My kingdom for Panasport C8-17! (G7-C8S)

[BenFenner]

Be sure to give us a review on the aluminum sealant you're using. I'm researching everything I can for an upcoming project where completely raw aluminum will not be acceptable, but neither will clear coat or clear powder. Been wracking my brain trying to come up with something good, aside from just going and buying like 50 gallons of sulfuric acid and anodizing.

I'll give a review of the sealant, but I probably won't have much info for another year on that, you know?
Everyone I trust in the detailing business uses it for wheels and plastic. I don't know if it's actually meant for raw aluminum though. It's probably designed to go onto paint, but I could be wrong. I think my polished rims are clear-coated anyway... Whatever. We'll see.

Really looking forward to seeing these beauts bolted on to a car. Can't wait

Not just any car.




I finished applying the rice tonight. Jesus, being a ricer is hard work.
I'll coat them tomorrow and let it set for a day, and then I'll have those pics come this weekend.

[KyleAnderson]

I finished applying the rice tonight. Jesus, being a ricer is hard work.

Flat black Plastidip?



Can't wait to see these on!

[BenFenner]

Flat black Plastidip?

And those damn red time attack stripes won't stripe themselves!

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

You know you want a set of these to go with that time attack stripe:

[BenFenner]

Scorchers?
Way to scrape the barrel and leave no rice left for anyone else.

[BenFenner]

After wiping the wheels with purple power to degrease, wiping them down with water to remove the purple power, then wiping them down with alcohol to remove the water spots and anything else, it was time to seal them with this CarPro CQuartz DLUX stuff.

I've learned this is some fussy stuff and I may have applied it a little thick, and certainly left it to dry too long (out of the sun, but still on a hot day). By the time I was done applying it to the wheel, maybe 8 minutes had passed and it probably should have been wiped off after about 2. It was like wiping off half-dried Elmer's glue, leaving a haze on the wheel that made the polished part look brushed and even pulling off bits of the suede towel as I tried to remove it.

After consulting with my detailer friend he said I'd messed it up and would probably have to polish it off. If I was lucky an alcohol rag would take it off.

I was lucky, and was able to remove the stuff with alcohol.

By this time I'd washed/wiped each wheel 3 times a piece, and this first wheel an additional three times. I'm doing all of this prep because I despise washing wheels!
I gave up for the night and will give it another go soon. This time with cooler wheels if possible for a longer cure time, and working on the wheel in sections so I can wipe the DLUX off before it dries too much.

[BenFenner]

Applying the wheel sealant in sections and working faster made all the difference today.
They are all set now to cure for 24 hours.

[BenFenner]

This is what I have for you guys right now. Expect way more pics as the months roll on.

Obviously I'm polishing those butt-ugly headlights next.

Thanks to Rajeet Dalal at Apt. 9 Wheels for making this dream a reality.

[lamsv]

That is really nice. Shoes with lots of rubber make me happy.

[BenFenner]

I understand the headlights are hideous, so here is a shot without them.

[BenFenner]

A few more for now.

[BenFenner]

I have a bazillion more pics hosted (takes me forever to get around to that sort of thing), but not sure if people want to see them.
Is anyone game?

[zoo]

Of course!

[BenFenner]

Okay, you asked for it.

I'll post some groups of pics with some info.

[BenFenner]

Panasport wheels arrive | Album

This was the moment I've been waiting 3 years for. The wheels finally arrived, and I couldn't be happier.
I confirmed the widths and offsets are correct, and then weighed them. They are a little heavier than a modern cast monoblock wheel, let alone a forged set, but I am willing to give up a bit of performance in favor of looks in this rare situation.

Enjoy the wheel porn.

Pics (many more in album linked above):