Author Topic: Rechrome original wheels? (Read 14650 times)

65gs76limited · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2009, 10:40:48 PM »

We are all watching so keep us up to date. Tom

Chris · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2009, 12:05:11 AM »

Can't wait to see the after...

I have about three sets that need restored.

Chris

Robk · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2009, 08:01:29 PM »

Mcwheels tells me my wheels are done. I expect to pick them up this weekend. I'll post some photos as soon as I get them. By the way, he lives right near Ames Iowa, in case anyone wants him to do some wheels and is planning on going to Ames in July.

Rob Keena

Robk · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2009, 05:16:45 PM »

Here are the wheels. They look very good. Any appearance of imperfection is merely a reflection. They really look Mc-perfect in Mc-person.

I went with black but he says he can do gray.

Rob

Loren At 65GS · « **Reply #19 on:** November 07, 2009, 06:41:37 PM »

Rob,
They look great!
So ..... bottom line. What was all done and how much $$$$?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Loren

65gs76limited · « **Reply #20 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:22:44 PM »

Rob,the wheels and workmanship look great but those are not correct for a 65 Gran Sport.

Robk · « **Reply #21 on:** November 07, 2009, 08:07:30 PM »

It's my understanding that the black centers are not correct for the 65 however mine were black when i got them. I liked it so i kept them that way. He said he could do gray if requested. I think everything else about the wheel is correct. The two with the original outer shells were 65 date coded (Mark Ascher showed me how to confirm this) so they were either painted or Buick made some black 65's for one of their models. Pricing is (what i consider) very reasonable. He will restore and bring a rim back to new looking for $40 per rim. That includes acid washing out any rust, and painting the centers. He can explain what he does better than me.

He is very friendly and i would encourage anyone to call him Obviously his prices could change. My centers literally look like new.

I also had new outer rims installed to my original centers. He can go any size but i stayed stock. He welds the new rim on with real attention. He takes all of the rust off with acid and paints the centers for $110 per wheel. He lives near Ames Iowa and intends to have a bunch of wheels for sale in July.

Rob

65gs76limited · « **Reply #22 on:** November 07, 2009, 11:18:40 PM »

Rob,all 65 and early 66's had argent centers.It was around March 66 when the black centers first appeared on the wheels.And again your wheels look great and I'm not trying to be critical here but your centers look chrome like the rest of the wheel. If this is the case then they are wrong also.The 65' had a dull or shot peened finish to them. Tom

Loren At 65GS · « **Reply #23 on:** November 08, 2009, 07:43:53 AM »

The'65 wheel had a bright center . The center was changed for '66 wheels . The '65 wheels were found to be cracking in the lug nut area . The cracks werea result from hydrogen-embrittlement caused by the plating process. The remedy was to shot peen the steel prior to plating, which caused the satin finish of the '66 wheel.
Loren

Robk · « **Reply #24 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:11:10 AM »

I think I have two odd balls (I have seven wheels and one is still with Mcwheels). My goal when the money is available is to have a black set and a correct 65 set. I have four from the Gs convert, two from the gs hardtop parts car, and one from the skylark. I did not look close enough to see that two were different. I am a little confused by the last two posts. Are the 65's and 66's the same? Is the brightness in my centers incorrect for a 65?

Maybe ultimately I can put some redlines on the black centers and get correct tires with a gray center set for certain venues.

Rob

Loren At 65GS · « **Reply #25 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:57:41 AM »

Rob,
The wheels are different between '65 & '66.
The '65 wheel has a smooth and shiny chrome center. The '66 wheel has a textured and satin look to the chrome center.

Loren

Chris · « **Reply #26 on:** November 08, 2009, 09:09:45 AM »

Loren,

Thanks for posting the backround behind the changes in the rims. We've always speculated about the differences between these model years and what brought them on at Buick. This makes a lot a sense and will be the basis of a future section on the website to help others (anyone out there want to send me pictures of the differences?)

Rob,

You've got some beautiful rims there that although they may not be 100% correct, they preserve both the history and look that most people admiring your car will never know about. Like you said, there's always time in the future to go back and make these things right as you get the money.

Original or not original.. my rims are going to Mc Wheels for refinishing and thank you for sharing!

Chris

WkillGS · « **Reply #27 on:** November 08, 2009, 09:19:37 AM »

Rob, I'm curious what the date codes are on your wheels. The rest of us should check our wheels too. Then we can determine when the changes did take place.

Robk · « **Reply #28 on:** November 08, 2009, 09:58:55 AM »

Walt,

I'll go back to them and write them down. Mark Ascher showed me his code for the 65 last week and i checked it against my two un-restored wheels which are at the shop. I thought that they were all the same when i brought them in. Now i have 4 new outer rims (with an additional new outer still with McWheels) which i don't show he code anymore.

Maybe Mark can help. He has a 65 rim, gray centers and all with the code still on it. My notes are from his rim.

Sorry to keep belaboring the point, but is it correct that my rims are correct with the exception of the black?

thanks guys.
Rob

Mark Ascher · « **Reply #29 on:** November 08, 2009, 11:17:48 AM »

Guys,

I will clean up one of my wheels and post some pictures.

I have one question as well - did the cars that had the chrome wheel option
also have a chrome spare rim, or a standard steel wheel?

Mark