Date:         Thu, 29 Jul 2004 02:09:28 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Anyone ever painted their hubcaps?
Comments: To: BajaLeo <bajaleo@COX.NET>

<snip>
I have the original silver/grey disc hubcaps on my '84 and they are kinda
scuffed up. Anyone have any luck painting them? They are expensive to
replace.
<snip>


I repainted the basket weave caps on my '84 about 10 years ago and they
still look good.

I redid the disk style covers on my '85 a year ago and they were really
scratched up before I started.

I tested some paint remover on the plastic (strip eez, et al) and it didn't
attack it so I proceeded to remove a PO's job as well as the factory paint.
I then used 400 grit wet sandpaper to knock down the ridges caused by the
deep scratches.  I filled the scratches with successive applications of
automotive glazing putty and wet sanding .... automotive (spray can) heavy
build up primer, more sanding, more glazing putty, more sanding until they
were smooth and blemish free.  I then, again using spray cans, topcoated
them with a silver that I got at the local Wal*Mart.  They look brand new.

Oh, and on the ones 10 years ago ... I used bondo on a couple of REALLY deep
scratches as well as the glazing putty and primer procedure described above.

Mike
Houlton, Maine
'84 GL 7 pass
'85 GL Westy