Painting Chevy Steel Rims for M101A2

[Tinstar]

I picked up two Chevy rims for a M101A2 trailer.
They’re white in the front and looks like coated steel in the back.
The coating almost seems like a porcelain finish and is very hard.
Definitely not powder coated.
Seems to chip rather than scratch.

Question is, How do I get paint to stick to it without sandblasting?

 

[87cr250r]

Phosphoric acid will remove the rust and can etch the paint to promote adhesion. There are silane adhesion promoters if you can tolerate the price. Otherwise an epoxy primer is your next best bet.

 

[Tinstar]

I ordered the acid and also some zinc chromate primer.
The Silane I could not find.

If that doesn’t work then off to the sandblasters it is.

 

[Tinstar]

The acid worked like a champ
Took some light scrubbing in spots, but it worked well.

Applied zinc chromate primer and will paint them CARC green or black in a few days.

 

[Tinstar]

Painted wheels 383 green.
The green zinc chromate is really close to 383 green.

Rest of wheel painted flat black.

Will let the paint set up for a few days before installing new clamp valve stems and new tires.