[Jasonv44]

I've got a Graphite Grey on order and am seriously considering having the rims anodized or powder coated Black.

My personal preference would be to have black rims over the polished aluminum (?).

Can anyone recommend a local shop to do the work without charging an arm, leg and first born?

 

[shay2nak]

Jason, we meet again. LOL That's me homie! I'm also doing that as well and the diffuser, too.

majorbonr knows a good place that charges reasonable prices and does quality work. Check with him.

Ara

 

[Jasonv44]

DOH! Forgot, cool! You're through Desert too, yes? When do you expect delivery?

 

[shay2nak]

Are you're with desert, too? I'm #28 and I've been told Oct/Nov 04 but I'm guessing it's going to be more like Dec 04. I'm in the next order batch. The manager has already sent off the first 20 cars to lotus. That was Feb 22nd, so he expects another call for the next ten soon.

 

[Jasonv44]

Yep, I am with Desert European Motorcars and am lucky number 13. The Lotus sales manager, Patrick, said that I can expect deliver late July early August....we shall see.

Definitely looking forward to the car, in fact I can't wait! : )

 

[offroadr35]

I'm in the LA area and would like to powdercoat my wheels/diffuser also. I am in the top 20 with Newport. Maybe we can get a group rate when we all get our cars.

-Steve

 

[Jasonv44]

Nice! Sounds like a good combination. With Shay, you and I we might be able to get a better rate if all of us had the rims done.

You expecting the liz in September or so?

Do we have any Lotus clubs around LA? Never been a big fan of clubs, but then again never had a unique car to qualify : )

 

[Balance]

I'm in the LA area as well and would seriously consider powder coating my wheels and diffuser.

 

[offroadr35]

it'll make such a cool group shot when we all put our black wheels on!!

 

[shay2nak]

originally posted by Jasonv44
Yep, I am with Desert European Motorcars and am lucky number 13. The Lotus sales manager, Patrick, said that I can expect deliver late July early August....we shall see.

cool #13! I'll be bugging you for pics of Graphite gray! I've been told that I'll get my car in October or November. I don't know if you guys want to wait until I get my car to do the powdercoating. I'm definitely in. I'm sure we can get a good deal with 4 simultaneous customers.

I don't know of any local Lotus clubs as I am a new fan as well.

Jason, we should meet up when Pat gets his demo car. What city do you live in? I'm bringing a friend along who wants to know the Legend that is the Elise.

 

[ChrisB]

I don't know of any local Lotus clubs as I am a new fan as well.

http://www.lotusla.com/

 

[majorbonr]

i can't wait to black out my wheels so i'll probably be doing it within 100 miles of ownership. i'm not sure if i want to black out the difusser until i drive with the black wheels and stock color difusser. i should be getting my car supposedly "may", but i believe june maybe even july. i'm in the first 10 in NJ. my CO elise should be here SOON!! i'm soo ANXIOUS!!! after it reaches the dealership, i have to wait like 2 weeks for transportation.
i read in a thread here that poedercoating weakens aluminum, so are the stock black wheels painted? i've had three sets of powdercoated wheels and haven't had any problems, but the lss wheels look really fragile and the owner of kinesis said the same thing. he thinks they'll bend easy.

the guy i use for powdercoating does all of jesse james the bike fabricators stuff. his shop is called primo powdercoating in huntington beach. he normally charges $50 a wheel, maybe even more now. but i paid $40 a wheel last time and feel he'll do the same. i'll talk to him about a lotus club deal or something. i'll get back to you guy's after i talk to him.

shay2nak, do you think you could photoshop a CO car with lss wheels and make the wheels flat dark navy blue and another picture with flat dark bronze wheels. thanks!:bow:

 

[clrodrick]

Hey all, count me in too! I definitely like the black wheel look. I'm hoping my car will be coming in late 2004 to early 2005.

 

[Robert Puertas]

Hey guys, I keep seeing these threads about powder coating wheels. You need to tread carefully here. I have seen powder coated wheels crack. It is often a result of the additional heat cycle that powder coating does to the casting.

I got this reply from one of my favorite race car fabricators:

"There is probably some truth to the rumored failure of powder coated wheels after all. I talked to a friend who does heat treating for aerospace fasteners and there is such a thing as "overaging" aluminum parts by doing an additional solution treatment beyond T6. Its done to increase certain properties in the alloy at the expense of strength. T7 and T8 are designations for these levels of treatment. The precipitation temperature is ~400F to achieve the T7 and T8 states of the alloy and it appears that powder coating ovens hit this temperature."

Shinoo has some contacts in the industry, (sorry buddy) and given sufficient time, he should be able to chase down the specifics of the Lotus wheels, and whether the manufacturers think this is an area for concern. Until we get some specific feedback from them, I would advise against powder coating your wheels. It's just not worth it.

BTW - I want my LSS wheels in black too.

 

[CAErven]

Haven't done it yet, but I have a lot of carbon steel powder coated for the company I own and plan on talking to my vendor about doing my wheels. I like the black too - on my Ardent will look great. Sure don't want stress cracks and I believe it is a real concern. I'll let you know what they say but it'll be a while before I get a chance to get the details. Black's the way to go with all the black trim on the Elise. Maybe I'l l have to just do Rustoleum myself in the spray can?

 

[AlexTTR294]

Please do not alter the finnish on high tech wheels, for their own sake. there are many ways this process could affect wheels adversley - across a majority of refinishing styles.

In this case, the additonal heating of a heat treated metal may infact reverse the advantages of its initial heat treatment.

I agree that powdercoating's bake temps are what damages high end wheels.

If you must refinnish, you'll get you best results with untreated gravity cast wheels.

Alex

 

[shay2nak]

yeah, you guys are right. I'd be a bit hesitant now to powdercoat the rims. If the factory black rims are not going to be available by the time we get our cars, can't we just order them from Lotus UK?