Pluto's new look
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:21 pm
Pluto used to have these wheels, they were on the car when I bought it and they really grew on me. A lot of people liked them, and I know I sure did.
Unfortunately, they were not hub-centric.... this bit me in the ass in the summer, with the driver's front wheel breaking the studs while Mark was pulling into a parking lot (LUCKY). After all the wheels were off, I noticed two of the others had egged out holes in addition to the one that walked off. So despite my careful OCD torquing, these were just not safe. Also, the accident destroyed the fender on that side.
Took several weeks to find a fender in good shape and then I got it painted. It doesn't really match but it's blue haha. I wanted to get cheap wheels to replace the old ones, and decided that instead of aftermarket I would rather get stock wheels that would fit my tires and be a perfect fit for the car. Plus Mark felt a lot more comfortable with this needless to say. So I decided to bring back the torque stars, $45 bucks apiece. I noticed later one has a bent lip but it's not causing problems so far.
Cleaned them up with Meg's Chrome Wheel Cleaner and polished with Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover
Then I had to sort out the fender.
And now, much better! These pics were taken around the end of October, forgot to post them. Car is ship-shape and driven 500 miles a week. It is not a mint car by any means but it is a pleasure to drive and it doesn't look half-bad doing it... not for a 20 year old car that I probably should have junked back in 2009 when I bought it for $375... I don't have any regrets though, I am grateful for every lesson I have learned with this car. It's still worth it somehow.
Unfortunately, they were not hub-centric.... this bit me in the ass in the summer, with the driver's front wheel breaking the studs while Mark was pulling into a parking lot (LUCKY). After all the wheels were off, I noticed two of the others had egged out holes in addition to the one that walked off. So despite my careful OCD torquing, these were just not safe. Also, the accident destroyed the fender on that side.
Took several weeks to find a fender in good shape and then I got it painted. It doesn't really match but it's blue haha. I wanted to get cheap wheels to replace the old ones, and decided that instead of aftermarket I would rather get stock wheels that would fit my tires and be a perfect fit for the car. Plus Mark felt a lot more comfortable with this needless to say. So I decided to bring back the torque stars, $45 bucks apiece. I noticed later one has a bent lip but it's not causing problems so far.
Cleaned them up with Meg's Chrome Wheel Cleaner and polished with Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover
Then I had to sort out the fender.
And now, much better! These pics were taken around the end of October, forgot to post them. Car is ship-shape and driven 500 miles a week. It is not a mint car by any means but it is a pleasure to drive and it doesn't look half-bad doing it... not for a 20 year old car that I probably should have junked back in 2009 when I bought it for $375... I don't have any regrets though, I am grateful for every lesson I have learned with this car. It's still worth it somehow.
