Need opinions, testimony, arguments, wisdom, thoughts...

[Sodium Duck]

I can't decide what to do. Tomorrow morning I need to decide.

I bought a set of classic Chevy wheels a while ago, with the cool dog dish hub caps. They are in pretty terrible condition. Rusty, greasy, blah. But for the most part, you can tell that they were painted white at some point... lol.

Yesterday, I picked up a set of 35's (BFG M/T KM2's). And I can't wait to mount them.

Here's my dilemma:
Sandblast and powdercoat the wheels.
Pro's: Will look nice. Most durable option. Least maintenance.
Con's: Won't last forever. Not easy to touch up. Most expensive ($32.00 a wheel). Don't want to have a 'show truck' kind of look. Longest time (around 2 weeks).

Sandblast and spray paint the wheels.
Pro's: Will look decent. Easy to touch up. Would only cost $10.00 a wheel + spray paint. I can pick any color I want basically.
Con's: Not as durable. It's too cold for me to spray paint them now.

Do nothing.
Pro's: Cheapest. Easiest. Immediate results. Don't have to give a dang about driving through the woods with them.
Con's: I will have rusty wheels.

[1978 454 Big 10]

Another option:

Spray paint rust wheels, often!

[Grim 82]

Run them now, get them good and rusty, and then when it warms up POR-15 them and top coat with a rattle can of your choosing. 

[bake74]

     I am the kind of guy that absolutely hates to do things twice ( at my job, if I have to do it twice I don't get paid the second time  )  So if it was me I would have them sandblasted and powder coated.  If done right by a good shop, the powder coating should never have a problem. 
     I have a close friend that owns a powder coating company and over the years he has done rims for me, I used them on my jeeps for rock crawling and never had a problem with the powder coating unless I bent the rim or cracked the rim.

[Jason S]

So what did you wind up doing?

If you put off refinishing for a later day and if you go the rattle can spray paint route, you might try the epoxy appliance spray paint.

I've had very good results with the Rustoleum Appliance paint on several sets of old wheels; even after 10 plus years in the elements the appliance paint has held up very well. The only con to the appliance paint that I can think of is that I just recall seeing black or white, no other shades.

[Sodium Duck]

I was going to wait to say, and post pics up. But anyways, I ended up sending them out to get sand blasted and powder coated. I didn't want to have to deal with this again. Just do it all now, wait, and get it over with.

[Sodium Duck]

DONE.

[bake74]

      You should never have problems with those rims, unless you hit the rim hard enough that is.  Looks good on your truck.