Bringing Back A Set of PYO's From The Dead

[bk95td]

I recently bought a set of PYO wheels[02-2011 GM aluminum wheels]. These are the worst I've seen.:shiiiiiite::shiiiiiite::shiiiiiite::shiiiiiite: :rolleyes5::agreed: The clearcoat was missing from most of the rim part of the wheel and there is much pitting. I got them cheap[$75]:thumbsup: and they came with 5 very nice center caps and 32 lug nuts.[almost worth the price alone] Since I figure I have nothing to loose I'm going to strip the rest of the clearcoat off and attempt to refinish them with maybe some body color highlights.

This is how they looked when I brought them home




Staff edit: there were some issues with off topic parts of this entire thread. Some of that has been edited out. It remains an informative thread about restoring these factory wheels as well as how to take care of them when new or arter the restoration.

 

[83GMCK2500]

This is what David (88GMCTruck) and I used to strip his PY0s, works good...don't breathe the fumes or get it on your skin.

http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=82&prodid=136

 

[Detroit Dan]

Anybody know the particulars of the warranty? My friend bought a used truck a couple years ago, pyo rims were pitted a little and GM gave him four new ones.

I saw a set today that had been powdercoated flat black. Lot of people would have probably liked them, because it came out nice, but I am so totally over black wheels already, just waiting for everybody else in the world to get over them too. So what's a good way to keep mine nice? I just got a set of 2005 take-offs for my suburban and they are like new.

 

[bk95td]

Putting the stripper to them

I'm doing one wheel at a time with each stage. Since i am cheap and I had a half gallon of Bix stripper left from a tractor repaint project 10 years ago , I'm going to use it up first. This bix stripper didn't work very well on the plain enamel paint on the tractor but seems to be ok on this clear coat. One of the keys to stripper is to keep the surface to be stripped wet with the stripper and give it time to work. I slopped the stripper on with a cheap disposable brush. Be shure to wear eye protection and rubber gloves. Even this stuff is nasty. After I slopped it on I covered it up with some plastic bags to keep it from evaporating.
After a half hour or so,:toetap05::toetap05: I started scrubbing with more stripper and coarse steel wool. Just about all the clear came off with the first shot and the elbow grease. I threw the wheel in the wash tub and washed it off. The few places the clear was left on were very obvious after the wash. Most of the oxidation and pitting seems to have gone away also. The second shot should really have it all off the outer face of the wheel :thumbsup:

 

[handcannon]

I'm interested in seeing how this project goes. I've got a set of aftermarket alloys that have the same mottled look just like yours.

Don

 

[bk95td]

Anybody know the particulars of the warranty? My friend bought a used truck a couple years ago, pyo rims were pitted a little and GM gave him four new ones.

I saw a set today that had been powdercoated flat black. Lot of people would have probably liked them, because it came out nice, but I am so totally over black wheels already, just waiting for everybody else in the world to get over them too. So what's a good way to keep mine nice? I just got a set of 2005 take-offs for my suburban and they are like new.

I take them off the trucks I drive in the winter. I would think lots of washing and hand waxing would help a lot.

 

[3500GMC]

I bet a guy could clear coat them and make the new finish last. Or even have a clear powder coat baked on them.

 

[bk95td]

I bet a guy could clear coat them and make the new finish last. Or even have a clear powder coat baked on them.

My theory is that these wheels were polished too much before the clearcoat was sprayed on. Too smooth of a surface for the paint to really stick to. Getting the right clear paint to paint these with will take some research. I had more than my fair share of the unfinished aluminum wheels and all the upkeep it takes to keep them looking nice. These will be cleared.
From what i'm told, clear powdercoat will dull the bright aluminum color. I have no experience with powdercoat and the equipment to do it is way too expensive for me. I was told it costs over $100 per wheel to have it done professionally. I haven't talked to any local powdercoaters about it,yet.

 

[btfarm]

Just so you know, my PYOs still look great after 5 full winters and over 150k miles. In fact the whole truck still looks pretty good too. What I do is run through the Superwash about once a week and if the weather is gonna be nice I then hand wash the truck in the shop. Before I do that though, I spray a good mist of Armorall on the tires and make sure a decent mist gets on the PYOs as well. When all done washing (all BUT the wheels), I give the wheels a good wipedown with a microfiber towel. I believe the Armorall penetrating the pours of the wheels saves the finish.

This was taken in early January so you can see how nice the wheels still look.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

I was thinking of having mine acid dipped and then chromed or nickel plated.

 

[Burning oil]

Chrome would be nice, but seems like aftermarket chrome on aluminium always peels/pits in short time. I would lean toward clear powdercoat.

 

[CtChevy427]

Chrome would be nice, but seems like aftermarket chrome on aluminium always peels/pits in short time. I would lean toward clear powdercoat.

I fully agree with what your saying. I bought my rims in 07 and they had mild pitting in two years. They had never seen a day of winter either. When it gets to bad for me to take I think I will have them stripped and powder coated black.They don't make anything to last these days.

 

[mangus580]

Staff edit: Line removed to get thread on topic.

Some day I will get some PY0's... I like how they look with the older centercaps like 88gmctruck did on his.

 

[CtChevy427]

Some day I will get some PY0's... I like how they look with the older centercaps like 88gmctruck did on his.

They do give a whole new look to these trucks. It's to bad you are limited to tire width with them. I actually like them as much if not more than my after markets rims, but I wanted a wider tire.

 

[Koots]

I saw a set today that had been powdercoated flat black. Lot of people would have probably liked them, because it came out nice, but I am so totally over black wheels already, just waiting for everybody else in the world to get over them too. So what's a good way to keep mine nice? I just got a set of 2005 take-offs for my suburban and they are like new.

Black wheels were never a fad for me, been a fan of them even when people thought it was cheap looking and everything had to be polished aluminum or chrome. I hate chrome LOL

I plan on doing something similar with a set of PYO's i have too, so i'm subbed for some ideas

 

[chevyCowboy]

I really like my PYO's as well but i want to go to an all black and red paint job but i wish i could find some pics of the PYO's in black to see how they look, i think ill give google a try on that.

as for the organization i use the new posts button, it took some getting used to but it is really nice

 

[3500GMC]

The thread has my attention.

 

[88gmctruck]

Barry, Wheels turned out great. I was worried how bad the aluminum under would be when you first told me about them. Glad you took pictures of yours as when i did mine I was too much in a rush and wanted results.

For the record, the stripped Devin and I used worked very well, didn't have to use any steel wool or elbow grease. Just brushed them lightly with a stiff brush then hosed them off

 

[Ed HD]

Looking good on the wheels. I'm surprised that ours haven't started flaking, but I do make sure they get cleaned and waxed every once in a while.

99% of the Duramax's on here are work trucks. Our truck is rarely just being driven and not doing some sort of work. This truck makes us money, not costs us money. Just because we drive a truck newer than 1999 doesn't mean it's not a workhorse.

Yes, there are the guys who ditch their stock tires and wheels the day they buy the truck. Some for looks, some for clearance, some for towing, etc. That makes it great for guys like you who want the stock wheels for a cheap upgrade, however it does not represent all of us Duramax owners in the least. Look around next time you go into town for lunch, and you'll see 90% of the 01+ HD's with stock wheels and tires.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

This IS a good thread with a lot of interest by our diesel community.