993 Turbo Hollowspoke refurb with polished rim?

[SunDiver]

Hi All,

Spoke to the chaps at Lepsons today at the Autosport / PH Show. I have a spare set of hollowspokes that I wanted refurbed in black with a polished outer edge. They said they couldn't really do it for this model of wheel due to the profile and it being hollow-spoked...:-( They did have a selection of refurbed wheels they'd done on the stand - amazing results. It's a shame they can't do what I want...

But...I'm pretty sure I've seen these wheels done like that somewhere. Does anyone know where I could get it done if its possible?

Thanks!

[Soovy]

SunDiver said:

Hi All,

Spoke to the chaps at Lepsons today at the Autosport / PH Show. I have a spare set of hollowspokes that I wanted refurbed in black with a polished outer edge. They said they couldn't really do it for this model of wheel due to the profile and it being hollow-spoked...:-( They did have a selection of refurbed wheels they'd done on the stand - amazing results. It's a shame they can't do what I want...

But...I'm pretty sure I've seen these wheels done like that somewhere. Does anyone know where I could get it done if its possible?

Thanks!

You cant' refurb the hollow spokes safely - metal too thin.

The wheels I've had done are the same design, but not hollow. Those'll be the ones you've seen done (See profile)

Best bet is to sell the hollow spokes and buy some alternatives.

[Orangecurry]

I'd happily swop my 993 turbo-look (therefore solid) 18" wheels for your hollow spokes, then you can get your rims polished.

Gosh what a nice man I am.

[Soovy]

Orangecurry said:

I'd happily swop my 993 turbo-look (therefore solid) 18" wheels for your hollow spokes, then you can get your rims polished.

Gosh what a nice man I am.

What a guy

[phelix]

Soovy said:

You cant' refurb the hollow spokes safely - metal too thin.

Not sure I understand the issue with refurbing/refinishing hollow spokes. Unless a lot of metal has been removed from kerbing (in which the wheel's almost certainly b*ggered) the fact that it's a hollow spoke vs a solid spoke doesn't really enter into the equation. I had my hollow spokes refurbished by Diamond Styling 3 years ago without issue. The valve stem hole does need to be sealed off to prevent blasting media from entering the hollow sections of the wheel from where it will be almost impossible to remove.

Edited by phelix on Sunday 11th January 05:50

[Orangecurry]

phelix said:

Soovy said:

You cant' refurb the hollow spokes safely - metal too thin.

Not sure I understand the issue with refurbing/refinishing hollow spokes. Unless a lot of metal has been removed from kerbing (in which the wheel's almost certainly b*ggered) the fact that it's a hollow spoke vs a solid spoke doesn't really enter into the equation. I had my hollow spokes refurbished by Diamond Styling 3 years ago without issue. The valve stem hole does need to be sealed off to prevent blasting media from entering the hollow sections of the wheel from where it will be almost impossible to remove.

hush now.

[wildoliver]

I can't imagine why you can't refurb Hollow spokes either, in fact I have done several sets including a set of my own.

The hollow spoke walls aren't that thin and a sympathetic refurb will remove little if any metal. I wouldn't grit blast them I would do it by hand although not due to risk of getting media in to the hollow spokes as this is impossible as they are sealed? (Why do people seem to believe the cavity is open to the air pressure of the tyre?)

They would also polish well on the rim as the alloy is very good quality and once you are through the paint already perfectly flat, I would be dubious about putting it on a lathe and spinning it up to diamond cut it but you could certainly polish it up then lacquer over (be warned however any polished rim when lacquered will get nasty corrosion tracks in time).

The exception to this is if your wheels are heavily damaged, in which case I wouldn't refurb them.

[Daggerpie]

SunDiver said:

Hi All,

Spoke to the chaps at Lepsons today at the Autosport / PH Show. I have a spare set of hollowspokes that I wanted refurbed in black with a polished outer edge. They said they couldn't really do it for this model of wheel due to the profile and it being hollow-spoked...:-( They did have a selection of refurbed wheels they'd done on the stand - amazing results. It's a shame they can't do what I want...

But...I'm pretty sure I've seen these wheels done like that somewhere. Does anyone know where I could get it done if its possible?

Thanks!

OT but I spoke with a few of the guys on their stand as well on thursday about some Sport Designs they had on display (on the bottom row) in a real nice deep tungsten colour. Again, i wanted polished rim which is of course possible on the sport design.

