Wheel Color?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 37
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From: Oak Harbor, WA
Wheel Color?
I'd like to repaint the steel wheels of my 1985 F250. Although I have 3 white wheels and 1 gray, I think the original wheel color was white and that would go nicely with the Dark Charcoal Metallic (9W) exterior body color. Does anyone know the actual Ford color code/name? Also, since I don't have an extra set of wheels, it would be more convenient to paint the wheels while on the truck. Any tips? Or, is that a bad idea? Thanks for your help.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 639
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From: houston
I painted the wheels on my truck by taking them off to clean them,then sanded them a little. I used some silver wheel paint from Auto Zone.The best way that I found to keep from painting the tires was to use some roofing tin to make a ring by cutting a strip off and taping it to sit on the outside edge of the rim ,good luck
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 5
From: Out of here
Vasoline works great.
Smear a thin coat on the tire, paint the rims, wipe it off.
Not how I did mine, but have done it before.
I believe the color you are looking for is Wimbleton White. Same color as my truck.
Check my gallery.
Smear a thin coat on the tire, paint the rims, wipe it off.
Not how I did mine, but have done it before.
I believe the color you are looking for is Wimbleton White. Same color as my truck.
Check my gallery.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 499
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Wow, Stosh, thanks for that tip. So, just put a coat of vasoline on my tire, spray away at my wheel, and then wipe the vasoline off?
Mine need a new coat really bad.
Btw, the truck in my Avatar has black wheels, and I like black wheels on that color.
EDIT:
As a matter of fact, here is a picture of my wheel pain. Notice how it's peeling off. It's worse now, this was probably 5 or so months ago. What's the best way to get the paint off? I'm curious to see what the original color would look like. I have GIMP, but not Photoshop, and I suck with what I do have. If anyone gets bored and want to photoshop some other NORMAL colors on there, like the original color, I'd be grateful.
Mine need a new coat really bad.
Btw, the truck in my Avatar has black wheels, and I like black wheels on that color.
EDIT:
As a matter of fact, here is a picture of my wheel pain. Notice how it's peeling off. It's worse now, this was probably 5 or so months ago. What's the best way to get the paint off? I'm curious to see what the original color would look like. I have GIMP, but not Photoshop, and I suck with what I do have. If anyone gets bored and want to photoshop some other NORMAL colors on there, like the original color, I'd be grateful.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Oak Harbor, WA
IcemanV8 brings up a good point regarding paint peeling. Wheels seem to get more abuse that other parts of a truck, which makes me wonder if painting them myself more trouble that it's worth. I know a good autobody painter who offered to paint the wheels using a two-step base coat/clear coat process for $200. I'd like to save some cash and paint them myself using cans of spray paint, but not if I end up having to paint them again and again and...again. Penny-wise and pound-foolish?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 321
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From: Picayune Mississippi
I've had good luck painting wheels. I will use a wire brush on a drill to scuff it up really good and then when all is done take a clean rag soaked in alcohol and wipe it really good. Don't wanna be paiting the leftover dust. While you can paint the wheels on the vehicle with the tires mounted, I much prefer to paint wheels off with the tire dismounted. Now...I also realize that this will be a problem if it's a daily driver and the cost of dismounting, remounting (balancing??) can add up. However, you're gonna get a much better looking end product, less chances of runs, and no worries about paint overspray on the tires or anywhere else. Even with vaseline, its still difficult to get the wheel lip. I painted the wheels on my utility trailer over two years ago and they've got a shine today just as bright as when I did 'em.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 5
From: Out of here
Here are mine that I did about 4 months ago. If I had the time, I would have blasted them first with Black Beauty and then primed and painted them.
I was in a hurry and just wire brushed them and sanded them by hand. The wheels were in real good shape to begin with.
