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Blackout: A New Look for Old Wheels
Blackout
A New Look for Old Wheels
BY “Rotten” Rodney Bauman  Photography by The Author
I

t takes a while to build up a resistance—to pert near anything. That, of course, includes the latest trend. Back in the ’70s, Center Line wheels were considered cutting-edge cool. The original-recipe Center Lines quickly became standard equipment for racers, street racers, and wannabes alike. For Riverside, California’s Dave Bertino, a slightly used set of Center Lines made a first class finishing touch for his 1948 Dodge panel truck. Today, however, it’s just not the ’70s anymore.

Long story short; as the old panel’s most recent face-lift nears completion, Bertino is once again ogling the latest-trending wheels, and he would’ve sprung for ’em already if the desired dimensions were doable.

Back before modern options the panel received a Camaro subframe graft. The subframe wasn’t narrowed—as it probably should’ve been. Even so, the old set of Center Lines fits well size-wise. With a little imagineering those wheels could be salvaged. All we’d need to do is persuade Bertino to give them a second chance.

Being an open-minded individual, Bertino seemed receptive to suggestions. During the course of a five-minute planning powwow it was Job Jimenez who made the winning pitch to paint the Center Lines’ centers black. Down below fresh House of Kolor Apple Red and flames the old panel’s running boards are already resplendent in black. Along the same plane, black wheel centers would tie the running boards into the scheme. In the end we’ll end up with something different, and maybe save a buck or two to boot.

So, this time the technical portion of our story takes place in the body ’n’ paint department of Jimenez Bros. Air Ride & Rod Shop. Twenty or so years ago, Cain and Job Jimenez opened up a little custom paint shop. Today they’re running three individual shops for different phases of hot rod and custom construction. Their paint shop’s not-so little anymore and these days it’s safely separated from other operations.

There’s just something about paint shops that makes yours truly feel at home. Perhaps that’s because I’ve actually lived in one. Although I’ve had a long run in the painting profession, I’m as hungry as ever for knowledge. Working with others is still the best way to learn new tricks, and lately I’m in awe of the youngsters in the trade. For us oldsters it’s taken years to put our skill sets together. Today with better training resources the new kids get pretty good, pretty quick. Here in the Jimenez Bros. paint department, Joel Reveles fits right into that group.

With just under a zillion chrome-plated rivets to protect, Reveles is facing a tedious task. Sure, it’s his job. Sure, he can handle it, but he might appreciate a hand with preparation. This seems to happen a lot. In-between shots I could probably push a piece of Scotch-Brite pad around. Here we go, again.

