Author Topic: Restoring Europa steel wheels  (Read 1108 times)

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Offline mitchfloyd

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Restoring Europa steel wheels
« on: Thursday,September 19, 2024, 08:24:23 PM »
Hello, I need to restore Europa steel wheels after a long time of use. Is there a reputable unit that provides crack inspection, sandblasting, cleaning and powder coating services?

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Thanks.

Offline BDA

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #1 on: Thursday,September 19, 2024, 08:49:29 PM »
 :Welcome: mitchfloyd!!

I’m across the pond so I can’t provide you with any sources to fix your wheels. I wouldn’t expect there to be any cracks in steel wheels. You might do an Internet search for wheel restorers. You might find someone who can help.

We’d love to see some pictures of your baby and know what plans you have for her!

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #2 on: Friday,September 20, 2024, 03:26:34 AM »
 :Welcome:
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline dakazman

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #3 on: Friday,September 20, 2024, 05:50:33 AM »
  mitchfloyd
                 :Welcome:

    Can you supply any information about the Europa these steel wheels attach to?
 Sorry about not having an answer as to a vendor but I sandblasted off the rust with a hand held gun, not a clean job by any means. My point is that afterwards I had it powdered coated and found that rust appears on top of the coating when submerged. It’s my spare. It rust does wipe off but for how long. 
 Dakazman

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #4 on: Friday,September 20, 2024, 06:39:55 PM »
The Elan's knock-off, peg-drive, steel wheels have issues with cracking but I've not heard the same of the bolt on wheels.  So, any good powder coating company can do the work.  Get a tire shop to remove the tires and then spin them on front hub to make sure they spin straight and true.  No point in refinishing bent rims.

Offline richyb66

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #5 on: Saturday,September 21, 2024, 02:38:23 AM »
I've just refurbished my wheels. I was originally going to just send them for powder coating but decided to spray paint them myself because I wanted them black on the inside and silver on the outside for the original look.
First step was to get them blasted and phosphate dipped, this would get the old paint and rust off and put a protective coating on while I knocked out a few rings in the rims and filled some imperfections. This was done at in Tamworth and was £40 for 5 wheels.
The wheels were quite corroded in places, particularly inside the wheel where inner tubes had held moisture against the wheel. The outside where the rim is rivetted to the centre was also corroded and the blasting didn't get it all out so I ground it out with a small carbide burr on a Dremel.
The small imperfections in the visible areas were filled with stopping filler then I etch primed the wheels before painting and lacquering them.
Total cost was probably £120. I could have just had them powder coated in a single colour for not much more but I wasn't sure I'd be happy with the result as it can look a bit artificial. Overall I'm happy with the result, the don't look brand new but they're very presentable and with the chrome cap on, they should look nice on the car.
I'll post some pictures later when I can get on a computer, too difficult to do on the phone.


Offline S2Zetec54

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #6 on: Saturday,September 21, 2024, 05:53:42 AM »
Hey  :Welcome:

, welcome

Don't have steels but have always liked the look. Good luck



Offline richyb66

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #7 on: Saturday,September 21, 2024, 11:06:09 AM »
Before and after.

Offline 314159td

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #8 on: Saturday,September 21, 2024, 01:23:01 PM »
While we're all here, does anybody have a standardized color code for the factory stock silver/grey wheels? Like a RAL 7001 or etc.

Offline Bryan Boyle

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #9 on: Sunday,September 22, 2024, 05:46:05 AM »
While we're all here, does anybody have a standardized color code for the factory stock silver/grey wheels? Like a RAL 7001 or etc.

Since they were bought off the shelf (unlike the GKN alloys which were made to Lotus spec), it would be in the records of whomever was the foundry was that built the wheels (probably the same as for MG, Triumph, etc.  Lots of bits and pieces came out of the British National Parts Bins that showed up across marques) during the day.  I doubt there is a cross-matchable code, but, what do I know?  Just my $.03. 

Find something that looks close...and argue with the judges at the show later.  FWIW, I just powder coated my spare set black and put them on my TCS.  They work for me.

Bryan Boyle
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Commercial Pilot/CFII/FAA Safety Team
Amateur Extra Class Operator & FCC Volunteer Examiner
Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline My S1

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #10 on: Sunday,September 22, 2024, 09:07:39 AM »
I restored mine last year.  I did quite a bit of research with CTL and other sources trying to determin if there might in fact be a paint code.  Bottom line, no.  The original paint is a very fine mettalic.  In the end I used Original Equipment Reprodction's Argent Silver/Green.  It is an exact match to the late sixties Chevrolet argent silver as used on the Corvette and Camaro Ralley Wheels.  A very slight green tint and very fine metallic.  I'm quite happy with them and feel that they do look original and not too bright or glittery.  Used three cans for the top coat.

I did not have any cracks but I did have a wheel shop re-true and trim the outer rim edges on their large lathe.  After an agressive media blasting allot of rust scars showed up. I spent quite a bit of time resurfacing them with bondo.

Offline 314159td

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #11 on: Monday,September 23, 2024, 01:56:32 AM »
WIW, I just powder coated my spare set black and put them on my TCS.  They work for me.

I saw those, was definitely thinking about it. Looks great with the dog dish hubcaps.
I have only one of the original set was was planning to do those up properly at some later paint, maybe if the car gets repainted to a factory color and not the knockoff JPS livery it currently has. It'll run the 80s looking Triumph alloys for the foreseeable future.

Thank you both, did not realize they're supposed to be slightly metallic. Seems odd for the time but makes sense given what I've seen in photos and the remnants on my wheels.

Offline dakazman

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #12 on: Friday,September 27, 2024, 04:18:56 PM »
  This is what I found out about a powdered coated rim that I prepped/ stripped to bare metal, then turned it over to a friends business.
 The only water that was dumped on it was during getting a wash by hand.  My painted Chevy rally wheels faired much better with my paint job.

Offline GavinT

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #13 on: Friday,September 27, 2024, 06:15:52 PM »
  This is what I found out about a powdered coated rim that I prepped/ stripped to bare metal, then turned it over to a friends business.
 The only water that was dumped on it was during getting a wash by hand.  My painted Chevy rally wheels faired much better with my paint job.

Worth noting for those contemplating powder coating the chassis.

Offline dakazman

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Re: Restoring Europa steel wheels
« Reply #14 on: Saturday,September 28, 2024, 03:50:26 AM »
   :I-agree:
    Very good point . Yikes
Dakazman