Powerdercoat stock rims?
 

I just ordered a 370z base + sport in Graphite gray (or whatever its called) I love the stock rims but I think it would look great in flat back against the graphite grey. How hard would it be to powerdercoat the rims?

^^ it's really not hard to powdercoat the rims....it has been done on the G37 rims...and it looks good...if you pick a good colour


also, it's called Platinum Graphite...lol

I'e been thinking about the same thing for a while. I have the same color Z as you. I would go with a black with more of a sateen finish. Look at the matte black volks. They still have a sheen to them (and it looks damn good) like a semi-gloss type paint would.

Just food for thought.

this is something i plan on doing while i save up for aftermarket ones. i plan of going gunmetal though

You should think long and hard about the safety risk with powdercoating forged wheels. There have been a few instances where 06+ 350z wheels have cracked after being powdercoated where too much heat is used. Paint may be a better option, and it's easier to repair if it gets nicked.

^Are you kidding? That's absurd. First of all I can't see a forged wheel being affected by 400F temps in any significant way. Second, paint scratches with road debris, but the test of a good powdercoat is to scratch it with a nickel, if it leaves a mark the coat is too soft and should be done again. How many OE and aftermarket wheels are powdercoated? I would say a good 80%. If it weakens the wheels so much why do Volk and HRE do it?

I was thinking of doing the same thing when I get the Z, but do you guys think the black wheels looks a little weird with the silver door handles? I know it has been done before as tons of Z owners have black wheels, but to me it just looks a little out of place having three colors on your car. For example, a platinum graphite car, silver door handles and then black rims!

I think you're overthinking it a little bit, just got for it man :tup:

The stock wheels would look great if powder coated them the right color.
You shouldn't be paying too much to get them done.

Go for it man:tup:

Place by my work quoted me $300 for all 4 wheels, 3-4 day turn around.
Here is a Photoshop I did, also lowered a bit and tinted windows. :tup:

^ YES! PG and flat black wheels is perfect. I swear the Nissan designers made this car to be lowered. The knife edge fender lips evidence that.

I was thinking of pulling the Nissan logos and door handles and doing them in black as well.

Well done Minicobra!!

We can talk the talk but can we walk the walk?!

+1

Mini, if you don't like them when they are done, and I do I will swap with you + $150 ;)

those + spacers + some drop and ur set. except on a JDM car it's hard to resist the Advan's or Volks :D

my only problem with powder coating which i been wanting to do on my own car for 11 months now, is i cannot drive the car for a few days or a week or have to borrow someone's wheels

Sounds great :tup: I'll probably get them done this next week, just need to find the time to get down there and borrow the wifes SUV.

this should hold me off on buying aftermarket rims for some time........

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...perf-mofo2.jpg

Is there a specific black you guys recommend to powdercoat the stock rims for a black Z?

The guy at the powder coater showed me a 20% gloss and a 50% gloss, I'm probably going with one of those, they are more of a satin finish, not glossy, but not flat either.

Did you ever get your wheels done??

Hey Jimmy, no, not yet. I've decided that my next mod will be Berk HFC and then prob coil overs, so I'm saving the cash to put toward that. I will get them done eventually, but since it's purely cosmetic, I think I will save it for last. When I finally do it, I will also space the wheels out a bit, to make them more flush with the fender lips, they are a little too tucked at the moment.

That photoshop looks great.

I wonder how that would look on the chicane yellow?

If I were to powdercoat the rims, I would wait until tire replacement time.

I hear you there, Socal. I was thinking about powdercoating mine, but decided I could live with it until I had to change my tires out.

Why would waiting until it's time for new tires matter?

No way to powdercoat the rims with the tires on. Simply have the shop dismount the old ones; send them off to the powdercoater's; mount/balance your tires when you get your rims back.

looks good man

My stock rims are off and I will probably use them for track wheels. I am considering a satin black with a thin red pin stripe on the outside or maybe the black chrome. This is on a red car.

for those that have powder coated your wheels did you borrow some wheels or leave the car on jack stands? i want to powdercoat asap but i have been trying to research if leaving the car up on stands for like a week would be ok lol..any advice?

always good to be safe of course..sure why not leave it on jack stands..unless you have little kids or animals moving through your garage why should it matter

It would look right at home in Kentucky

anyone powdercoat there wheels yet? if so can i get some pics:pics:

That gunmetal on the white looks awesome.

Chris

I'm painting. I've now talked to a materials scientist and two professional aluminum extruders who say they wouldn't mess with powdercoating forged wheels because temperatures in the 400 degree range will have an effect on the forged aluminum. It may not matter, but since I'll be tracking the car, I figure it's worth being safe.

I actually thought about anodizing, but I thought it might be a bummer to fix if the tires got curbed or something...

More pics please, also some details on what you did...powdercoat or paint, color, etc...:pics:

Go with this

http://www.go370z.com/images/20081125/gtr_rims_18.jpg

My Solid Red's stock rims are going to get painted gunmetal. Wonder if I can make the door handles gunmetal too?

The door handles are plastic, but might be a bit of a pain to take off.
Door handle topic

For the people asking about color, Consider black chrome. They strip the paint from the stock wheels, then apply a "clear" black that lets you see the aluminum through it. Another cool option is coat it with metallic silver, which is sparkly, then black chrome over the top of that. At my local shop, black chrome is $60/wheel or $100/wheel to do black chrome over metallic silver.

Anybody do this yet on a PG with pics not photoshopped? I was thinking black or the color from the 40th anniversary edition.