69'442

I am restoring a set of 1970 ( I think) SS1's. Are the five spokes chrome or polished steel. They are not as shiny as the chrome on a bumper. I was told by a guy I should polish them out with red scotch brite. I don't want to ruin them. What have you guys used on this to make them look better? Are these 70. They have D 14X7 -JJ 878 M4 on the side and M4 4 23 LZ by the valve hole. Thanks

wmachine

They are chrome, but are bead-blasted (or such) because the areas in between the spokes are painted black. Back in '66 when they started making SSIs, they found the black paint wasn't sticking to the chrome centers. So they started to blast the centers to dull the chrome a bit to get the paint to stick.
Sounds like you got some bad advice.

69'442

Thanks Kurt, I figured that scotch brite wouldn't be good. I will just polish them up the best I can.
Bob

442Harv

On chrome I use fine steel wool and polish.

My442

I believe the chrome on SS1 wheels is a process called flash chrome, which has a less shiny finish.

Use autosol and very fine steel wool to clean the spokes.

stlbluesbrother

I just refurbished a 1970 SSI wheel today - B 14x7 JJ 878. Last week I refurbished 4 with the stamp C 14x7 JJ 878. It was quite a undertaking, but I have the process down pretty good.

Anyway, I used Wadding Polish (by Eagle One) to clean the chrome. Then, for good measure I applied Chrome Polish (paste) also by Eagle One. The chrome shined up nicely for being 39 years old.

wmachine

Very well could be. I know when they first started the (call it) "satin" finish in '66, they took the existing regular chome finish and media blasted them to dull the finish to get the finish to stick. It is entirely possible that the process to finish the centers changed over the years.
I have a number of SSI wheels over the years thru '69 to compare (including some early '66 wheels that have bright chrome centers), but I don't have any '70s (or '71s) to look at.