The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Critical truck question

This is one of the most crucial questions Ive ever asked. I need some very decisive help and critical thinking.

My long term plans for my COE include a blue/black color scheme. Im thinking black fenders, lower grill surround and cab skirting. Leaving the cab, doors and hood a nice dark metallic blue.

Back to reality now. I just got back from having two of the old lock ring wheels torn apart at Les Scwab (at $15 each, I think it was worth it), and Im trying to think of an appropriate color for the rims once they get done derusting in the electrolysis tank.

I like the look of white on the big trucks, but I dont want the hassle of fading or dirt stains. The easy answer is black, but it seems all sorts of folks have black wheels and I want to be a little different.

I dont expect them to be perfect, as these trucks werent perfect when they drove off the lot, and I do plan on using it as a work truck someday. So every piece I tear off, I like to finish so that when she eventually gets rebuilt from the ground up, I dont have a lot of fixing stuff that was already done.

Id like something that shows good taste, but is somewhat of a neutral color in case I change my mind about the body color. Any ideas on the rim color?

Thanks, Jeff

We run all aluminum wheels on our over the road equipment now, but we used to paint wheels kind of a battleship gray. It doesn't show the dirt like white. Black tires and black wheels in my opinion is too much black. One of the reasons fleets that ran stud mounted wheels painted them white because white would show up a rusty spot if there was a loose nut, but on a hobby vehicle, this would serve no purpose.

I thought maybe you had a real critical question, like is June the right month to buy another truck!

my wheels are the same color as my trim (blue)

Thats not a question. I already know its a big emphatic YES!


I think GMC used an apple green as the original color, but dont hold me to that... And I doubt I could afford the blue color at this point. Maybe I ought to run down to the local place and see what colors are available...

Id like to keep with a neutral color that will look good against the faded red/rust color she currently wears, and the cool picture in my head that she'll eventually look like.

Jeff

This is probably too much work, but I think Black with an accent stripe around the rim would be cool - probably the blue, but maybe even . . . RED?!!!! If Green is in the plans, then a green stripe.

Of course, my tastes are all in my mouth . . .


-Michael

The neutral color thing is hard.

But I'm thinking maybe a cream color with pin stripes in a faded red today, and covered with a blue when the time comes. Maybe a double stripe with blue and black matching the final colors.

I think old sub might be on to something with the cream color or maybe more of a tan color.

My Dad's original 52 2ton grain truck, which has never ever seen new paint or such fancification has black wheels.

Obrien is clearly a man of excellant tastes.

See Billy Marlow's '46 COE in the Gallery for a truck with the dark metallic blue (on the fenders) and white wheels. I think it looks great.

I have both white wheels and black wheels. The white wheels are easier to keep clean and looking good, believe it or not (get 'em powdercoated -- the one's on my '65 GMC firetruck were sandblasted and powdercoated for $35 ea -- couldn't say no to that. They are one-piece rims, though).

The wheels on my '49 4400 are POR-15 Black and if I had it to do over again, I would go with white again.

Hope that helps.

John

Med. Gray looks great with Blue or Black...

Was going to do my 3800 Dk. Blue with Gray wheels but now leaning to Sea Foam Green...

I like red, with a black pinstripe, just outside the hubcap area. Pinstripes look nice, and are easy. You mount the wheel on the truck, dip the striping brush in the one shot, spin the wheel, and touch the brush.

The colour of the wheels really can make the truck stand out. On my Pontiac, the wheels are dark green, same as the body, with a red stripe around the hubcaps.

If you lean towards white, try cream instead, looks great, hides some of the dirt!

Another good idea is to cut some cardboard, or thin plywood, paint them different wheel colours tape them over the wheels, and stand back.

What ever you pick, go with your gut. The good news though, is that it's easier to repaint the wheels than the body if you change your mind!