Painted Hubcaps

[2ManyKids!]

Hi All,

 

I recently bought my Galaxy and the alloy hubcaps were very seriously corroded. I thought I could rub them back to bare metal and re-lacquer but the metal was too pitted and I got bored sanding, so decided just to spray them. In case anyone else wondered what it looks like here are a few photos. I use 180 grade wet-and-dry to get the old lacquer and corrosion off, masked-off the blue Ford logo, used 2 coats of grey primer (not all the lacquer came off so I would recommend you try filler-primer instead that Halfrauds sell but I've not tried), 2 coats gloss black (to match bodywork) and 3 coats clear lacquer, all sprayed from cans. I just need to deal with the corrosion patches on the wheel now!

[big_kev]

Very nice ;)

[Saif Rehman]

Please do not be offended but i don't like the centre caps painted black. From a distance it will probably look like a big nut or something missing. I would have preferred the original chrome centre caps which can be picked up from eBay relatively cheap.

[2ManyKids!]

Please do not be offended but i don't like the centre caps painted black. From a distance it will probably look like a big nut or something missing. I would have preferred the original chrome centre caps which can be picked up from eBay relatively cheap.

No worries, know it's not to everyone's taste and had initially intended to stick with aluminium if they could be rubbed-back. But I discovered after an hour or two of sanding one cap, and getting nowhere, that wasn't an option so without spending some time, effort and money sourcing new or nearly new ones painting was an option. I thought if I didn't like the paint effect I had nothing to lose and could always look for new caps later.

 

Main reason I posted was so anyone else with knackered caps might decide if it was worth a try or not with little effort. I thought the black goes nicely with black bodywork, blacked-out rear lights and ford badges and general black-themed look of the car (inherited from previous owner, who assured me he wasn't a funeral director). If I had had a bright red Galaxy I would have painted the caps matching red. I think keeping the Ford logo is vital for the overall look. I considered using some bright-aluminium coloured paint to contrast/highlight the fake allen-headed bolts but ran out of time.

 

Overall I'm pleasantly surprised with what I think is a subtle bit of individuality it's given the car, so think I will stick with them. Or next year might paint them acid yellow with smiley faces on!!

[Saif Rehman]

Hi, I'm glad you didn't take offence, maybe my opinions would be different if I saw it in the 'flesh'.

 

I thought the black goes nicely with black bodywork, blacked-out rear lights and ford badges and general black-themed look of the car

 

So, slam the car get bigger wider wheels and complete the A-Team look Mr T! ;)

[gregers]

certainly different i must say,the more i look at them the more i like them,as you say with the black car.but as mines green dont think ill be doing this mod any time soon.

[davewill]

Sort of like 'em, but then sort of don't :ph34r:

 

10 out of 10 for effort though

 

Just a thought, if you got a couple of dalmations to stand alongside the car, do you think it would blend in :P

 

All the best

 

Dave

[2ManyKids!]

Just a thought, if you got a couple of dalmations to stand alongside the car, do you think it would blend in :ph34r:

 

Ha well the kids do love dalmations! Hey I know I could paint their coats to match too!

 

So, slam the car get bigger wider wheels and complete the A-Team look Mr T!

 

That would be brilliant! I'm surely only a step or two away from doing that!

 

 

PS latest mod is rubber bat flying from rear-view mirror. Yes it's black!