Smooth Wheel Covers

[Zerohour]

I've been working on a way to smooth my Alloys.

Brucey taped then PlasticDip' his taped alloys. He held up very well.

I've been wondering if I use tape to seal up the holes, could I use a two part casting epoxy to make a smooth wheel cover. The only question still comes down to attachment to the wheel. I was considing drilling the plastic cap and anchoring it to the wheel using 5 or 10 zip ties (ten spoke alloys).

I'm just wondering if anyone on the boards has experimented with the two part epoxies and how well it held up over time.

-Z

[NeilBlanchard]

Check out Robert Smalls' fiberglass covers for his Insight:

2010 Prius Wheel Cover Heat-Shrink Mod

They are bonded to the hub cover, but not to the main part of the rim; and molded right in place.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Zerohour

I've been working on a way to smooth my Alloys.

Brucey taped then PlasticDip' his taped alloys. He held up very well.

I've been wondering if I use tape to seal up the holes, could I use a two part casting epoxy to make a smooth wheel cover. The only question still comes down to attachment to the wheel. I was considing drilling the plastic cap and anchoring it to the wheel using 5 or 10 zip ties (ten spoke alloys).

I'm just wondering if anyone on the boards has experimented with the two part epoxies and how well it held up over time.

-Z

In the 1960s I used JB Weld's epoxy to close a hole in my Ramblers engine block caused by a thrown rod.I drove the car for a year and a half without event until I went overseas.
I'm sold on the stuff!
Casting epoxy may not possess any mechanical 'matrix' forming additives and may not be as good in tension although if the wheel is stiff it may not be an issue at all.
Maybe,try one,then observe for fracture.

[cfg83]

aerohead -

Originally Posted by aerohead

In the 1960s I used JB Weld's epoxy to close a hole in my Ramblers engine block caused by a thrown rod.I drove the car for a year and a half without event until I went overseas.
I'm sold on the stuff!
Casting epoxy may not possess any mechanical 'matrix' forming additives and may not be as good in tension although if the wheel is stiff it may not be an issue at all.
Maybe,try one,then observe for fracture.

Cool beans! What was the Ramber's compression ratio?

CarloSW2

[Zerohour]

The problem still remains that I have Alloys, and thus no hub caps.

I'm still pondering the castable epoxy. I thinking maybe a layer of screen mesh would add strength.

The test tape is holding up for the time being. I might tape up the wheels more tomorrow night

[brucey]

Trust me, they'll hold. :P The plastidip is for protection (pretty thick stuff) and for making it a little less obvious it's tape. Plus the whole process is always reversible since plastidip will come off with a good pressure washer. Although, with steel wheels I'm considering just drill and tapping because the tape and plasti dip method is just so time consuming.