Wheels

[Simon P]

My Series II FHC restoration has progressed to the point where the car is once again standing on its wheels.

Although the wheels have been put on simply for convenience for now, they are the originals belonging to the car. As they're pretty tatty I'd long assumed they'd have to be binned, but closer inspection shows that they're actually pretty sound and thought to be capable of being restored (clearly we'll get a professional assessment of this!).

Without looking too closely, I'd long assumed that the wheels were chromed, but closer inspection shows that they are in fact in 'standard' stove enamelled aluminium finish (shows just how tatty they'd become!).

Question is, if they can be restored, should I (would you?) keep them stove enamelled, or get them chromed? I should say that if I was starting from scratch - or if the wheels turn out to be shot after all - I would naturally get chrome/stainless, but knowing that that wasn't what was on the car originally I'm now in a quandary. The other alternative of course, as CWWs are readily available, would be to have the originals restored with their enamel finish, but also get a set of CWWs made up 'for show'.

I realise it will drive the same whatever's on there, but as most wheels out there these days seem to be chromed or stainless, it would be interesting to hear any views.

Incidentally, the wheels still wear their original Dunlops - now at least 25years old and having sat still for over 20 years, and yet still soft and pliant and holding pressure! (Don't worry, they WILL be replaced before the car takes to the road...)

[1954Etype]

To get the wheels on the S2 rechromed, I understand they have to be cut in two, blasted and chromed. (Happy to be put straight on this one). If it were my car, I would go with a good quality power coat. Easy to keep clean, original spec and cheap to maintain. Wont go out of true (or balance) as easy as a wire. If you do want to go for a set of 'show' wheels, don't forget you need the bolt on type (never look as nice in my view).

[Simon P]

My bad: I should have been clearer. They are the 5" wire wheels, it's just that they're in the 'standard' stove enamel finish, rather than the optional (but pretty much universally specified) chrome finish.

From the way they've deteriorated my guess is that the enamel finish is none too durable, so I think that if the finish can be replicated by powder coating, like you suggest, that would make sense though.

[1954Etype]

Ah, I wouldn't suggest you have them powder coated without stripping them properly. I would clean them, have them sprayed and buy a set of chromes.

[Simon P]

Thank you!

Simon

[MarkE]

I think that the painted / powder coated silver wheels can look better than the chomes....nicely understated. It may be worth getting a specialist wire wheel company to do the refubishment, as they will check the spokes and true up the wheels before blasting and painting.

[Simon P]

Thanks. The wheels will definitely go out for assessment to a specialist to make sure they're capable of being restored, and assuming they are I'll get the specialist to do the refurbishment too. They're going to go on a Opalescent Gunmetal Grey car, so the understated nature would be in keeping.