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Splitting 108's ?

Alloy wheels and tyre discussion
Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:27 pm

Every day I get up and search for inspiration.
And after I visit the Z4 Forum, somehow it arrives !
And when I'm faced with doubt, I always discover the encouragement to give it a shot.
Thanks for all your help. On this project I am especially thankful to Mr. Wilks - The Mystro of Wheels.
So up to this point I swapped my surplus bumper for a set of 108's
And the 108's came with a fresh re-spray - bronze. They had previously been black.
Initially I was concerned about fitting them with tyres only to change my mind on the colour later.
So here is my update:
I couldn't wait and following Mr. Wilks' lead I first tackled the fasteners.
Not a problem. I have an impact driver from my '69 Triumph Bonneville days.
That's the kind you whack with a hammer. And it worked !
Considering all the layers of paint, I was very pleased.
Next up I split the rims, being careful to mark each pair so reassembly would be as per original pairing.
(just a few dots with a centre punch on the undersides did the trick)
I was told the rims hadn't been split, but I was surprised to discover a third coat of red paint !

Next up - Stripping and Sanding.
The first Star Centre did me in. Too many layers of paint plus filler primer !
Off to the local Monument Maker. That's the guy who makes grave head stones.
He sand blasts on the side. (very reasonable)
But before you run off to the cemetery with your rims, check what 'media' he blasts with.
I wanted a rough, as cast look on the stars. And that's what I got. The hoops were not blasted.
If you are looking for blasted shiny, you would have to look for someone who does that.
So here are some pics
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Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:29 pm

One more together.
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I'm not sure about the final surface on the hoop.
They are in amazing shape, being protected by all those layers of paint and primer.
I think I would like a brushed aluminum finish.
I could achieve that by sanding off the gloss of the original rim and spraying it with flat clear coat.
Or I could just spray the whole hoop with bright silver and be done with it.

By the way, the titanium fasteners were too easy to strip off the paint.
I just put them in a plastic ice cream container, poured in some stripper, put on the container's top, and let sit for a while.
Every now and then I gave the whole concoction a shake like I was mixing up a martini.
The agitation and abrasion cleaned off all the paint, with only a few deviants that needed their heads cleaned with a scratch awl.
Last edited by Bumpy on Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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mr wilks
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by mr wilks » Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:41 pm

Splitting / refurbing 108s is a laborious & at times patience sapping experience if all doesn't go well but there is great delight at seeing them bolted back together in fresh condition with cleaned rimbolts .
Good work mr B :thumbsup:
3 ZMRs
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Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:59 pm

mr wilks wrote:Splitting / refurbing 108s is a laborious & at times patience sapping experience if all doesn't go well but there is great delight at seeing them bolted back together in fresh condition with cleaned rimbolts .
Good work mr B :thumbsup:
Actually I am chuffed at how this has gone so far.
My original plan for colour was to paint the star and the hoop the same colour (Titanium).
Then I planned on painting the part of the star that has the fasteners with a flat black plastic dip spray.
Visually I hoped to make the wheel appear to be joined only at the tips of the star.

The colour I currently have on the stars is a little darker than I first wanted.
But the paint I have is formulated specifically for wheels and on closer inspection it has a metallic fleck that I quite like.
I have 3 more hoops to finish sand so I have some time to think about this.

Thanks again Mr. Wilks.

Cheers Bumpy

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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Thu Mar 16, 2017 7:51 pm

An update on my latest adventure.
After sandblasting the stars, I stripped and sanded the hoops.
I was quite surprised to discover minimal damage to the beads.
The look I was attracted to was a rim from the 70's that was often used on Mustangs of the period and even showed up as a stock option on modern Mustangs. I believe it was made by Rocket Racing Wheels but I am probably wrong. It featured 5 dark flat gray spokes and a polished rim. After sandblasting the stars, I kept the 'as blasted' look because that surface was just about perfect.

My first attempt was to remove the gloss of the polished bead with 400 grit silicon carbide wet or dry paper. I was looking for a brushed aluminum look with a nod towards future curbing and easier repairs. I sprayed the surface with clear coat for protection.
The stars were painted anthracite.
Now this is close to the common 2 tone that many 108's are refurbed to.
Time for several pots of tea and long stares at the rims. I knew anything I was considering would be way easier while the rims were split.

So not being one to do anything easy, when there is a more difficult option. I decided to keep the star fastener rim dark and lighten the stars so that the tips on the stars were similar in colour to the brushed beads on the hoops. Only problem was that just as I was ready to spray we got a cold snap (only the second one of the season) and that meant more pots of tea and lingering looks at the rims.
During this time I also thought that the brushed aluminum beads were already close to the painted silver, and the painted surface was probably much better than clear coated metal, so I decided to paint them.

When the weather broke (sort of ) I rushed the garage and sprayed away. The stars received a silver overcoat which lightened them, but did not quite make it to the same shade as the beads. All in all I am satisfied with the look, although many will not even notice this detail.

What's left is an assembly and an overall clear coat, although the jury is still out on that.
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Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Thu Mar 16, 2017 7:53 pm

More pics
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Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:00 am

Done and Dusted
Attachments
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Grumpyowl
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Grumpyowl » Sat Mar 18, 2017 8:07 am

Well done Bumpy, hard work but the the result is great :thumbsup:

Bumpy
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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:44 pm

Grumpyowl wrote:Well done Bumpy, hard work but the the result is great :thumbsup:
Thanks Grumpyowl.
I am very pleased with my results and thankful for the positive assistance I got from the Forum.
When I get the tyres mounted and on the Zed, I'll post some pics in the sunshine.

Cheers
Bumpy

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Splitting 108's ?

Post by Bumpy » Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:33 pm

Wheels mounted.
Next up hard top removal and then Spring Cleaning.
Spring takes a few weeks longer to arrive in the Great White North.
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