[phelix]

wildoliver said:

I wouldn't grit blast them I would do it by hand although not due to risk of getting media in to the hollow spokes as this is impossible as they are sealed? (Why do people seem to believe the cavity is open to the air pressure of the tyre?)

It is open to blast or dip media entering the hollow portion of the wheel but not to the air pressure of an installed tyre. The hollow spoke wheels need special valves with sealing washers that screw into place from the inside. I can email you a scan from the 993tt service technik manual that shows a cross section of the wheel and the portions which are hollow; you can see that the valve goes straight through that section. It's not clear to me if the hollow section of the rim is connected to the hollow sections of each of the spokes but from the trouble people have had balancing wheels that have been refurbed without blocking off the valve hole it seems they are indeed connected. Gives a whole new meaning to dynamic balancing!

editted to clarify "open"

Edited by phelix on Sunday 11th January 19:43

[SunDiver]

Thanks folks. Think (as a simpler solution) I'll get this set refurbed in straight black rather than attempting black/silver. There's no damage at all or kerbing - just lifting lacquer/paint.

And such kind offers! To think some folks would give up their solid spokes for a set of old hollowspokes - Pistonheads' generosity at its finest...:-)

[Orangecurry]

Don't mention it..................

[thegoose]

SunDiver said:

And such kind offers! To think some folks would give up their solid spokes for a set of old hollowspokes - Pistonheads' generosity at its finest...:-)

Haven't metal values gone up of late? Surely you'd be mad not to trade in a load of air for actual solid alloy?

[Burnham]

I spoke with Lespons this morning about something very similar.

I want some 997 Carrera S wheels painted Black with polished outer rim...they said the same thing, that it would not be wise to diamond cut/polish the outer rim, but to paint it instead.

[Silver993tt]

Lepsons did my hollowspokes without any issue. Had them done in basalt black metallic with silver rim:

[Burnham]

Silver993tt - just to confirm, is that Polished or Painted Silver?


ETA: either way, it looks very cool! cant wait to get mine done!

Edited by Burnham on Monday 12th January 13:26

[Silver993tt]

Burnham said:

Silver993tt - just to confirm, is that Polished or Painted Silver?


ETA: either way, it looks very cool! cant wait to get mine done!

Edited by Burnham on Monday 12th January 13:26

painted in arctic to match the body colour.

[Burnham]

Silver993tt said:

Burnham said:

Silver993tt - just to confirm, is that Polished or Painted Silver?


ETA: either way, it looks very cool! cant wait to get mine done!

Edited by Burnham on Monday 12th January 13:26

painted in arctic to match the body colour.

Awwww theres an idea...maybe I should get mine painted in Seal Gret to match my body colour?....that will limit re-sale when I come to move on though (I'll put the original wheels back on the car and sell the pianted set).

Yeah, maybe I should just stick to silver.

[wildoliver]

phelix said:

wildoliver said:

I wouldn't grit blast them I would do it by hand although not due to risk of getting media in to the hollow spokes as this is impossible as they are sealed? (Why do people seem to believe the cavity is open to the air pressure of the tyre?)

It is open to blast or dip media entering the hollow portion of the wheel but not to the air pressure of an installed tyre. The hollow spoke wheels need special valves with sealing washers that screw into place from the inside. I can email you a scan from the 993tt service technik manual that shows a cross section of the wheel and the portions which are hollow; you can see that the valve goes straight through that section. It's not clear to me if the hollow section of the rim is connected to the hollow sections of each of the spokes but from the trouble people have had balancing wheels that have been refurbed without blocking off the valve hole it seems they are indeed connected. Gives a whole new meaning to dynamic balancing!

editted to clarify "open"

Edited by phelix on Sunday 11th January 19:43

Thing is I have had a few sets bare (to refurb) and don't really follow what you mean (don't mean that in a sarcastic way) the valve hole is just that from memory, a hole.

[SunDiver]

Resurrecting a very old thread here, but I eventually came back to this.

I got the spare hollowspoke wheels done in the end by the local tyre outfit who outsourced them to Pristine Alloys.
Went for gloss black with polished rim and they didn't seem to have a problem - I warned them of all the info here.
I think they look great.

http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/




Now I just need to get them on the car, though it's going to look just like the one earlier in this thread, as it's the same colour...:-)

[LighthouseTrait]

3 years, 7 months and 8 days later...

What exciting updates have you got over the next 4 years?

They do look great!!