OK, my thoughts and actions. It was only last week at our Essex regional meeting that I saw a members '78 Anniversary C3 parked outside looking absolutely like new with highly polished Vette alloy wheels.
TBH the wheels were such a high gloss and so impressive that I didn't really take any notice of the car (I should have - as someone mentioed to be the following day that it was a recent aquisition that was bought over from the 'States with less than 1000 miles!)
Others might want to correct me but I believe as stock from GM their wheels were supplied with a satin finish (now known as diamond cut?) and that many owners later polished them (or were certain years OEM polished?)
Anyway it got me thinking about the rather special aftermarket wheels I bought for my C3 some 15 year or so ago. Refered to as 'Billet' wheels, the rims are manufactured from solid high grade aluminium and then 'shaped' by a process know as 'spinning' on a lathe before being welded to the cast or forged spoked wheel 'spiders' or centres.
My rims were described by the manufacturer as being 'mirror finished' and that abrasive polishes (like the traditional Autosol chrome/aluminium paste) that we would historically use on motorbike engines, exhausts and chrome bumpers, rocker covers etc on our cars is a big 'no-no' to use and will create a myriad of tiny scratches to the 'mirror' finish.
I suspect that many C3 owners with ally wheels use this or similar polish........and TBH its fine and comes up with a nice finish on raw aluminium.......but it certainly dosen't give a 'mirror finish' akin to chrome plating.
Polishes
There are ultrafine paste type polishes made or supplied by comanies like Mothers aand Meguiers which have quite a delicatr composition and in fact work exceptionly well. American Racing do (or used to) do a wadding type billet wheel polish (like the old school Duraglit brass waddinf polish) this is also a really delicate and easy to use product.
How often to use
I do less than 1000 mike pa (often significantly less) - my regime is at the start (and end) of the season I remove all four wheels, wash them and the tyres throughly (usually allowing a day to hand polish all inner and outer surfaces of the wheels). I then apply a coat a coat of wax polish (hard wax or liquid) and polish off.
This generally maintains the polished finish quite well, obviously washing the wheels down after a longer run and when brake dust or road crud is visible.
And avoid taking the car out on salty roads during winter.
You'll need to be observant during the winter 'lay-up' period with any dampness creating issues with the finish while the car is garaged. Plenty of wax is generally the answer.
Your next task to try and initially achieve that mirror finish is simply 'how to'? - hours and hours of polishing, and probably a combination of machine and hand work.......or send to a wheel refinisher? - your descision...........
Products not to use (for some) and a typical billet wheel type polish (you should use)
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