The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Wheels for my 1940 REA truck

I have read through the wheels and tires and recently purchased what looks to be solid rims for my 1940 Chevy REA 1 1/2 ton truck. I plan to have them blasted and painted International Harvester red as that is the correct paint. I know it is not a good idea to powder coat springs because of the heat and will not do that. What about wheels? It seems the powder coat material is thick. I read somewhere not to powder coat but paint. I am just curious on coating the two piece wheels and enamel paint is good with me. Thoughts?

Thanks

Harmon

I think powder coating is OK, talk to your powder coater and see if they're comfortable with the job.
If it's not well attached it'll chip easily while assembling and most likely when disassembling.
If it's to thick may cause problems assembling,
Same goes for paint in both cases.

To ease assembly cut strips from a plastic antifreeze or oil jug and use them to pad your pry bars and between rim and rings. they're tough and slippery, helps things get together without chipping.
Also good for padding tire iron when fitting tubeless tires on nicely painted or powder coated rims.

Thanks for the information.

Harmon

Hard to touch up powder coating, much easier with paint...

Mike B

I powdercoated the 22.5's on my '37 GMC, powdercoater did a phosphoric acid etch first, then color, then clear, everything went together easily, not too thick appearing, don't have to worry about multipiece wheels.

Ed

Thanks to you both. I will let the blaster/powder coat folks know.

Harmon

I've had 22.5" wheels grit blasted, powder primed, and powder coated. The finish is extremely durable, no issues mounting tires or chips for any other reason thus far.

I've also mounted tires on freshly painted lock ring wheels (for a fancy old car) without damaging the paint. I feel that good powder coating or paint would be about the same.

It is true that you can't powder coat to touch up a chip, but you can paint it same as you would a painted wheel with a chip.

Keep an eye on the mating surfaces of the snap ring and the rim. If the two are already missing some steel from rust, adding power coat won't help the fit. I used a grinder to square of the flat areas being careful to not remove much steel. I powered coated the rim and painted the snap ring myself so I could touch up. Good luck.

Thanks for all of the Information. Still collecting parts. The four I have are from an Indiana farm truck. I need two more.

Between this site and a contact from an REA site, I have learned a bunch.

Hopefully the 2000 pound engine stand gets in this week.

Harmon.

I was looking for a bus cowl. Since the 39 and 40 are the same, are any later cowls the same?

Harmon