[DeTomaso] Repainting original wheels

[F&D Terry]

Colin,

Having refinished the wheels on my GT5-S, I can describe what worked for me.

The wheels are magnesium but they will not react with most paints. Any 
amount of pitting has exposed the metal which almost immediately starts 
oxidizing. This is the same as rust is to steel except that pits develop 
much faster. Oxidation will creep under any paint surrounding a chip 
causing pitting that won't be apparent under even a close inspection. I 
glass beaded my wheels entirely, being careful to concentrate only on 
spots that were bare metal or where the paint blew off easily with the 
glass beads. Any paint that is not easily blasted away should be allowed 
to remain since it is has good adhesion with the metal. As rapidly as 
possible after blasting, the surface should be washed with a wax and 
grease remover and bare spots should be primed with a two part epoxy 
primer. Pits should be filled with a two part surfacer then sanded to 
the proper contour and reprimed with the two part epoxy primer. I primed 
my entire wheels with the second application of epoxy primer allowing it 
to cure following the manufacturer's directions.

At this point your wheels are well sealed against further oxidation and 
they can be painted using a variety of products. I used a PPG two part 
urethane in Argent Silver. Valve stems should not be installed with a 
sealer since they are installed with o-rings. Attention should be paid 
to the valve stem holes during refinishing since they are an area prone 
to oxidation.

Fred T.

Colin Bradshaw wrote:

>Can anyone tell me what is the advice on re-painting the original magnesium road wheels on a GT5S. Mine are slightly marked and I wanted to respray them the original silver colour to tidy them up,.. but had a nagging feeling that I had heard the paint re-acted with magnesium and caused it to degrade. Given mine are already painted and not needing a strip back to metal would it be ok to degrease, prepare and re-spray.?..
>Thoughts would be appreciated, thanks in anticipation.
>Colin Bradshaw (UK)
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