American 200S Restoration

[napa68]

Has anyone restored a set of the aforementioned wheels? I am trying to match the color of the center spokes. It has a gray / gold tint to them. I have to replace one the wheels I have had. Most of what I am finding are blasted in the center.

Thanks,
Tim

https://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b437/napa68/76%20Trans%20Am/IMG_1087_zpsrtiok2b7.jpg (https://s1043.photobucket.com/user/napa68/media/76%20Trans%20Am/IMG_1087_zpsrtiok2b7.jpg.html)

[mockingbird812]

check w NJSteve as he had a set for his '70 Charger and may have restored them - an uber restorer for sure!

[seventieshow]

This is the set NJSteve had for sale, very nice...

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=124978&highlight=american+200s

Good debate here from the HAMB...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/color-code-for-american-200s-daisy-wheels.575530/

"a gray / gold tint to them..." That is the unique look those wheels had when they were new. Blasting them makes them bright, I don't know how they were finished when new, hope you can find something out. It reminds me of aircraft alodine somewhat.

[njsteve]

The were not gold/grey. It's kind of like looking at old renaissance painting and wondering why everything looked so dark and gloomy (it was due to the clear varnish turning yellow and brown after the centuries). In this case, it is the clear coating and oxidation of the aluminum that caused them to look yellowed after 50 years or so.

The NOS pair I found were pristine cast aluminum - like a brand new intake manifold. Here's a photo of the NOS rim just out of the box.

Best bet is to have them media blasted with the plastic or walnut shell media (tape off the polished outer rim when you do it). That's what I did with my set in the link above.