The Cal-look Lounge

Greetings,

I've recently picked up a nice set of Centerline wheels that I'm considering running on my Oval. They have been polished, but I'm no longer a big fan of fully polished wheels... I like the satin finish that comes standard on Centerlines, but that would be next to impossible for me to re-create on these wheels. I've been thinking about sending the wheels out to be silver anodized... Any opinions?? I'm thinking something like the finish of a non polished 911 alloy wheel... would that be too plain on a Centerline?

So to sum it up, a polished then silver anodized wide five Centerline with black brake drums, black 911 alloy lug nuts, and I'm assuming the rivets would stay polished.

Oh yeah, these will be on a Jungle Green '56 Oval...
Help me out here ???

Thanks,

~DR.

I would have them Repolished as you will never  get the look of a spun wheel again Alloy lug nuts have to big of base the centerlines are not counter sunk enough the base is big and the will stick out to far an look tackie but got to have Black Drum's  Polished Centerlines look good on most all bright color cars they dont look to well with tans and pale yellow's

 Hey Dave,
  Well first I think polished centerlines are a good look. As for opinions or ideas I got a few too. I think the silver anodizing could be cool I would suggest a trial piece of aluminum to get a feel for the outcome. I also think maybe powder coat them a satin black? or maybe even black anodizing? (I just think black rims are cool, alot of drag cars these days use all black wheels) If they were silver anodized I think the rivets should be also, I think you should stud the drums and run lugs with the studs sticking through as in race application. Hell even gold anodizing might look wild???

Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Jason

A friend had his brand new Alcoa alloys off his dually crew cab GMC anodized black years ago (before it was cool) and it was a major dissapointment! They looked like they had been sprayed with Krylon Primer!! :(

If it wasn't for the rivets, I'd think someone could recreate the spun finish. I agree that the spun finish with black drums and studs with lug nuts is the race look that Centerlines deserve! Just my 2 cents worth...

I would go for the polished look 8)

They're Ercos...
(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8073.0;attach=26022;image)

Back on topic - anodising pre-used alumin(i)um is hard to do well, as it tends to show up every mark in the metal. Many anodisers won't guarantee the outcome. It all depends on how good the wheels are in detail.

sorry  but i prefer satin look too  ;)

I prefer the stain, spun look. But polished, but not to the point diamond-sparkle, would look good too. I assume they are the open center 5 x 205mm? I like those on street cars, with a flat gold painted drum. Would accent the jungle green nicely.
Let's see some pictures, Dave!

Maybe Tobi from DFL could post some pictures, he had his wheels sandblasted and treated them afterwards.

What about sanding them dwn with something like 1000 grade and moving up to 2500 grade paper? This would knock the shine down for sure and than dont re polish them. Just a thought

Hi!

Jelle is right. I glass blasted my centerlines hoping to achieve a sort of satin finished look. The result was a very dull finish which I didn´t really like so I decided to satinize them by hand.
The first pic shows a blasted wheel on the left hand side and a reworked wheel midway through the sanding job on the right hand side.
The second pic shows the finished rear wheel mounted to the car. Finally the third pic shows how it looks on the car right now.
Bye,

Tobi

Another perfect example of a hot rod VW. Your car looks like "it"!  8)

How about spin them on a lathe while sanding them with like 180 grit

The satin finish looks good Tobi! I actually like the bead blasted wheel too, it would look good on a dragcar or offroad. Here is a link to centerline. They still sell these wheels.

http://centerlinewheels.com/wheel_deals_detail.php?id=12573&type=vehicle&data=46

No matter what you do to them they are going to be a little funky around the rivets  Like Danny said you could spin them and sand with 180 that will give it the original look but without removing the rivets and spinning them that will alway have a cirle or marks around the the rivets that why I said Repolish them  I like satin better to but  if you want them to look new the rivets need to come out  Check with Centerline I know they Repair them  if you bend a lip you can have them install a new half on it  it worth a call

Boy Dave, this thread brings back some old memories!  Back in the'70's, while working at Sierra Porsche Audi with Harvey Weidman, we really got into Centerlines.  At the end of all the finish experiments,  black anodized, gold riveted 15"  9's and 11's looked hot on a Grand Prix White Turbo Carrera  8) 8) 8)!  The very outer edge of the wheel lip got polished, too (about an eighth of an inch) to help with wheel to tire contrast.  Wish I had pics  :-[ .  When our first sand rail came together, I knew I had to have Centerlines for the rear but didn't have the dough for a polish job until later.  Each finish has it's merits though the polished stayed nicer longer then the spun.

Centerlines on a Porsche:o Damn Sarge I bet that Carrera looked badass!!

Has anybody had a set of wheels anodized? What is an approx cost ???? I keep thinking of getting a set of centerlines and having them anodized gold for a real 70's cal-looker. I'm not sure how the anodized color would match  the bead blasted copper parts I have though...

 I would have to say that bead blasting would be the best choice for creating a satin finish on already polished rims. Play around with different media and air pressure until you get the finish you like. I use media that is around 360 grit in my cabinet and the beads are so fine that it looks like baking soda.

Guys,

Thanks for the replys / opinions / ideas on this topic...
I have a single "donor" centerline for a spare in my Baja that I think I will expirement with. Several years ago, a buddy of mine had a '37 Chevy drag car that had gold anodized Centerlines. Back then, I really liked the look... they almost looked like a gold clear coat.
I'll have my polisher fully polish the "donor" centerline paying extra attention acound the rivets, then have it anodized silver. I'm hoping the silver will look like a slightly dull, silver tinted clear coat over the polished wheel. I'm pretty sure the anodizing will not affect the polished stainless rivets, which should add a little detail to an otherwise simple wheel...

Please keep the ideas coming, and I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Thanks,
~DR

I say go polished centerlines!

(http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images_v2/000/049/279/20080707/dyn007_original_789_592_jpeg_49279_5c8ad1416511853529197900e703ed65.jpg)

Sorry :)

Me, too!  Nice car 8)

Sorry :)

I Can't argue the look of Rolands or Tobi's... ;D  Nice cars guys!!



~DR.

Dave, it's not my car, it's Xavier's from our club... Still a nice car though :)

Thanks Roland ;)

Nice car Xavier! ;D

~DR.

What about Painting them black? I know its not the norm but it could look really cool on the rite car 8)

I like black wheels on my 4X4, but I'm not sure about the Oval... I agree they could look good on the right car, especially if you retained the polished stainless rivet.

~DR.

I remember some guy back when i had my Cutlass Cruiser in the early 90's in Berlin. He had a green/brown/black camouflaged mid 70's Ranchero and brush painted his Centerlines satin black. ::)

Ok if you want to go watching Silverback gorillas in the Congo, but for a nice street car? ???

No I ment get them powder coated or anodized?