Best Way to Polish 40 year old Lacquer Clear Coated Aluminum Wheels

[Since1977]

Hi,
I acquired an original set of mid 70's OEM Corvette slotted aluminum wheels. I know these were clear coated with lacquer (single stage) from the factory, and it appears that the finish is still there (how can I tell for sure?).
However, there are a lot of whitish spots on the wheels, which look like water spots but I believe this is oxidation of the lacquer clear coat.

What products and process should I use to restore the wheels and remove the spots? I intend to do this by hand, and do not want to damage the lacquer clear coat.

Thanks much.
Dave

 

[Audios S6]

Clean them thoroughly, then use a light colored MF towel and a white polish (for paint). If after a few rubs, you see a lot of black on the towel, then it is bare aluminum. Try a second time in the same spot just to verify it wasn't just 40 years of grime coming off. If it's very black the first time, it's a near certainty that they are bare aluminum.

Polish by hand with a MF towel and polish like
Meguiars m205 or optimum finish

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I doubt those white spots are going to be fixed by polishing. Probably have to have wheels professionally refinished.

 

[Eric@CherryOnTop]

I would get some Mother's Mag wheel and aluminum polish. Clean the wheels real good then rub a little on an inconspicuous spot with a white towel. If it turns black then they are probably bare aluminum. Otherwise I would use just a fine abrasive paint polish on them.

 

[Since1977]

Thanks for your responses, and here is an update:
I rubbed some polish on the wheels and got a grey/dark grey residue on my polishing cloth only when rubbed hard, not the dark black that comes with oxidizing aluminum. So I assumed the lacquer clear coat is still intact. On the theory that old lacquer clear coat is just like old single stage paint, I applied Meguiar's number 7 with a terry cloth towel to the wheel with the most white oxidation spots. After two hours of repeated application and rubbing, I reduced the spotting by about half. In the process I think I further confirmed that there is indeed clear coat, since some of the spots when rubbed transitioned to a yellowish tint, which seems consistent with lacquer.

My question is, what is a good polish to gently remove the remaining water spots / oxidation once I am finished with the Meguiar's 7? M205 was suggested, are there any others? Doing this by hand.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

My question is, what is a good polish to gently remove the remaining water spots / oxidation once I am finished with the Meguiar's 7?

M205 is a fine cut polish, I would invest the time and energy to apply a fine cut polish.

Might as well go with a true compound. If you want to keep it simple and stick with Meguiar's then get some Ultimate Compound and apply with terry cloth.

 

[Since1977]

Thanks so much Mike.
Do you mean that you would skip the fine polish and go straight to Ultimate Compound?

I suppose then that the Ultimate Compound is gentle enough to the lacquer if applied by hand...

Dave

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks so much Mike.
Do you mean that you would skip the fine polish and go straight to Ultimate Compound?

I suppose then that the Ultimate Compound is gentle enough to the lacquer if applied by hand...

Dave

I would apply the Ultimate Compound and then seal. You're not going to see a dramatic difference between any other steps on clearcoated aluminum mags.


I've actually owned quite a few slotted mags...

Old School Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels - Extreme Makeover

Before

After