• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

C5 Chrome C5Z Factory wheels Wanted 2003

Kap142

Kap142

New member
Gotta be Chrome (or Factory polished Alum.)(Thanks Jim, I learn more with every day), gotta be with in inspection distance, gotta be in perfect condition and got to be available. Must be the factory size for an 03 C5Z and a reasonable price is necessary too.

If you have a set just sitting around somewhere drop me a PM and lets talk.

Ken
 
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From the factory, they are polished aluminum. If you really want chrome; I've only seen one set on a C-5. They were spectular but I've only the one set. I would think they would really be expensive!!! The problem I found with the polished aluminum, the inside "barrel" is almost always pitted from brake dust. When I bought Star's they were pitted. I managed to get most of it "passable" by machine buffing with lots of compound and chrome polish (Adam's) and elbow grease. I've seen some just give up and paint the barrel flat black....ugh...:ack2:

Good hunting....
 
Well, I've got chromed wheels on my C5Z, and although they used to look good, I doubt I would go that route again. A while back I had a problem with the chrome beginning to flake off at the tire bead, causing an air leak. That got fixed by a shop that specializes in that sort of thing while the car was at Chris Harwood's shop. BTW, those wheels were kept inside the entire time while there. Then after the car got towed to Aaron Scott's shop, well, in my opinion he just left it outside too often without giving it the minimum care that the car, and especially those wheels, needed left out in the weather, and my chrome wheels got ruined as a result.

ruined_wheel_01.jpg


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Yep, that is RUST and bubbled up chrome. Basically those wheels will need to be completely rechromed after being stripped of the old chrome. That might actually cost more than just trashing the wheels and buying new chromed ones, if I would want to go that route again. I guess a mixture of brake dust and neglect will to that to chrome coatings. You can actually see where water puddled on the inside of the wheels and completely evaporated over time leaving rust stains behind.

So if you get chrome, you will need to take care of the wheels and hope you get a good chroming job on them so the chrome doesn't flake off.
 
You guys have given me bunches to consider. Maybe it's good that I tend to look for a while (generally) before I just buy.

Thanks Jim and Rich.:dancer01:
 
Hey Ken,

I am struggling with an ill computer or I would have jumped in sooner.

Acutally, the stock C5 wheels are PAINTED aluminum. They did not have an option for chrome C5 wheels on Z06s. They did put polished aluminum wheels on Zs but they were the stock wheel for the 2004 Z06 Commemorative Editions, which they only built 2025 of those. So, if you want CHROMED C5 wheels, you will have to look at the aftermarket suppliers, or try to find a set of polished rims that have been pulled off an '04 CE Z. You might want to go over to the Z16 website and see if someone has a set, but I don't think they will come cheap. I would help you with the z16 site, but as I said, I am barely getting by for the next couple days until I get my computer fully functioning.

I hope this helps!

Rich
 
Thanks Rich. I may still look a bit more but and awaiting an SLP spoiler and who can think of two things at once:lmao:

I do appreciate the info.
 
Hey Ken,

I just spotted a thread over on the Corvette Forum site under the C5 Z06 section that has three pages of pics of Zs with various types of wheels. Just thought this might help you out a little with the various types of wheels that might be available to you and how they would look on your Z.

Sorry for not posting the link, like I said earlier, I am just limping by until my new computer shows up hopefully sometime tomorrow.

I hope this helps!

Rich
 
Just went and looked. Some are quit nice and some I flat don't care for but that's what makes the world go round. I'm sure my looking will continue for a while. I do like my Bridgestone Portenzas so I want to stay with a factory sized and offset wheel so I can just move the tires over.

Rich427 said:
Hey Ken,

I just spotted a thread over on the Corvette Forum site under the C5 Z06 section that has three pages of pics of Zs with various types of wheels. Just thought this might help you out a little with the various types of wheels that might be available to you and how they would look on your Z.

Sorry for not posting the link, like I said earlier, I am just limping by until my new computer shows up hopefully sometime tomorrow.

I hope this helps!

Rich
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I've looked at a lot of the aftermarket wheels myself, and some, in my opinion, are just downright ugly. In other cases, I really like the looks of the wheel, but they've got those blasted studs or whatever all around the rim, and I'm thinking they will be an absolute bitch to deal with when putting cleaner and polish on those wheels. Can you see taking Q-tips to clean out the white residue around each and every one of those studs? Sheesh, THAT would drive me bonkers REAL quickly.

So when I look at the wheels, they not only need to look nice, but they must be designed in such a way that they will be easy to KEEP looking nice.
 
I very strongly agree. Show detailing the car is something I get less enthused about with each degree the thermometer rises and wheels with studs just don't excite me for a couple of reasons. One of them is the cleaning of nooks and crannies.:shrug01:
 
Obviously, taste in wheels can be all over the place. It has always been my opinion that your wheels are one of the few areas that should show some contrast to the design and possible modifications to the body of the car. I know I am going to show my age now, but the new look of painted/plated grey or black wheels just does not do anything for me. If I am going to make an investment in new wheels, I want them to stand out, add some bling and not have a stealth look to it. This is just my opinion and I respect others that may disagree with me.

Also, if you are going to be concerned about the ability to clean and detail the wheels, Rich brings up some valid points. So, if this is a concern, you might not want to look at the stock C5 Z rims, painted or polished. Because there are more spokes on a Z rim, there are more areas that dirt can get into and you have to clean on them than you would have on a good aftermarket plain 5 spoke rim (chrome or polished). And there are some very nice plain 5 spoke rims out there to choose from.

Well, good luck in your wheel hunt. I am sure you will come up with something that you and Carrie with like.

Rich
 
Man, I thought it was just me, but I really don't care for the look of black painted, or "black chrome" wheels at all. No matter WHAT color the car itself is...

But to each their own, I guess.
 
I agree with both of you. I like wheels to add to not detract from the car. Bling is pretty if done reasonably and anti bling is uneventful. I still like shiny stuff.
 
Finally, got my new computer in and setup. What a pain dealing with internet stuff with just a smart phone.

Anyway, no Rich, it is not just you. Maybe it is our age when we use to take hubcaps and stock wheels off our cars and put Cragar SS wheels on our rides. I don't know, it just does not make sense to me to spend big bucks on wheels that when you get a few feet away from them you can't see what they hell they look like. But for the people that like that stealth look, more power to them, ...it is just not my taste.
 
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