The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Wheels getting Powder Coated

Well, I decided to follow the advice here once again and have the wheels powder coated. They were dropped off this morning and will be ready to pickup next FRI with tires mounted and ready to install. At $30 per wheel and have the durability of PC I decided to do it. I chose a Forrest Powder Coating color that the local tire shop has done in Oregon. I also found a Powder Coat shop that uses the same color supplier that will do both bumpers the grill insert and the side trim pieces. So the whole package will match perfectly. The color I chose is Silver Screen, a shiny metallic silver. Will have to post some pics when I get them on the bus next Saturday. I'm pretty excited.

That is such a cool little school hack and the PC stuff will really set it off. You've got a good plan for it too. Keep up the good work.

Very Cool!! I'm not really a bus fan but how can you not like anything that looks this good. Keep us posted with new pics after you get the PC on.

OK, here are some pics of the wheels and tires. Still need to clean them up a bit, but the powder coat looks better.

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/Bus/IMG_9699-sm.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/Bus/IMG_9698-sm.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/Bus/IMG_9700-sm.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/Bus/IMG_9701-sm.jpg[/IMG]

What do you think?

Looks good to me!

Be sure to check the lug nut torque after running with the wheels for a while.
I had wheels powder coated a while back and the nuts slackened off slightly.
You should check all wheels after installation and running them as a matter of coarse anyway.

looks good, what color is the bus going to be?

Loooooking Fred!!! Are you thinking about painting it that green that is on the side, or was that there from the P.O. ???? I do think that green would look pretty good green.
Did you get the new brakes on it to? If so it should be pretty close to being drivable huh?

Hey I have a new big bolt my self I have had it for about a month now. Sorry I haven't gotten the chance yet to post pictures but they are coming soon I promise. I have got to go out and take some pictures now! I pressure washed the beast and wish I had taken some before shots. You will either have to come over or wait to find out what the new one is but I can give you a hint I am making it another dump truck with the box from the truck we got your brakes from and this is the heaviest (GVW) of the trucks I now have.

I got my big wire feed machine moved to the house now just have to get some way of getting power to it and I should be back on my way to getting some work done on my beast again.

Thanks for the tip jockbolter50. garandboy, I am going to paint the exterior dark green, maybe a similar color as what I tried on the side. That was just hunter green out of a rattle can. The motor, tranny and other miscellaneous parts will be painted the Dodge Charger Sublime green. So I will need to find a good dark green to go with it.

Here is the Sublime green Charger:

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5184

Then the interior will be painted a soft grey for neutrality while the seats are already a green vinyl. So it's coming along, but plenty left to do.

Grant, have not done brakes yet. need to get it moved onto a hard surface for better use of a jack. So you got another Bolt? Yea I would like to come see it. If you need help running wire for it, let me know. I have a bunch of 10-3 wire if you need. Just let me know.

Just a suggestion, but have ya looked at John Deere green? Can get the real stuff from local tractor shops, it's a relatively easy to shoot paint too. I use thier Blitz Black frame paint for my little street rod, very durable finish even from the rattle cans.

fclaridge,
Who did your wheels for $30 a wheel? Did that include the sandblasting?

Les Schwab. Yes that was everything. It is $30 for any color they offer if it isn't white. White is only $20.

Hey fclaridge, did you buy the tires at Schwab also? If so were they 8.25 X 20 radials?

No, I got them used from a private seller. They are 9R22.5 radials.

Do you know what size bias were on before that?

the 20's or 22.5's?

I am guessing 8.25 X 20 or 7.5 X 20 then. I may go down to Les Schwab. It's just across the border about 45 mins. I am not having much luck having stores return my calls on tires and powder coating. Les Schwab let me know right over the phone.

I just looked and they are the 7.50 x 20's.

The new ones I just did are the 9R22.5's. So not staying with the 20".

The 9.00 x 22.5 is the exact same diameter as the 8.25 x 20.

Mike B

The 9.00X22.5 is the tubeless version of the 8.25X20, same diameter of tire but the rims are different. You cannot mount a tubeless tire on a tube type rim. Tubeless is the best way to go if you can find the rims.

James

Yep, got the 22.5 wheels and put the tubeless tires on them.

