Magnesium Wheels

[A98Coupe]

Thinking of trying to make my Trigo Halibrand replica wheels look more like the mag race wheels which were fitted to the 427 comp cars. I know some of the original cars were fitted with GT40 pattern wheels, but would like to get that dull grey mag alloy surface finish.

Any suggestions including pics of what you have done - colour used, paint or powder coat would be great.

Thank you

[GRUF78]

You can refinish them to look very original and with the weathered patina. My car get more compliments on the wheels than anything else. We color matched a 45 yr old Halibrand center then added black and graphite to the mix and sprayed the wheels on a home made wheel polishing machine using a detail gun and lots of reducer. Kept spraying until the final look was correct. As I drive the car, (4000 miles of hard driving in the last year), I don't clean the wheels. The accumulated brake dust from the CR Girlings and road grime makes them look even better. I only wipe down the original spinners after I reinstall the wheels-typically they are smeared with Never Seize after I get them hammered on.

It is doable.

GRUFF

[GRUF78]

Another couple of pics with more miles on them.

[gsharapa]

I've personally have seen John's Cobra and his wheels look like the real deal. I actually have been thinking about changing mine to the old wheel look myself....

[A98Coupe]

GRUFF,

That's exactly the finish I want to achieve! What type of paint did you use? Acrylic or cellulose? Did you strip off the 'grey' paint in the wheel centres or did you simply paint over the top?

Many thanks
Stuart

[GRUF78]

Stuart,

First, the wheels were blasted clean of the powder coating. Once clean, I scuffed the outer lip with a green pad and scuffed the center.

Then we shot the inner portion of the wheel with paint we formulated based on the color match to the original wheel; all while spinning the wheel at low RPM on the polisher. The original wheel had that dull, faded gold finish that was present on many of the Cobra II wheels in the 60's. We then added some flat black and some graphite to the paint cup and dusted the wheel lightly in the center and more heavily on the outside portion...really trial and error to get the desired look.....add some dirt and brake dust by driving and there you go....

Once we got the first wheel done through some trial and error the other 3 went quickly-maybe an hour for all 4 not counting the blast time.

The paint is an acrylic PPG product-not sure of the code, custom mixed. If you have a good local auto paint jobber, they should be able to do it easily.

The hard part may be to get the Halibrand for them to color match.

Hope this helps,

GRUFF

[rodneym]

GRUFF,
Those look AMAZING!
Bravo.

[fordracing65]

I don't have pics, but my friend, blasted his wheels clean, called Superformance and got there GT40 color code for there gold wheels they use, powdercoated them as spec, and now just doesn't clean them, same effect, they look real...

[GRUF78]

Rodney,

THX. Everyone comments on the wheels....probably the easiest thing to do on the car!...

GRUFF

[gsharapa]

I was talking to Nick Action the other day and he did a set of new wheels that look pretty original also. He also told me someone mentioned to him they used citrus juice and aluminum polish on a bare wheel and it turned them in to 40 year old looking wheels. I was talking to a guy last weekend in San Marco Texas Cobra Club meet with an ERA FIA and he just some gray and black primer and made his FIA wheels pretty old looking also. Guess you need to experiment like John did....

Here is CSX 3020 that is in Dallas......

[A98Coupe]

Thanks Gruff,

I'll give it a go. The nearest thing I have to colour matching a real Halibrand is this photo I took of CSX3032 at The Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Stuart

[A98Coupe]

Gruff,
Your knock-off nuts appear to be original? Are they original steel Halibrand items of reproduction? If repro., where did you get them from?
Thanks
Stuart

[GRUF78]

The are steel Shelby American spinners. Not sure of the vintage. The guy who did the build/resto on my car has them but likely won't sell you any.

Check with George Petrus-my understanding is that he has them advertised for sale as well.

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