HELP, MY WHEELS

[BigBadDodge]

We finally got a pretty nice day up here in Boston, and I washed the rig this afternoon. After I rinsed the soap off I wasn't to happy with what I saw, my $235. 00 a piece aluminum Weld Super Singles are pitted pretty bad they are not even 10 months old but I am afraid the road salt and the ocean spray has taken a large toll on them. There probable some precautinary meassure I should have taken but didn't and it's to late now.

My question is who makes the polish and or cleaner that may restore them as close as posible to there like new condition ? Cost isn't an issue since I have so much wrapped up into them already, but I don't want to send them out to be polished either as it is the daily driver. I guess I am looking for some miricle cleaner or restorer.

Any suggestions ?



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1997 Dodge Ram 2500 HD / Club Cab, Cummins Turbo Diesel (silencer ring removed), 4. 5" Skyjacker Double Flex suspension lift, 36x14. 5"x16. 5" Ground Hawg radial tires on 16. 5x9. 75 Weld Super Singles, dual steering stabilizer, 4. 10 precision gears, 33-tooth Speedo gear, Psycotty Air Induction, Mag-Hytec rear, Rhino liner, Grizzly double bent nerf bars, Bushwhacker flares, Kanduco grill insert, Confer super skid axle truss, DT Trac-bar, Moog tie rod system, Fabritech Traction bars, Energy sway bar bushings and end links. Truck Pic's

 

[TradedV-10foraCummins]

First, I would check and see if they are still under warranty. You might get lucky. As for the polish, I'm not sure. Do they have a clear coat on them?

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Paul G: Secretary SETDR
99' 2500 SLT QC LB 4x4 5spd

Visit the Southeastern Turbo Diesel Registry(SETDR)

 

[Lil' Dog]

ALCOA makes a complete kit for aluminum with polish and sealer.

A good step would have been to seal the rims before winter with either a clear coat or another anti-oxidation product. Mine are bare too and just need some scrubbing once and a while. Don't use a buffing wheel unless you know what you are doing. Too much speed or pressure and you'll have black rims instead bright aluminum.

J-eh


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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 LSD Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs.
237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs. Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

Lil' Mack Pics/March 2001

 

[HEMI®Dart]

There is probably not a rougher enviorment then where you live for a wheel. Those elements are brutal.

I'd call Weld and explain what has happened. The wheels should have been put thru some sort of a salt spray test and did well.

Like Paul G said, If they are clear coated, I'll bet they probably are, they may be tough to resore like new.

Call Weld Wheels 800. 488. 9353

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 03-16-2001). ]

 

[Glen Pratt]

Get yourself some Heavy Metal polish. Their link is www.heavymetal.net . They have three different compounds, white, green, and red. Order the green compound unless your wheels are real bad. Use a good quality wheel cleaner like Eagle One A-Z wheel cleaner and scrub the wheels well. Once they are dry use a fine steel wool to polish the wheels dry. This will smooth out the pits and scratches. Then use the Heavy Metal polish. One the wheels are polished use a good quality wax to seal the shine. If you want to try the Alcoa wheel cleaning system you can order it at www.protruckercat.com . It's a three part system consisting of cleaner/stripper, polish, and a spray on sealer. It works pretty well, but I like the Heavy Metal polish much better. Definitely gives a more brilliant shine. -Glen

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1998 12 valve 2500 Quad Cab, A/T, 4. 10, Deep Amethyst, 4. 5" Skyjacker Double Flex lift kit, 36. 0"x14. 5"x16. 5" TSL Super Swamper radials on 16. 5"x9. 75" Weld Typhoons, Speedliner spray in liner, Raven high rise cap, J&J stainless steel Nerf-N-Steps, 4" Jardine exhaust, 370 HP Diamond B Injectors,JRE #3 plate, DTT VB & converter

 

[BigBadDodge]

Excellent info guy's thanks,

Tradedv10forCummins: just got off the phone with Weld the wheel itself is warrentied to the original purchaser for three years. But doesn't include finish, finish only out of the box. I guess they mean against manufacturer defects failure under loads specfied and the such.

Glen: thanks for the heaveymetal link going to check them out next.

I think I may have to take one tire off the truck at a time and put the spare on while I work on each tire in the shop. it's going to take some time and elbow grease. I won't be living right on the ocean in California next winter and most likley won't have to deal with road salt.

I also asked if they where clear coated they said no so that is a good thing.

Thanks for the reply's guy's

Have a great weekend.

Scott

 

[Extreme1]

Clearcoat wouldn't have been so bad. Should have stopped what happened. A few years ago I was playing with putting mid 80's Corvette wheels on some stuff. They have a machine finish and clearcoat.

In the service manual there is a procedure to reclearcoat them if the urge strikes you.

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'94 3500 4x4, 209,000 miles, Never had a cat, Auto w/shift kit (thanks Dave G), 3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro Gauges & Amsoil Air, Oil & Bypass Filters & Lubes, AWOL intake boot.
Punchlist: X-Mount Mirrors, 14 cm Turbo Housing & 215 Injectors.
NRA member.
Blue Ribbon Coalition member.
"Warrantee? We don't need no stinking warrantee!"

 

[Archive]

Hi BigBadDodge,
I had the same Weld wheels as you on my last Dodge. I tried everything, as I live on the west coast. The best wheel polish and easy to use is Extreme. The polish comes in a paste wax type of container. Inside is a cloth material coated with the polish. All you do is tear a small piece off and rub in a small area then wipe off, using a terry cloth.

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab, 4Wheel Disc, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Fog Lights, Muffler removed, Silence Ring Gone,K&N RE-0880.
THIS IS NOT A HOBBY. THIS IS AN ADDICTION!!!! MAINLINING DIESEL!!!!

 

[BLACKRAM]

Try Flitz polish and a buffing wheel on the end of a varible speed drill. I use that combo on my wheels and aircraft parts. You can get Flitz at most Home Depot or gun stores.

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1999 2500 4x4, auto, 3. 54 LS, HD241, Quad cab SLT, Blk Sport Pkg, 285 Bridgestone AT, Amsoil, 80/100w lights, Valentine One, DTT TC/vb, DD2's, DD TTPM, Isspro gauges.
1992 SC400
1978 Mooney 201 IFR

 

[JR2]

I used mothers on my old trucks rims and running boards. . it seemed to work good. I got it at the local autoparts store.
www.mothers.com/



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John D. Rathert Jr.
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01 2500 Forrest Green Sport SLT+ QC LWB 4x4 Auto 3. 54 rear end with all options avail. DC Nerf Bars, DC Grill Guard, DC mud flaps, Line-X bed liner, Leer 160XL Topper, Power Edge, EZ Edge, SPA Boost/EGT Gauge on pillar mount, DTT's tc/vb combo, 275 RV injectors, DD 4" Exhaust and a KN RE0880 where the air box use to be. New turbo (HX40), SS fuel lines and bigger injectors in planning stages... . See My Truck, Dads truck: 98. 5 3500 SLT QC LWB 4x4, Brother Truck: 92 W250 SLT CC LWB 4x4 (Dads old truck) Winter fun - 2000 Skidoo Summit 700
I am my own warranty station. ZOOM ZOOM
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