If I can ever track down a couple split ring 20x8.25 6 bolt wheels to replace my two widow makers I may have to talk to Les Schwab about that blasting/painting deal. The guy that did the powdercoating for my car is good, but he's not that cheap. that & I like the idea of people that know wheels doing the work.

Freq2002 I have a set of 6 22.5 tubeless wheels that will fit tater

Oh BTW 9.00x22.5s are about 1" taller than an 8.25x20 I went from the 8.25s to the 9.00s on my 64 gained some top end from the height and much better drivability from the tubeless radials. Oh wait sorry you are right I put 10.00 22.5s on my 64 and I think they may be 1.5" taller

Grant

I did the same thing on my '57 truck, I replaced the 9.00X22.5 tires with 10.00 X 22.5 on the same wheels and picked up a little more height, perhaps just a little more top speed on the old truck. I think the 10.00 X 22.5 is close in diameter to the 9.00 X 20 tube type tire. As far as finding 9.00 X 22.5 or 10.00 X 22.5 tires, which can be hard to find, I've bought mine thru the local farm tire/equipment dealer, they handle old tire sizes that many farmers still use. I purchased 4 virgin Michelin casings with Bandag recaps for $130 apiece and have had no problems with the tires.

'Tater' would look good sporting some 10 X 22.5 rubber...

James

Well, I went to Les Schwab yesterday and dropped off my wheels for new radials, and to have the rims blasted and powder coated. It is going to cost me just under $3000 for 7. Gulp,,,, but you know what? I just paid $1,400 for new rims and tires (4) for my PT Cruiser. The rims I got with the 2003 Cruiser were so corroded they couldn't hold air anymore.

I tried working with tire dealers in Canada, but it was like they couldn't be bothered. Didn't reply to phone calls or emails for the most part. Only tires some of the Canadian dealers could find were from China and guys have posted those tires are not very good quality. Hats off to Les Schwab for providing a good, fast service. More than one bolter has had good service from them.

When I was crossing the border at Sumas the guard lifted each tire to see if there was anything other than air in them. When I mentioned this to the fellow at Les Schawb he said the border authorities have them put drugs in the wheels for dog training.

Glad to hear you are getting them done. What color are you getting the PC done in? Here is a couple more pics I took today of the wheels and tires all cleaned. The tires were pretty muddy from when I bought them and when they mounted them on the wheels.

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/NewWheelsandTires.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290/fclaridge/CleanWheelandTire.jpg[/IMG]

What kind of tires did you get and what size?

fclaridge...if your looking for a dark green color to paint the bus body then check out the Forrest Green originally used on early 50's trucks. It certainly would be a contrast to the Sublime green and it would be in keeping with the Stovebolt theme. Take a look at my pickup for an example.

I am going for the silver also. Pretty universal, and I like it better than just black.

That's absolutely gorgeous. I have been looking at classic colors to keep a bit of the heritage. I have been wanting to see something like this for a while. I really like the color and I assume it is a single stage paint? Can you tell me more about it and the paint code as well? Also what is the material you found at Home Depot that is like Dynamat? I need to get some for my other cars.

I'm pretty pleased with my silver that LS did. I think you'll like it.

The silver powdercoat from LS is what I did for my 56 as well

Hevy> I'd take you up on tise 22.5s, but I cant affort to pony up the dough for another set of rubber for this beast. Besdies, I dont have the credit left after havin an entire axle on my trailer replaced at Les Schwab last month. I'll keep it in mind, but a couple 20" splits would be more economicly feasable.

Freq2002,
Are these for "Tater"? I see you are on Whidbey Island. Have you heard of "Dan's Garage" in Kennewick WA?

http://www.dansgarage.net/

Email him, he may be able to help you. It would be about a 5 hour drive for you though.

Yup, I gotta get rid of those widow makers before I run out of places that will deal with them.
Haven't heard of Dans, but I know where the Tri-Cities are, grew up a few miles up the highway from there. Little bit of a drive, but if he has em at a decent price it'd be worth it.

If Dan has my 48 rims, I could pick yours up if you make a deal with him. What part of Whidbey are you? are you the Oak Harbor end or Clinton. My brother in law lives in Clinton.

Joke Harbor end, but it will be more dependent on the how much over what if. Will see what I hear back from my email.