1: As a first step, painter Joel Reveles administers a squirt-bottle sponge bath
1. As a first step, painter Joel Reveles administers a squirt-bottle sponge bath. A little bit of leading-brand dish soap is helpful for removing stubborn road grime.
2: After rinsing ’n’ drying, cleaning continues with a spray application of grease and wax remover. Here the trick is to dry it off quickly before it can evaporate
2. After rinsing ’n’ drying, cleaning continues with a spray application of grease and wax remover. Here the trick is to dry it off quickly before it can evaporate.
3: For drying, a clean section of microfiber cloth works well
3. For drying, a clean section of microfiber cloth works well. These should be available where you’d ordinarily shop and for sure at Harbor Freight.
4: When masking this many rivets, pack your lunch and accept assistance if it’s offered
4. When masking this many rivets, pack your lunch and accept assistance if it’s offered. As it turns out after testing, ½-inch tape works best, so that’s what we’ll be stickin’ with.
5: Since we’re only painting the wheels’ centers, the polished rim sections are protected with top-quality masking tape
5. Since we’re only painting the wheels’ centers, the polished rim sections are protected with top-quality masking tape. The inside edge is the tricky part. For this, Reveles rolls with ¼-inch green, but it’s all 3M and all available through Summit.
6: The deeper rear wheels are more difficult to mask. Here for ’round the rivets a plastic spreader makes a good tool, but credit cards or guitar picks will work about as well.
6. The deeper rear wheels are more difficult to mask. Here for ’round the rivets a plastic spreader makes a good tool, but credit cards or guitar picks will work about as well.
7: Skippin’ ahead, Reveles masks the tires directly to a pair of folding tables
7. Skippin’ ahead, Reveles masks the tires directly to a pair of folding tables. They’ll make stable fixtures later on when they’re carried into the spray booth.
8: At this stage rivets and polished rim sections are well protected
8. At this stage rivets and polished rim sections are well protected. Now the centers must be abraded. For this we’re using chunks of 3M red Scotch-Brite pads.
9: Good help is hard to find these days. Bad help ain’t worth havin’. I haven’t been fired yet, so things must be going all right.
9. Good help is hard to find these days. Bad help ain’t worth havin’. I haven’t been fired yet, so things must be going all right.
10: By now the setup has been blown off outside the spray booth with clean, compressed air
10. By now the setup has been blown off outside the spray booth with clean, compressed air. Just before spraying, Reveles takes a final lap with the grease and wax remover.
11: To ensure adhesion, Reveles applies a self-etching primer per label instructions. In aerosol form, it’s pretty convenient
11. To ensure adhesion, Reveles applies a self-etching primer per label instructions. In aerosol form, it’s pretty convenient. We’ll provide a closer look later on the bench.
12: Once the self-etching primer is dried up enough, a chunk of Scotch-Brite pad again comes into play
12. Once the self-etching primer is dried up enough, a chunk of Scotch-Brite pad again comes into play. This time it’s just to smooth away nibs and/or dry overspray fuzz.
13: With the spray booth fan running the wheels were blown off again. From there a not-too-sticky basecoat-type tack rag should pick up any dust that remains.
13. With the spray booth fan running the wheels were blown off again. From there a not-too-sticky basecoat-type tack rag should pick up any dust that remains.
14: Here on the left we get a better view of our grease and wax remover and SEM self-etching primer, which is available through Summit
14. Here on the left we get a better view of our grease and wax remover and SEM self-etching primer, which is available through Summit. From here on, however, it’ll be House of Kolor, which coincidentally is available through Summit as well.
15: For this cool day Reveles chooses medium reducer and gives House of Kolor jet black basecoat a thorough stir just prior to straining
15. For this cool day Reveles chooses medium reducer and gives House of Kolor jet black basecoat a thorough stir just prior to straining.
16: With “gun loaded” it’s showtime as Reveles applies the first of two coats of the jet black base
16. With “gun loaded” it’s showtime as Reveles applies the first of two coats of the jet black base. Black covers quickly, so two coats will do.
17: Did you notice the painter has just switched hands? He’s not really ambidextrous. Truth be told, he’s practiced, and there are times when this ability comes in handy.
17. Did you notice the painter has just switched hands? He’s not really ambidextrous. Truth be told, he’s practiced, and there are times when this ability comes in handy.
18: The fresh jet black basecoat is allowed some time to gas out. Meanwhile, outside the booth there’s some spray gun maintenance going on.
18. The fresh jet black basecoat is allowed some time to gas out. Meanwhile, outside the booth there’s some spray gun maintenance going on.
19: Next Reveles applies House of Kolor USC01 urethane clear. We don’t want a thick tape edge, so once again two medium wet coats will be sufficient.
19. Next Reveles applies House of Kolor USC01 urethane clear. We don’t want a thick tape edge, so once again two medium wet coats will be sufficient.
20: The next morning we can cautiously remove our masking materials. Here it’s best to pull the innermost ¼-inch tape last.
20. The next morning we can cautiously remove our masking materials. Here it’s best to pull the innermost ¼-inch tape last.
21: With this many rivets it’s hard to resist pulling tape straight up. If we do, however, we’ll create raggedy edges. So, we’re circling each rivet with a single-edge razor blade.
21. With this many rivets it’s hard to resist pulling tape straight up. If we do, however, we’ll create raggedy edges. So, we’re circling each rivet with a single-edge razor blade.
22: As we move onto the deeper rear wheels we find these rivets are much more difficult to access. Here an X-Acto knife works better than a single-edge razor blade.
22. As we move onto the deeper rear wheels we find these rivets are much more difficult to access. Here an X-Acto knife works better than a single-edge razor blade.
23: Toward the end of the unmasking marathon, we’ve still got more to do, but we get the idea, right?
23. Toward the end of the unmasking marathon, we’ve still got more to do, but we get the idea, right?
24: With just a dash of blackness, these old rollers will keep on rolling, in a not-so-overdone style.
24. With just a dash of blackness, these old rollers will keep on rolling, in a not-so-overdone style.
SOURCES

Harbor Freight Tools
(800) 423-2567
harborfreight.com
House of Kolor
(800) 321-0672
houseofkolor.com
Jimenez Bros. Air Ride & Rod Shop
(951) 343-5948
jimenezbrosairrideandrodshop.com
Summit Racing Equipment
(800) 230-3030
summitracing.com