The Cal-look Lounge

Could anyone tell me how two piece empi 8's were finished when new.

Did they have a polished lip ? did they have painted spokes etc ?

Pictures would be great  8)

it's the same as empi 5
(http://www.amayesing.com/images/vwparts/empi8spoke.jpg)
(http://www.amayesing.com/images/literature/empi70cat%20(68).jpg)

just in bare rough cast?

wow you're fast

so either cast or grey painted  8)

ron, what are they going on? the 67?  8)

i was thinking about colour coding mine to the car...

Had a org set of 2pc 8 spokes magnisium wheels - cast spokes and polished lips - wish i had the car and the wheels still

not too sure yet maybe the white bug or my ghia thts in the body shop at the mo

Funny thing is, the pair of eights I got last month have a cast finish on both the lip and the spokes ????????????

It looks like the've never been polished on the lip, oh and they're the late casting type with the extra rib in the spoke

anyone had a set like this ? ???

They could have been sand blasted a long time ago maybe?

Empi offered 8 Spokes and 5 Spoke wheels in two finishes glassbeaded Spokes with a polished lip and a medium Grey Simi Gloss the reason for the painted finish is because some of the wheel had casting flaws (meaning pits,nicks,ect in the spokes) so they were fixed with spot filler and painted medium Simi Gloss Grey this was a solid color not a MET. Wheels looked good both ways But I like the Blasted look best here is a picture of a restored wheel (top) the wheel in the bottom Picture is a Empi painted wheel but the paint is very faded

Give Jon Abbot (Java) a call.   jon@vwjava.com - 01889 504080 or  07770 660924

 
 A while ago he had done a set of 8's in the old/original syle and they were Superb.

 When I spoke to him at EBI he said that Java are set to produce the wheel sometime soon.

He should be able to point you in the right direction to get that original look.  ;)

 

damn, and and could TELL what a real 8 spoke looks like compaired to a replica, with a jge it will be almost impossible  ;D
now everyone will be running them!  :o
3 years of trying to find a set, waste of time!  :D :D :D


i have 2 that have recently been blasted in the centres, one i bought with a black centre, and 2 i'm about to buy which are fully polished, can the centres be reblasted on the polished ones?!!?? but i don't want to lose the logo...

get them dipped

wow you're fast

so either cast or grey painted  8)
[/quote]
cast

I used to love fully polished 8 spokes as a kid, then hated them in my late teens as all i saw around were horrible copies. When I got into cal-look and realised the originals done by EMPI and were 2 piece mag i fell in love with them.

I think blasted mag is the way to go looks sweet! Especially on your white bug Ron!

here's my other set who were sand blasted , don't like the finish , i prefer the cast  finish
first/second pict sand blasted and 3/4 my other set in cast finish

Looks like cast finish is the way to go  8)

I meant cast natural  by that rather than painted those last 2 wheeks in speedwells post are the mutts.

i have two cast ones and i must say i like the texture off the sandblasted ones more. and i still think that Empi must have had golden 8 spokes as an option, they seem to be TOO common to be done afterwards. and the funny thing is they all look like a bronze/ gold, and not gold/gold.

does anybody know the color code used for the painted ones? I know Shubee2; you told me about som spraycans you could get in the US, but if anybody knows the color code, I could get some paint mixed in that color.

Here's a shot of one of my wheels after a very careful round with the blasting gun. I used very low pressure and a fine sand. I kind of like the looks in the "raw" like this, but suspect that they will be a bitch to keep clean...

if the wheels are raw they will stain with brake dust and soap streaks 
if your in the UK try this http://www.plasti-kote.co.uk/Buy/rcode---4895#c4903
if your in the US try this http://www.plastikote.com/plastikote/auto/template.jsp?searchcode=RES&product=Wheels 
The Color is called Steel Wheels

                                                 They're a piece of cake to keep clean. A little brake clean out of the spray can whips them right into shape. Or a little spot clean with the brake clean on a rag.