xe esp rims, alloy or chrome? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

MaD_WoG · 08-06-2004, 04:30

i wanna paint some snowflakes for my xe, but which ones are they that they use on the esp's?

the chromeones, with the black painted on the innser side of the spokes, or the fully alloy grey ones?

if its the chrome ones, how do you prep them to paint them?.... same question if its the other type

Vandy · 08-07-2004, 22:36

The ESP rims are a goldy/yellowy colour.

madwob · 08-07-2004, 22:47

are these the 1's?

XD 351 Ute · 08-07-2004, 23:58

No Madwob, they are Simmons V5's....

MaD_WoG, any of the snowflake rims will do because they are all cast the same.

The only excepion is the XF Ghia wheels that you say have chrome on them with painted black on the spokes.

The chrome is actually aluminium where the wheel has been machined on the inner edge of the rim, and along the front surface of the spokes.

XE ESP ghia wheels were only machined on the inner edge of the rim.

You will need to hunt down a set of centre caps too, but make sure they are the ones that continue the spoked theme.
The XE ESP had these and were painted gold to match the rest of the wheel.

You should be able to find some on an EA Spack wheel, but they are painted grey.

Ed :)

XD 351 Ute · 08-08-2004, 00:05

Oh, to prepare them for painting, you may need to look at using a good paint stripper that won't etch into the aluminium, or maybe plastic bead blasting.
Don't use normal sand blasting, and I'd even stay away from coarse sandpaper etc, as these will only remove metal and damage the finish of the wheel.

For the machined edge, you might know someone that could dress them up in a lathe, but make sure they only remove the smallest possible amount of metal.
They MUSt know what they are doing or you will be looking for another wheel!

Ed :)

MaD_WoG · 08-08-2004, 04:54

i got a set of the xf ghia rims, and half a set of the other gray ones....

so, i need to get a pair of the grey ones, i already have got 2 center caps, i can get more from fairmonts gear... i might just go swap the black/chromeies for 2 normal ones, and get 2 centers....

when i painted my friends wheels, i just taped them up, hit them with prep wash, and painted them...

if i get the grey ones, ill just clean them up, with prepwash, undercoat them, and spray, the outside ill hit with autosol polish, should work fine

... wel i hope