BASEBALL248

I did my test with Red (as in hot or fire engine red), it clashed. If they were painted the same color red (as in Cherry red), I think it would lok okay. I could not find high heat cherry red paint...so I went with high gloss black.

To answer 91ZXTT, the flat filing produces a very shiny "Nissan" logo in the base aluminum alloy of the caliper. Very nice contrast to the black paint. If I could have located the high heat cherry red, once again it would have been an option but I am very happy with the look. Looks classy, rather than low class. Great contrast to the wheels.

I also spent 60 hours hand restoring all 4 OEM rims to a highly polished alum alloy appearence. (LOTS of work!). Wire brush wheel to get all the old clear coat and paint off, along with brake grime (the wheels were not well taken care of) and then 100, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 grit sandpaper, folowed by rubbing and polishing compound. Many hours of sanding, sanding, sanding by hand.

emo236

It sounds like it would look great though. I like your style. The Z is a classy car, I'm glad somone is keeping it that way.

Z_WRECKER

hey BASEBALL248 can you post the pic of the wheels i'd like to see it. they sound sweet

emo236

I'd like to see yours too wrecker.

Z_WRECKER

they got no tires. i have two sets of rims for my Z with no tires. i just can't spend that much money now. i am trying to save up for the swap. i will post them as soon as i can make my digital cam stop being gay. i think those things don't really like to be thrown across the room

emo236

Post pics of your calipers as well, I'd like to see that.

Z_WRECKER

will do..they really stand out nice. i think i am gonna repaint them soon, bc i saw a scratch on the front left. i think i might paint them black, so the break dust doesn't show. but i'll wait to do this until i put the wheels on. this sucks bc i haven't gotten the job i wanted, so i have to look some more now.

BASEBALL248

Sorry for the delay...on vacation in Punta Cana with my daughter.

I have pics of my painted calipers and one refinished wheel rim.

I'll scan them tonight and post.

BASEBALL248

The attach file attachment button on the site is not functioning for me at the moment...can't attach the pics !!

emo236

yea, I know how you feel, I have pics of my car and other cars that I wanna attach and it's not working! It seems like it's working for some and not for others....admin?!?! help us out here..what's goin on?

BASEBALL248

Pic of Caliper shows flash glare from camera but it shows the general
improvement on appearence.

The rim was mounted on the hub for effect, with out the tire. Dry sanding with 100 grit, followed by wet sand 220, 320, 400, 600,
800, 1000, 1200 + 1500, folowed by Rubbing and Polishing compound and then
Mothers Alum polish.

Initial wire brush on a drill prep work consumed 6 hrs (including inside of
rim) and finish work with sanding consumed 8 hrs\rim. (Lots of work).

Riz Z Speed

Were your rims chrome to begin with?
They certainly look that way now.
Nice job.

emo236

very nice! I really like how those calipers look. What made you decide to stick with the stock wheel and put so much work into it and not get either a used set of chrome stock wheel or an aftermarket wheel? You're wheels look very nice though! They look even cleaner than the stock chrome wheel(is this why?)

BASEBALL248

Answers to Rizz and EMO questions:

The rims were stock cast alum alloy, which I believe on the TT, come painted a grayish\silver paint with a clear coat finish from the factory. The NA's I have heard came with chrome but I am not sure about that. These rims were either painted stock or painted a few yrs after the car was purchased.

The Rims were 13 years old when I purchased the car and I doubt they had EVER been waxed! The clear coat and paint had baked off in various places and impregnated brake dust over the years had settled in. The inside of the rims were completed black with a thick layer of baked on brake dust. The outside of the rims were not much better.

The rims were GROSS ! I used the high speed fine wire brush wheel on the rims to get down to the virgin aluminum which is very light in color. As the layer of crap was thick, it took 6 hrs\rim. Then I sanded. After sanding, compounding + polishing, the result is virgin aluminum with a smooth, mirror finish. The rims do not look like chrome at all in real view but that bright, alum appearence (I personally do not like chromed wheels).

I stayed with the stock wheel, as I believe in maintaining stock appearence (with a sleeper under the hood !) and I think the stock rims are appealing. Also, the rims were in great shape structurally. I also enjoy bringing things "back to life" so to speak. I do like some of the aftermarket rims and eventually will graduate to 18" from the stock 16" but money was a consideration, as I wanted to bring the powerplant and intake\exhaust setup to Stage 4 from stock, along with suspension restoration and a bazzilion other little things. The new rims can wait. I never expected it to take as many hours to refinish but good things take time !

Thx for the compliments. I plan on painting the center rim cap "Z" black, to match the caliper and offset the Cherry Red body color.

emo236

Well, the wheels look nice. Did you go straight from stock to stg 4? quite a difference.

BASEBALL248

Thanks and yes, stock to Stage 4 with all 4 cats removed. Has not been road tested as yet, as car is still on blocks until May 1. Run up testing on engine has been great with low end throttle response immediate and strong. Still need to install a colder spark plug and change out the PCV's, before I start on other stuff. Can't wait for the first test drive with the extra horses !