Painting Cromodora wheels:

Powder-coating is a more durable covering than paint, but it could possibly be more expensive.

As for the gold colour... It may work for those older Ferraris, but on a 328? Personally, I'd stick with silver, TMO.

 

wheel wizards in atlanta should be able to help. i would not do the gold color unless you plan on keeping the wheels forever and buying a set to sell the car with.

 

wheels have to be treated prior to painting. Crazing will occur. Automotove prep no good. Original colour sounds good

 

I had an unpleasant experience with Wheel Wizards in Atlanta and would NOT recommend them.

I have also tried Ye Olde Wheel Shop in MD and was not impressed - good final work, but took three tries over four months to get it right.

If somone knows of somewhere else to try, please let us know. I have a Diablo wheel that needs a little straightening and a 355 wheel that needs a repaint. Been sitting on them for a while since I haven't found anyone good.

 

It's best to have them "glass beaded" or some other media than sand..sand is too harsh for the alloy.
If you do it yourself you will need a special primer. A Zinc Chromate (I think)... something that is self ecthing. Check with an auto paint place to be sure.

 

I had my Chromodora wheels powder coated (silver) about 10 years ago and they have held up well. There are a few chips around the rim done by a careless tech changing tires which are just about impossible to touch up. I also remember having to remove the powder coating around the inside of the center hole so they would fit over the hubs.

One of the benefits of powder coating is that the wheels sure are easy to clean - brake dust just rinses off.

The one caution I was advised of by some racing friends was that it was possible for the wheel to crack, and the crack would be masked by the powder coating, and then fail catastrophically.

 

Wheels America does refinishing as well for $129 each flat rate.

 

I have a set of 14" orig. 308 wheels powder coated in the gold color you mentioned. Came with the car which had the 16" repro wheels mounted. I can unbag a couple and take some pics if you want.

 

Some of the new rims come with Hyper silver (extremely bright silver)paint, they look really sharp. Does anyone know if this color is available.

 

Do not powder coat as it will not look original. Bo Pirkle does a great job and has painted the wheels on several of my Ferraris over the years . Call Bo at 770.939.6982.

 

I did some repair touch up to the back side of my Chromos and used that high metallic from Duplicolor......Not correct appearance AT ALL.......

I have the stuff from Griot's for the front side, but won't clear coat it...

Should be a very fine grain silver metallic......

 

i just paint my rims use griots paint very happy with the paint.

 

I found this while searching for something else. Not sure if it is applicable.
"* I just ran across a Ferrari technical bulletin from 1971 where they specify how to paint the Cromodora Magnesium wheels:

Technical Information no. 182

Ref./Cromodora Magnesium Wheel Rims

When a respray of magnesium wheels is required, the products to be used are the following:

- Acrylic metallized paint - gray 2427078
(smalto metallizzato acrilico grigio ghisa 2427078)
[ed: literal translation is metallic cast iron gray acrylic enamel]

which can be ordered directly to:

- ITALVAR - Via Privata Bolla, 27 - Milano (Italy)

The paint should be applied with viscosity 37" (Ford type viscosity meter - orifice 3), and baked at 212°F (100°C) for 40 min. in the over or under stoving lamps.

Kindest regards,
FERRARI TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE"