Hub cap restoration questions

R

roadster

New member
I have seen some excellent tutorals and tips on restoring wheels on the foum but not on hub caps.



I have some 90 (Buick Reatta) caps that the clear coat needs to be removed, the cap metal (aluminum) condiditoned, and then refinished. The caps have a glued on plastic logo center.



The caps or metal part of the cap have very faint circular lines and although a shinny clearcoat, it is not reflective (probably because of the circular lines). The center has to be protected/taped as it is the logo encased in plastic.



I have previously experimented with different grades of wet or dry paper (sanding in a circular motion around the metal part of the cap), and different semi gloss clear coats, and can't seem to get it right or close to OEM...any suggestions please :help: ?



thanks,



Nic
 
BigJimZ28 said:
are they special?



I would just replace them!
Click to expand...





yeah unless they are some special caps than i would just replace them. Alot easier than wasting all that time on some $20 hubcaps.
 
Well, '88 to '90 JUNK caps with road rash, dents, scratches, warped, broken retainer tabs, or better stated <completely trashed> go for the mentioned $20.00 figure. Then they go up to $125.00 + each in gd condition....now that is if you are VERY lucky to to even find any in that condition....in fact I ahven't seen any pristinecaps offered on Ebay or at any wrecking yards for over a year. If you happen to come across any original '91 caps (not reproductions), the sky is the limit....not to long ago, there were several on Ebay that brought several hundred dollars each in the condition of the previously mentioned $20.00 JUNK caps. I would not have wasted the forums time with the restoration questions if trying to revive the caps were not worthwhile.



Would still appreciate any restoration sugestions or tips please.....
 
there is a hubcab guy not too far from me



and I got some for my mom's car (92 Buick) a few years ago

in like new shape 2 for $60 he also had ones in not as good shape for less



if you post some pics I could see if he has any for you
 
For the replies are they rare, yes Reatta's were something of a rare vehicle. Quite ahead of their time in many ways. You may want to look into a firm that does refinishing so they are done right.
 
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