Thanks. Gorgeous truck, man, that thing's a beauty! Glad to see a fellow Tiger on here (sort of, lol)

 

I've done it both ways (on or off a truck), and honestly it doesn't really make too much of a difference, unless your looking at the wheels from behind, but that doesn't look like it should be an issue for your truck. And your wheels look really easy to paint over, nice flat surface to work with, only 5 spokes. The Duplicolor Wheel Paint is a great paint, go with the Satin Black and top with Clear, use 1 can of each, for each wheel. That will only run you about $50, at $6 per can from your local auto store, 8 cans total. Apparently you dont "need" to use a primer with the wheel paint, as it's supposed to have built in adhesion promoter, but if ya don't mind spending a little more, pick up some Duplicolor Self Etching Primer and lay it down before the black (it's worth it from what I can tell).

As far as prep work with leaving the tires on...
Just mask off the tires (it's better to have some rubber showing, than covering up the metal)
Clean your wheels as best as possible
Scuff up the wheels a little bit with some 200-400 grit sandpaper, or whatever you have on hand
Clean one more time, to remove dust and etc
With the black wheel paint, lay it on in multiple thin coats
With the clear, make 1-2 passes with a light coat and then go back and lay it on heavy to get a real nice smooth and glossy finish.

Focus on the hard to reach spots first, and then finish with the flat surfaces. You shouldn't have to worry about "wait time" in between each coat if you just rotate around the truck, working on 1 wheel at a time. Get rid of the guesswork, and make sure you set the spray cans next to each wheel, that way each wheel has the same amount of paint on it. It shouldn't take you any more than 3 hours max to prep and paint if you leave the wheels on, and it will honestly look just as good as if you took them off to paint. Just let it sit overnight without driving. I've done it a couple times on a few friends wheels and it will hold up just as well as anything else within reason..

I didn't snap any pics of the wheels I've done, but here's a pic of my step bars that I just took. I used the black and clear wheel paint, and the self etching primer underneath.

 

Your post was long so I'm not quoting the whole thing, but THANKS!! I really want to try this tomorrow and see how it turns out. In your opinion do you think the black wheels would look better than chrome? Also, should I just paint over everything (center cap, lug nuts, etc)?

And I may have to try that on my OEM step bars. I like them but don't like all the chrome. You're the man!


Oh and did you really have to go and post more pics of your truck? It's making me jealous..

 

I was just going to "crop" the bars off the truck.. but the truck got a quick wash today, so yea.. lol..

I really think you should finish off the look and blackout the wheels. I'd say blackout the center caps and everything, patriotdecals sells some cool little mini ford oval stickers if you wanted some contrast for the caps, I put one on my steering wheel.

As far as the step bars go, they really were a pain to paint.. I had painted them once before with some cheap rustoleum, but it started to chip near the plastic step pad, so I went ahead and repainted them with the Wheel Paint, but instead popped the plastic step pads off and made sure I painted underneath as well, to prevent the chipping.

Here's a pic if you want to see what's underneath the step pads.. as if it weren't hard enough to pry the pads off, there were some annoying one-way clips that you have to pry out too.

 

Cool deal, I'll definitely do it then. I appreciate the help, but do you know where I can buy the Duplicolor Wheel Paint?

I just stopped by Autozone, Advance Auto, and Wal-Mart on my way home from work. None of them carried it. Wal-Mart doesn't even carry the wheel paint, and the auto stores only had it in white, graphite, and silver....



edit: Would it be possible to use engine enamel or even the heat-resistant BBQ paint I used on my exhaust tips?

 

It would be possible, but probably not the most durable. I bought mine at O'reilys. Auto Zone and Advanced Auto only carried the graphite, silver, and clear around here. Worst case scenario, go to AutoZone or AdvancedAuto and have them order the Black for you, it's in their system, they just dont stock it.

 

Good call on O'Reilly. There is a new one in our neighboring town. If all goes to plan tomorrow I can go pick some up and finish the wheels before it gets dark. Then I'll let them dry overnight. Will keep updates here.

Thanks again

 

Good deal.. I'm looking forward to seein some pics!

 

Hope you don't leave the pavement too often. Gravel roads will chip up those painted tips bad.

Besides that, the truck's looking good!

 

Thankfully I don't, although once in a while I'll get a little dirty

I had assumed they would chip easily since they're behind my tires, so thanks for clearing that up. I like them better black, though, and can always resand/respray them. It didn't take but 15 minutes to do it.

Thanks!

 

Zeruin, I assume the black I'm looking for is flat black? I called O'Reilly and that's the one they have, although they only have one can at the moment. He said he'd order four more for me and they'd either be here later today or tomorrow morning.

 

yea, it's flat black, but it turns into satin/glossy when you put on the clear

 

tires and rims!

 

Good deal. I wondered what the difference was. Called them a bit ago and they said it would be there on the morning loop truck. Hopefully I can get them painted up tomorrow and have them ready to go by Thursday.

Pics will follow!


Rims will have to wait for sure, which is why I'm going to paint my OEM wheels. That should hold me over until I can save up. Tires are coming in January. Can't decide between 33s and 35s, though. 35s look awesome, but may be a little stuffed with just a leveling kit. Not to mention it would be much easier to fit after market wheels on 33s when I do save up. Either way I'm definitely getting the BFG KM2's.

 

Here's one photo that shows both my painted badges, with Patriot Decals, plus my painted exhaust tips.



My tips were the stainless type. I just roughed them up with 240 grit, then shot them with b-b-q black from a rattle can. Interestingly, the very next day, I saw that the edges were already chipping off :-( So I touched up the edges, but I figured they'd look horrible in a week, and I'd have to end up trying something else. However, it's now been like 4 months, and they have never chipped not even one tiny bit more, than they did in the first day ??? The only thing I can figure, is that the heat from the exhaust kind of cured / baked the paint on better, afterwards.

Oh btw, I removed my badges from the truck completely. Sanded them with 800 grit. Sprayed them with Bulldog adhesion promotor (to help make the pain stick better to chrome / plastic) Then sprayed them with Krylon satin black (the type for patio furniture). Took forever to dry, but I think it will be very durable in the long run.

Reattached them with that automotive two sided tape.

Peace,
Fish