Corvette and OEM Steel Wheel Painting - Quanta System 5 ™ Black Paints from Quanta Products and GasTanks.com
We are pleased to present the following guidance for how to paint steel wheels. This "How-To" is applicable to a variety of steel wheels from various OEMs. In this particular case, we will be detailing how to repaint original 1966 Corvette steel wheels that are part of our ongoing restoration project that will be detailed on the Quanta Products, LLC and GasTanks.com web site in the near future. In this case we used a combination of spray cans and Quanta System 5™ black paint in quarts. However, this project can be done completely with spray cans. (Please check for your local rules and regulations to determine any addition restrictions on use.)
Quanta System 5™ black paints are high quality acrylic enamel paints in a series of 5 gloss levels that allow you to select just the right gloss level of black for your applications without the hassle and trial and error necessary to flatten standard gloss paints to a desired gloss levels. No flattening agent is necessary!
Materials & Equipment Needed for this project:
Wheels - 5 original Corvette steel wheels.
Self-Etching Primer - 1 @ 15 ounce spray cans (DuPont™ Etch Primer A-4115S™).
Acrylic Primer - 1 @ 14 ounce spray can (DuPont™ QuickPrime™ A-4260S™) or Sealer/Activator/Reducer- 42470S™/12305S™/42475S™.
Wheel Roller - optional device to rotate your wheels while blasting or spraying.
Nylon Scouring Pad - light duty for scuffing primer.
Reducer - 1 quart acrylic enamel reducer (if using quarts rather than spray cans).
Prep Solvent - for cleaning wheels.
Respirator - Half mask respirator or air-line respirator appropriate for paints and primers being used.
Spray Gun - If using quarts of paint (we used a DeVilbiss™ Plus™)
System 5™ Gloss Black Paint - 1 Quart (or 3 spray cans) 
System 5™ Medium Black Paint - 1 Quart (or 4 spray cans) 
Paint Stripping
Step 1. Strip the original paint from the wheels. We did this in a glass bead cabinet which was a time consuming task. More aggressive stripping media will save time but may negatively affect the stampings in the wheel.
Original Corvette wheels will have several stamps including "GM" on the front face, and several stamps in the inner rim area. These stamps include the size (15X5½), date of production (65 and 66 here), broadcast code (in this case "JK"), "Kelsey Hayes", etc... Original wheels will also have two raised dimples near the valvestem hole.
Original unrestored wheels typically will have runs. The original wheels were flow coated with a black paint at the St Louis GM plant where paint puddled at the bottom of some wheels. The wheels were then hung on a rack and the fronts were repainted with gloss black paint. We did not take the time to entirely strip these runs as they will add to the authenticity of the restoration.
Step 2. Put on your respirator. Wipe down the wheels with prep solvent or an appropriate lacquer thinner.
Priming the Wheels
Step 3. Place a wheel on the rollers and proceed to prime the wheel with self-etching primer. Roll the wheel doing the front, back and inner rim areas. Repeat with the other 4 wheels. Allow them 15 minutes drying time.
Step 4. Scuff the wheels with a nylon scouring pad. Blow or wipe dust from the wheels.
Step 5. Next, prime the wheels with an appropriate primer/sealer such as DuPont™ QuickPrime™ A-4260S™). Allow to dry.
Top Coating with Quanta System 5™ Black Paints
Step 6. Thin System 5™ Medium Black Paint with acrylic enamel reducer according to instructions on the can. Using the roller system paint each entire wheel, rotating it on the roller. Completed wheels can be picked up via the center hole or utilizing a large punch in the wheel lug holes. Place them in a dust-free area to flash. A 30 minute flash was sufficient in this case.
Step 7. Thin System 5™ Gloss Black Paint with acrylic enamel reducer according to instructions on the can. Using the roller system paint only the front sides of each wheel, rotating it on the roller.
Step 8. Pick the completed wheels up utilizing a large punch in a wheel lug holes. Place them in a dust-free area to dry.
Step 9. Completed wheels with gloss back front face and medium gloss backs.
We hope that you find this "How-To" describing Quanta System 5™ black paints from Quanta Products and GasTanks.com useful. We appreciate your business!
© 2012 Quanta Products, LLC
