Powder Coating SVX Rims

[SVXMAN2001]

I am looking into powder coating my svx's rims, after 13 years their showing their age! Is there a specific color code for the 1992 rim colors. I know there is a difference in color between the older and newer svxes. Has anyone had this done before? Experiences?

[svxcess]

I have had my wheels powdercoated in the SVX stock color and after almost five years they look as good as the day I put them on, with no signs of wear at all (even under the svXCESSive scrutiny of yours truly.)

After much research and discussion over the phone I decided to use Transwheel for my refinishing. http://www.transwheel.com

I found that the Jaguar Mercedes Benz and Lotus dealers in my area used them exclusively. (The price of a new Lotus Espirit wheel makes ours look very cheap)

I wanted my dark silver 92 wheels redone in the lighter silver to put on my previous pearlie. Transwheel used the factory paint code for the 1994-1997 SVX (lighter silver) to mix the silver liquid paint (Sikkens) and then used a clear powdercoat over the top for gloss and protection. Wheels are baked at about 350 degrees and the finish is almost indestructible. I just hose them off with plain water. Now that I use the Akebono ceramic pads I have no brake dust in the front and cleaning is even easier.

The cost of refinishing, including repairing gouges, scratches, missing pieces and straightening, truing, checking for cracks, etc. was $154.50 per wheel. Shipping is in custom expanded foam boxes. They guarantee that all of their tolerences for roundness, trueness, etc. meet or exceed OEM specs and come with a lifetime warranty on the finish against fading, peeling, etc. The only thing not covered is deterioration caused my wheel weights clipped on the outside of the wheels that could cut through the clear powdercoat.

I also paid them an extra $100 to repaint my center caps. I had the SUBARU letters in the center filled and wanted them painted to match the wheels. They used the same paint as the wheels with a clear acrylic lacquer topcoat and then buffed them out.

I am on file with them now. If I ever need a wheel in the future they will paint one to match mine and send it to me for $154.50 plus a $75.00 refundable core charge. When I get my wheel and return my old one they refund the core charge to me.

Those of you who were at Reading III, IV and V, VII and the Lafayette meet saw the wheels and may be able to comment further.

Transwheel is located in Huntington, Indiana and their number is 800-358-5040. The contact there is Brady Benson at ext.153.

They also have a East Coast facility in Williamsport (near Hagerstown) Maryland, (888-892-6070) which is about 20 miles from me, and a Southeast Facility in Tampa, Florida.

[SVXMAN2001]

thanks john! I'll be sure to get in contact with them soon. Do i need to have the tires removed from the rim prior to shipping?

[svxcess]

Yes you should. It makes it a lot easier and a lot less expensive to ship them to Transwheel.

I had my wheels done at the Huntington, ID plant. Check to see if Brady Benson is still there and deal with him if you can. I have also had work done at the Willaimsport (Hagerstown) MD facility, but prefer Indiana.

Ask him for the dark silver color used in the 1992 SVX. Personally, I think the lighter silver (used on the 94-97 SVX) would do a lot to brighten up your car. I know how much better my 92 Pearlie looked when I went from dark to the lighter silver.

[ensteele]

I agree with John. The lighter silver looks much better and bright than the darker ones used on the 92s. jmo

[svxcess]

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I had the wheels on my pearlie powdercoated by Transwheel back in early 2002 (just before Reading III) I transferred them to my Polo later that year. Over 8 years later, they have no chips, nicks, peeling, flaking or clouding. The finish is as hard, smooth and shiny, even after 8 Maryland winters, as when they were new.

About a year ago, I found some small defects IN the finish, but only visible in strong sunlight and at certain angles. There were a few small, random white streaks (a sort of crazing) that appeared under the clear powdercoat, on 3 of the 4 wheels.

I stopped by Transwheel’s Williamsport, MD facility to have them look at the wheels and get their advice. They seemed to think it was because the base silver coat was not allowed to cure completely before applying the clear powder coat, but could not explain why it took it over 7 years to show up.

They said that their finish and workmanship has a lifetime guarantee against any defects to the original purchaser. They would redo all the wheels at no charge (they would even do the one wheel which had no problems, just to make sure everything matched)

I dropped the wheels off on Wednesday morning and received a call from them this Friday morning to let me know they were finished. I had talked to the chief inspector in their restoration department, whose scrutiny of every wheel that she releases rivals my own. She assured me that they were as perfect as possible and that, if I did not agree, they would redo them until I was satisfied. I received the same assurance from Jane Dobrzanski, Plant Manager

They even ground off the wheel logos that were cast onto the front of each wheel, as well as the “L” cast on the left side wheels, for a cleaner look.



First de-badged wheels on the network...

I will pick them up and have the tires remounted on Monday and will post newer photos. Going to Wheel Deal Racing as they have a Hunter TC3700 touchless tire mounting machine. No metal contact with the wheel, prybars or anything that can mar the finish

I cannot tell you how impressed I am with Transwheel in this situation. Without hesitation they offered to redo my wheels for free, no questions asked. My guarantee starts all over again. Customer service like this (and Maniac Electric Motors) is very rare and should be acknowledged.

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[svxcess]

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And to complete the clean look, I am considering flush-fit tire valves with inflation adapter.

Never need new valve stems again... Go HERE




Or is this just too sv-xcessive, even for me?

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[kwren]

Originally Posted by svxcess

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Or is this just too sv-xcessive, even for me?

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I like it!
Keith

[ensteele]

That is truely amazing! But now how are you going to tell your left wheels from the right ones?

[NeedForSpeed]

Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001

I am looking into powder coating my svx's rims, after 13 years their showing their age! Is there a specific color code for the 1992 rim colors. I know there is a difference in color between the older and newer svxes. Has anyone had this done before? Experiences?

I chose PhenixWheel, close to you, save some shipping .

Click on my link to Phenix and check them out. Also, check out the link to the black JDM where you will find a picture of the wheels done by PhenixWheel in 92 SVX color

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by ensteele

That is truely amazing! But now how are you going to tell your left wheels from the right ones?

By the arrows on my directional tires...

,

[kwren]

Originally Posted by svxcess

By the arrows on my directional tires...

,

That sure works for me!

Keith

They apparently have some SVX wheels and can send one or two and let a person install those on the car, send back the "core" and have them powder-coated and send them back etc so we can get them on all our SVX's more quickly?

Is that the way it works?

Thanks,
Keith

any good place for this in the NW??

[lhopp77]

Originally Posted by ensteele

That is truely amazing! But now how are you going to tell your left wheels from the right ones?

Don't worry about it. Just slap them on and post a pic here on the network and someone will tell you which ones are wrong.

Lee

[NeedForSpeed]

Originally Posted by lhopp77

Don't worry about it. Just slap them on and post a pic here on the network and someone will tell you which ones are wrong.

Lee

The PhenixWheels on my black JDM were mounted wrong [backward], but no one noticed

[NeedForSpeed]

John,

Thanks for the PM about TransWheel, your wheels are perfectly remanufactured. I found my wheel-set in the NorthEast, near PhenixWheel. Their webpage stated that the company specialized in OEM, so, I gave Phenix a chance.

I was very impressed, and I've had another 'similar' set done since .

It's nice to have more than one company that can do our wheels well, and in the right color