Formula Wheel Resto
 

I picked up a nice formula wheel, needs some Resto, rubber nice, I’ll post what I used on it, I ordered a can of SEM from the Walmart site, I’ll get some new Allen flat heads, wrinkle paint the hub, the horn hub is even nice, put a new emblem in there, I even have the nut that holds it, lol
It’ll sell fast in Dayton.

My observation was that the wrinkle finish was used on the 1980-1981 wheels which had steel cores;
The 70-79 wheels which had aluminum cores used a very dark tinted clear paint - that over time faded away...

Isn't there a black tinted clear you can use on this?
(because the end result might make you happier)

If you plan to spray the foam part of the wheel, use SEM color coat:

https://www.semproducts.com/product/...aerosols/15013

Yes, I ordered landau black and it came today in the mail, looking into the clear black. And the wrinkle finish for the hub

Im sure you have done a hub before, here is one I did a few years ago. The wrinkle paint said it worked best if the part was heated first so I put in on top of my pot heater for a few minutes. Worked out perfect. Good luck, looks like a nice settup you got there.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...450363b4_c.jpg2021-01-30_01-21-38 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e6f6bf53_c.jpg2021-01-30_01-21-47 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aa14bbd5_c.jpg2021-01-30_05-11-23 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Cool, thanks for all the tips and pics. This outta be a fun project.
As far as the spokes, I was told to use a clear black, and recommendations, I’m doing this cheap as possible to sell it, I really don’t want to go the the Auto paint store.

if you're doing it on the cheap, then leave the spokes natural.

I too have cleaned these up in the past to sell.

The steel ones look ugly if the wrinkle paint comes off and the spokes start to rust, so you more or less have to refinish them - but the aluminum ones do not need to be refinished.

I had guessed (incorrectly) from your first post that you were doing this for yourself.

The wheels with the aluminum spokes were not painted. They had black anodize plating.

Yes but I heard using a thin paint, or clear replicates it. I figure this is for the average guy who needs one but doesn’t want the repo. Not for Pebble Beach cars. Lol
I’d like to leave the spokes go, but there’s too much anodizing left. Yes this was just to be a fun project then sell it,
I was going to get it leather wrapped. It’s was 185$ just for the wrap, I did a YEE one and sold it, it comes out a tat thicker, it’s a nice look and feel.
Not sure if anyone knows Mongo on the forums, he recently did one, it came out nice. I think he put it on his turd Gen.

I just ran across this one I want to try to redo. Seems like a good candidate. May end up a wall hanger or replace the one in my 77.

Today I had a chance to do the spokes, thin light coat,

This is the paint I used for the spokes, walmart had all 3 I’m using.

Is that that tan rimmed wheel a repro or original?
Would you consider selling it?

What else are you using? That looks good. I bought the wrinkle paint to try on a hub today.

Vertigo, the camel wheel is mine. Original as far as I know. PM me

Ordered a SEM black too for the rubber, and the horn button, then I gotta do the wrinkle finish.

Not bad, that’s the thing B, you have 100$ into the 3 paints and a new horn emblem, these wheels that need Resto are like 100-150 depending g how complete. So you’ll have $250 into a wheel, This one cane with everything, even the nut.

Wheel and horn button came out nice. Now just the wrinkle on the hub

Looks good!

Nice job, looks great!

I remember the hub took me 3 tries but I had zero experience with wrinkle paint. It was fun and in the end, turned out great.

That paint on the wheel spokes came out GREAT! Going to have to try it. Even being gloss looks the right shade.

Here’s my finished product which started as the camel wheel above

It's looks so much fatter in black.


Can I say that?!

Roger, is that a used original horn cap as well done at the same time as grip?

Your wheel looks great, that SEM paint from walmart is good stuff! ;)

A suggestion to prolong the paint since this is a high use part & a color change, is to use a couple couple coats SEMs low luster clear on it, provides a nice sheen & protection.

HA! No comment

78w72, yea I like that SEM. I’ve used it a few times. It used that on the wheel spokes only though. The rest I used Duplicolor’s vinyl and carpet dye/paint, whatever you want to call it. I’m very impressed with it so far. The wheel isn’t perfect but it’s pretty darn good. A little more work and I could get it near perfect I think.

Aside from the fact that I think the late 70s wheels at least had a bit of texture to them? At least my wheel off my car appeared to in the areas less worn. Either way I’m happy with it and will probably sell one of my spare wheels eventually. I have a tilt column I redid also and a spare hub.

Ive used the duplicolor vinyl paint a couple times, its pretty good but always had more of a gloss than i liked or was factory on these interiors... the SEM low luster clear will work on that paint too & provide some protection for higher wear areas like a steering wheel.

I have a bunch of these wheels in varying condition as well as an original low mile (~25k) one on a 81 t/a, on the ones Ive seen they were all a very smooth finish with no texture to them.

Thanks for the info on the low luster clear. Maybe I’ll try it out. Interesting on the texture too. Maybe my wheel had been messed with by someone. Come to think of it though the camel wheel was very smooth also. I’ll try to snap a picture of my wheel if I have a have a chance. Packing and cleaning before I leave on vacation tomorrow as we speak.

The 2 Sems were ordered from Walmart, yes I sprayed it out in the driveway, it turned out ok. But a pro painter would have done a better job I’m sure, but had to keep price down. As it is, with the emblem and the 3 paints, there’s over a Hondo in it plus what I gave for the core. It’ll go on the table in Dayton, some driver will get a decent wheel, it’s complete.
I did end up using a heat gun to get the wrinkle consistent. Thanks to all for the tips, Mr Norwood, thank you for the Allen flat heads.


* yes, the horn cap came with the wheel, the horn contact pc is date coded BTW, this is off a 1975