Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Need a little help, I want to duplicate the original spun finish on the early Cragar Super Trick and Motor Wheel Flea and Fly wheels for a nostalgia drag car. The wheels have the normal wear, stains and scuffs of 49 year old race wheel. Doesn't need to be a full restoration, just trying to make them a little more presentable.

Thanks in advance

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

I would try ScotchBrite in the original direction

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

An acid type wheel cleaner works well. Wheel off laying flat and let it soak for a bit. Maybe scrub with a brush. Might not look brand new but it works good.

I think scotchbrite might smooth the surface.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Depending on how particular you are and how much money you want to spend there are two national wheel companies who do wheel restoration one being ALLOY WHEEL REPAIR and the other is TURBAX. Most insurance companies use these wheel repair services for insurance claims. I have had experience with both companies and both do excellent work.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Original Never Dull in the blue can, at Walmart. I used it for years on my Centerilnes and received many compliments.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

I think we're trying to duplicate the factory spun, machined finish..ala Moon discs, for the senior citizens here.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

The MW flys are magnesium and are hard to clean,the ST's are alum.How dull are the fly's,you may have to get them polished at a shop.Also they have a red foam like center filler,is it still solid not cracked?.A buddy had a pair about 20 yrs.ago and they were very dull (grey) and soiled.He had them polished and then clear coated looked like new.Sold them about 10 yrs later with center caps for big $$. Perfect wheel for an early to mid 70's drag car resto. gsa612

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

If you are trying to maintain/keep the original grey anodized finish on a super trick be gentle,hot water with the lightest duty SOS pads following the factory spun finish.
But not an acid style cleaner you would use on a Centerline as they do not have a coating like the Cragar
You may want to remove the bolts for best results.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Mark you are right on, I'm pretty sure the original finish was due to the metal spinning process used during production.

My front ST's are in really good shape so I just use a damp towel on them. The rears I want to use need help. Planning to mount a spare outer rim on a lathe, spin it slowly and drag a stiff wire brush or an abrasive to duplicate the original sheen finish, not trying to polish them. I have one new in box 15X14, 7" BS ST I can use to compare the finish with and would love to find another!

The MW Fleas(magnesium) were polished at some point in time, now a fuzzy dark gray. One has the red filler in good shape the other does not. Rear Flys(aluminum) one set polished and the other set spun spun needing some help.

Thanks again

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Ask Doug Engels from SD has done two cars with those wheels

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Thanks Dirk! You wouldn't happen to have his contact info you could PM to me?

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

I've spoken with Doug in the past,his rears were new old stock he found,the fronts are new Bogarts (brushed) ,with Super Trick caps...

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

I stumbled onto a Ytube video today of the Moon Equip. Co. metal spinning their tanks and they refined the surface with sandpaper to give a satin finish.

Sounds like a good place to start on the Super Tricks, now all I need is a big lathe.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

In the 70's, I took my Super Tricks apart and bolted the outer to my Chrysler New Yorker"s rear hub. Had the fronts blocked and the other wheel on the ground. Spun her up and sanded my finger tips off. Just have to do the center areas by hand.

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

Ah yes,the "polish lathe"...lol. gsa612ski

Re: Need help restoring Super Trick and Motor Wheel finish
 

I work in a refinery and there are pipe cutting and threading tools used for small bore pipe there. They are open on one end so its easy to chuck the wheel in. Do this and clean all the oil and dirt first. Then use 320 grit or finer and let the machine turn as you "sand" it. You can control the finish because these machines turn slow. Did all four of mine and they looked brand new! Crager Super Tricks... With the clear coating gone, they are harder to keep looking that way but they can be coated again.

Lee.