1969 Camaro (COPO) steel wheel paint

[69Tom]

I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on how the stock steel wheels were painted on a '69 (the wheels used with the dog dish hubcaps).

Only half was painted the color or the car, correct? Should I use a clear coat over them to protect the paint? Should it be sanded down and more than one coat of clear used?

I'm just curious as to how much time was spent on these. I'm guessing it wasn't much, but they were also using a one step paint, so there was no clear to deal with. Wondering how people who do concours restos treat them now....

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I sprayed mine with a single stage urethane on the front side only, making sure some of it blew through to the backside.

[69Tom]

Thanks, Marlin. I guess the problem is, I'm painting them at the same time as the rest of the car, and I'm using a base coat/poly. Your method, however, I'm guessing is the proper way to paint them.

[BARRY]

HI paint them the same as the car any base clear paint will be 5 times better than factory paint

[Mr. Chevy]

[ QUOTE ]
I sprayed mine with a single stage urethane on the front side only, making sure some of it blew through to the backside.

[/ QUOTE ]

DITTO on mine as well http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Rich

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I painted my car with base/clear, but got a pint of single stage mixed up just for the wheels and overspray areas so I would have to mess with the clearcoat in those areas. I was afraid that I would get clearcoat on the non-painted areas and it would look hokey. So, I sprung for a pint of single stage.

[Bob]

I just painted my steel wheels and underside overspray with single stage. I have debated back and forth about what to use on the car body and had decided on single stage. After reading Marlin's post, it looks like the debate continues.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I no paint expert, but have received advice that single stage is just fine for the life that these cars will receive. It's easier than 2 stage!

[firstgenaddict]

The problem with single stage (especially metallics) they are incredibly difficult to touch up and blend... you can panel repair them if you keep extra paint but spotting in catlyzed enamel is next to impossible!

[Bob]

I've read a fair amount but have little practical experience when it comes to painting. From what I've read, you are right on about the metallics; for non-metallics there seems to be pros and cons about single stage vs. BC/CC and comes down to what the painter likes best based on his personal preference.

[69Tom]

Well, I had initially planned on using a single stage on the entire car. However, after much questioning, due to the fact it's LeMans Blue which is a metallic, I was told I'd be much better off using a base/clear. Would the single stage metallic look lousy on the wheels? Although the wheels aren't as important as the body, I certainly don't want them looking strange.

[69Tom]

In case you're interested, this is what JohnZ wrote over on team Camaro in response to my question regarding the original wheel painting process...

The steel wheels were received raw in rail cars, and sent through a hot cleaning and iron phosphating system, then dip-primed or flow-coated with black primer and baked. Then they they were mounted on spinning hubs on racks (5 wheels to a rack) on a conveyor and the outer face of the wheel was sprayed with body color gloss wheel enamel, and they were baked again. From there they were conveyed to the tire mounting and balancing system. Only the outer face of the wheel had body color on it.