I then used about 3 coats of a multi-purpose primer, wet sanded them and then shot on 5-6 light coats of acrylic enamel with a hardner. After they were thoroughly dry (sitting out in the sun for about 2 weeks), I then wet sanded them again (only because I got some runs - it's hard not to) and then finally rubbed them out with a little compound.
If I had to do it all over again, I would take them to my friend's powder coating shop and have him do it. $40 bucks a wheel for sand blasting and powder coating with a 2 step base coat - clear coat. Would have turned out just as nice and would have been much more durable.
As careful as we were re-mounting the tires, the inside hub area still got some chips in it from the cone on the balancing machine.
I was in a hurry and just wire brushed them and sanded them by hand. The wheels were in real good shape to begin with.
I then used about 3 coats of a multi-purpose primer, wet sanded them and then shot on 5-6 light coats of acrylic enamel with a hardner. After they were thoroughly dry (sitting out in the sun for about 2 weeks), I then wet sanded them again (only because I got some runs - it's hard not to) and then finally rubbed them out with a little compound.
If I had to do it all over again, I would take them to my friend's powder coating shop and have him do it. $40 bucks a wheel for sand blasting and powder coating with a 2 step base coat - clear coat. Would have turned out just as nice and would have been much more durable.
As careful as we were re-mounting the tires, the inside hub area still got some chips in it from the cone on the balancing machine.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
The Factory standard steel Wheel Colors, you had three choices.
Black: Used for trucks with Wheel Covers.
White: trucks with Argent (Silver Painted) Hubcaps or no caps at all.
Argent: (Silver) Trucks with Bright polished aluminum hub caps.
Hope this helps.
Black: Used for trucks with Wheel Covers.
White: trucks with Argent (Silver Painted) Hubcaps or no caps at all.
Argent: (Silver) Trucks with Bright polished aluminum hub caps.
Hope this helps.
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Senior User
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Wow, Stosh, thanks for that tip. So, just put a coat of vasoline on my tire, spray away at my wheel, and then wipe the vasoline off?
Mine need a new coat really bad.
Btw, the truck in my Avatar has black wheels, and I like black wheels on that color.
EDIT:
As a matter of fact, here is a picture of my wheel pain. Notice how it's peeling off. It's worse now, this was probably 5 or so months ago. What's the best way to get the paint off? I'm curious to see what the original color would look like. I have GIMP, but not Photoshop, and I suck with what I do have. If anyone gets bored and want to photoshop some other NORMAL colors on there, like the original color, I'd be grateful.
Mine need a new coat really bad.
Btw, the truck in my Avatar has black wheels, and I like black wheels on that color.
EDIT:
As a matter of fact, here is a picture of my wheel pain. Notice how it's peeling off. It's worse now, this was probably 5 or so months ago. What's the best way to get the paint off? I'm curious to see what the original color would look like. I have GIMP, but not Photoshop, and I suck with what I do have. If anyone gets bored and want to photoshop some other NORMAL colors on there, like the original color, I'd be grateful.
I'm a fan of black wheels too. Don't know why, but I like them. I have some on my pick up.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Oak Harbor, WA
Although the original paint of my three white wheels is old and faded, it appears to be a little off-white with a slight tinge of yellow, which would collaborate with the Wimbledon color. I think I would prefer that versus a stark white. Thanks for the help.
While I was checking out some threads, I got a bit confused about the correct wheel size for a 1985 F250. Shouldn't a wheel have a stamp that tells you what size it is? Like DOT "T" something something....?
While I was checking out some threads, I got a bit confused about the correct wheel size for a 1985 F250. Shouldn't a wheel have a stamp that tells you what size it is? Like DOT "T" something something....?
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 5
From: Out of here
Stock wheel size is 16 x 6 but later year 16 x 7 fit fine and allow you to run a wider tire. That's what I have on my truck. I needed the later model wheels because of the axle swap.
Later wheels have a slightly larger bore size to clear the Sterling rear hubs.
Later wheels have a slightly larger bore size to clear the Sterling rear hubs.