Are these Baja Rims worth the Effort

Ive come across some used Toyota OEM Baja style rims in very rough shape but at a somewhat low cost, they are off a 2006 Tacoma with no center caps or lug nuts, I was thinking of refinishing them but they may be too far gone and not worth the effort, any opinions on whether they could be a worthwhile refinishing job or pass on them. they have a stock Graphite color with Liquid metal finish from the factory which I would like to replicate but I don't think its possible, the specific center caps are available new online and it would use the standard alloy rim lugnuts which I would have to buy. are these worth the effort, new ones are $200 a piece

 

with the $$$ you gonna have wrapped up in purchasing, repairing and refinishing or powdercoat, you could buy a complete set of ANY OEM or aftermarket wheel you wanted. thats a no from me dawg!

god bless.

 

im agreeing with you the guy selling them dropped the price but with all the refinishing and parts I will need it would be close to buying new ones, seems like a lot of effort to get them squared away. when new they are rare and good looking rims
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fO0AAOSw8-tWaa-v/s-l640.jpg

 

In my opinion they really don't look bad at all. I barely see any curb rash, they mainly look dirty and greasy.

I refinished a set of wheels a lot worse than these a few years back and they balanced very well and had no issues with them.

Sanded them, used just a little bit of bondo filler for the small rash, then primer, paint and clear. Weekend of work for a set of wheels that looked great and made a huge profit when I sold them.

 

I really like that Baja style rim and the guy selling them dropped the price I was thinking of a lower counter offer cause I think he wants them gone with a least a few bucks in his pocket and no one really knows these rims and are pretty much a 2ND GEN specific rim. I was thinking doing them as a rattle can project but trying to match up the original graphite paint could be an issue since if I order new center caps they come painted Toyota graphite with a liquid metal finish which would look silly if the rim paint didn't match up. ive been reading up on some alloy refinishing projects here TW and YOUTUBE seems that sandblasting would be the easiest way to strip them but there are a few different types of blasting media that are used you need to use specific for alloy metals cause using a media for steel can pit the alloy metal. Another added expense would be the TPMS sensors I have factory steelies those sensors wont work with these rims I would have to get new Toyota alloy specific type sensors or aftermarket or no sensors at all.

 

I agree, depending on what you have to put into them, may not be worth it. But if you can come out of it, for a few hundred less than new, they could be worth it.

These are the set I refinished, $60 for the wheels, $25 in supplies, a weekend of work.

 

that's what im talking about minimal investment money wise and functional good looking rims with a little sweat equity. I need to find a graphite paint that matches the OEM and can be used on wheels im assuming that using a paint that isn't wheel specific would be a no no, if I can do that I would throw the seller a take it or leave it offer. the offer would be low enough that if I fubar the refinish im not in it too deep fund wise.

 

I completely agree and definitely the best way to approach it. Pretty much a win win if you can get them cheap enough.

And if you're like me, sometimes it's not just finding the cheapest option but it's actually satisfying to know you refinished the wheels yourself.

Maybe someone on here can chime in on an oem color match in a spray can?

 

researching around I contacted a shop that sandblasts wheels and powdercoats them too, they charge $95 per hour to sandblast and it can be a 1-2 hour job and matching powdercoat additional $85 per wheel. there is no paint code number for Toyota Tacoma rims all you can do is match the color as best as possible. there are a few other shops in my area I could contact for a sandblast job, I would be happy with the $95 for all 4 rims but they were sketchy on how many hours it would take.

 

Yea, if you don't grt a good feeling then I would stay away.

I had a set of bronze wheels where one was damaged by the tire shop. They paid to have it shipped out 2hrs away to have it repaired and re-powdercoated and it came back brown. They refused to have it repaired.

I would say if you end up having all 4 powdercoated, maybe pick a color you actually want and it may end up cheaper since you are picking one of their base colors and not doing something custom.

That way no stress on trying to match the stock color?

 

only reason to match stock is the center caps that I have to buy are already painted this Toyota graphite color and have what Toyota calls a liquid metal finish? which means I either match the center cap color or repaint the center caps same as rims.i think these center caps are specific to the rims, not quite sure if using the generic TRD Alloy rim center cap is the same and could be interchangeable https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/U9gAAOSwVx5bxgPp/s-l1600.jpg

 

I could swear I saw someone on here the other day post a picture of them painting their center caps a gunmetal color to match their wheels, looked exactly like these.

Otherwise, I wonder if the powder coat shop can scan the color on the caps, similar to a paint shop and mix a custom color to match.

 

theres a lot of good threads about different paint and techniques now unfortunately im getting some blowback on this project from my significant other says that the rims I have now are fine and she don't want no more of my truck stuff laying around taking up valuable space. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/77/d2/ad/77d2ad23f493b2d0a406f5d98970f792.jpg

 

Haha I feel ya. It would be my style to buy them anyways, refinish them on a budget with sanding/filler/rattle can and either use them or sell for a profit.

I just enjoy doing projects like that regardless if I'm going to make money or not. That way you have a nice set of wheels or you'll make a bit of money on the side.

 

I say they don't look to bad at all. I just re-finished a set of 15 TRD wheels that had a whole bunch of curb rash and corrosion. They came out fine IMO. Just a matter of sanding and painting. Maybe some bondo too.

 

im getting whats wrong with the rims you have now?

 

I'm not sure I understand?

 

the wife

 

Amazing LOL, a little white lie never hurt anyone