tire guy sticking them on the outside.

They probably need rebalanced by now after however many years it's been since last balanced.

Also, keep in mind with those Mahle "Baby Gasburner" alloys, that it's a painted silver surface on a magnesium alloy wheel. So be very light with any abrasives, & test any product on the inside first.

So you can probably touch-up that blackish scratch/scuff in the top right quadrant with a properly matched silver paint & an airbrush.

That one looks great!
Tom
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Posted by: davep Apr 29 2020, 07:55 PM

These are aluminum alloy, only the "gasburner" 5 bolt was mag.

Posted by: Tom_T Apr 30 2020, 08:18 PM

My brain fart Dave, but they are painted, aren't they?

Or am I just thinking of the Pedrini's & 5-lug Mahles painted silver?

Mine had original aftermarket Rivieras when I bought it from the OO in `75, but it originally had the anodized 2l Fuchs - so that's my zone.

Tom
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Posted by: mepstein Apr 30 2020, 09:15 PM

Cast aluminum. Many are bent or flat spotted. If yours spin true, you are lucky.
I didn't think they came painted. Most I've seen look very grainy on the surface but I was less than 10 years old when they were new on the road. They look powder coated in the pic but might look different in person.

Posted by: StarBear May 1 2020, 07:46 AM

Any particular product? I've used P21S metal cleaner and not too impressed with results (maybe not agressive enough? works fine on the chrome trim). Mine are alloy Fuchs (all brushed silver, no black) and original, not painted, too.

Posted by: Cal May 1 2020, 04:25 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=10753 I've used Simichrome polish for years with great results.




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Posted by: StarBear May 1 2020, 06:13 PM

Thanks!

Posted by: Tom_T May 2 2020, 12:57 PM

When you look at the bare metal at the bolt holes on his 1st pic, vs. the wheel area next to it, it sure looks to me like a painted wheel.

They didn't use PC back then.

I was a senior in HS then in College & after when 914's were new, & I thought that both Mahles (4 & 5 lug) & Pedrini alloy wheels were painted, as were Steelies of course.

IIRC one of the members posted in the O&H Forum's nailed topic on wheels & tires about restoring/repainting a set of 4-lug Mahle 4-bolt wheels.


Tom
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Posted by: Tom_T May 2 2020, 01:26 PM

For the exposed polished & anodized wheels only (& chrome, aluminum, SS trim polished brightwork & bumpers) -

Autosol polish is another old school metal polish that works as well as Simichrome IMHO. Mother's alloy wheel polish works well too.

These are only for non-painted wheels, whereas AFAIK the P21S is for the newer clear coated wheels - essentially a painted wheel anyway, so not effective on old school metal brightwork & wheels.

Another trick is to use 0000 (4-aught) brass wool or steel wool lightly & carefully in conjunction with the Simichrome or Autosol etc. - but be careful not to remove the thin anodized coating - otherwise you're into a full wheel polish or resto & re-anodizing at $$$s per wheel & no longer original.

Brass wool is slightly softer & less abrasive than steel wool at a comparable abrasive rating (nothing less than 000 or preferably 0000 should be used on brightwork) - so safer to use.

You don't want to use any abrasives nor steel/brass wool nor brushes on the textured background of the 2L 4-lug Fuchs & similar textured surface wheels, because you'll take off that factory (or restored) duller background treatment. The best thing there is an old toothbrush with non-abrasive wheel cleaner or dish soap (Dawn etc), 409, Windex or similar if necessary - but rinse off 409/etc. immediately after & re-clean with soap or wheel cleaner to remove any 409/etc. remnants.

That also works on brushed finish aluminum wheels, like my `70s Riviera 5-spoke 4-lug wheels from back in the day currently on my 73 914, which are the brushed not polished version.


Tom
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Posted by: StarBear May 2 2020, 02:55 PM

Very much appreciate the wise advice and cautions!