Silver Wheel paint code?
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
Since you are asking about paint codes, is there a paint code for the silver paint on the engine frame and braces?
twobjshelbys
GT Owner
Search can be your friend. This isn't a new topic. This one might help:
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...S-Wheel-Paint-Code?highlight=wheel+paint+code
Someone here has been trying for a long time to match it and still hasn't declared success.
If it were the quicksilver paint that would have been known a long time ago.
On the other hand, some people report they have had their wheels repaired and seemed satisfied with the results. I expect that the difference is that painting a whole wheel, even though it might not precisely match the others, is easier to get a match that tricks our eyes than creating a paint that could be used as a touch up paint.
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...S-Wheel-Paint-Code?highlight=wheel+paint+code
Someone here has been trying for a long time to match it and still hasn't declared success.
If it were the quicksilver paint that would have been known a long time ago.
On the other hand, some people report they have had their wheels repaired and seemed satisfied with the results. I expect that the difference is that painting a whole wheel, even though it might not precisely match the others, is easier to get a match that tricks our eyes than creating a paint that could be used as a touch up paint.
The issue I found with them is the finishing of the wheels -the final finish /shine. The shine is something special to Ford / BBS and my guys couldn't match it. It's close but not exact.
fjpikul
GT Owner
Good luck. Only BBS knows. You might ask the GT Guys. If I remember right some purple is involved.
Quick silver is not even close. Much darker than the factory BBS wheel finish. The BBS wheel finish is a special powder coat process that also requires lead based paint that I have been told is not available in the US. You can find paints that are "close", but nothing currently available that I'm aware of that's an exact match
fjpikul
GT Owner
spartan
GT Owner
I have asked Rich GT Guy and he said the same thing. They have a paint color that is "close".
NorthwoodGT
GT Owner
there are some paint colors that are close but you'd have to paint all 4 wheels because like Shelby said, you'd never exactly match the color of the BBS wheel process.
PeteK
GT Owner
Actually, you could get away with painting just two wheels--the two on one side of the car. Since you can't see both sides of the car at the same time, no one can tell the difference. Yes, that's the voice of experience--I actually put two slightly different wheel covers on different sides of a car long ago and no one ever noticed.
NorthwoodGT
GT Owner
PeteK
GT Owner
9-10 years ago I called and talked to the tech department at BBS(US), which if I remember correctly is(was) in Georgia. I was looking for some touchup paint and valve stems for the optional BBS wheels.
I was able to purchase both. Received a small 4 oz can of paint and 4 valve stems.
He did say that I would probably could not match the wheel paint completely, due to a 3 step process of applying the first layer/base(which I think was white), then the wheel color layers. Still, it was a fair repair of a chip on a takeoff(rear) I had bought on Ebay.
I was able to purchase both. Received a small 4 oz can of paint and 4 valve stems.
He did say that I would probably could not match the wheel paint completely, due to a 3 step process of applying the first layer/base(which I think was white), then the wheel color layers. Still, it was a fair repair of a chip on a takeoff(rear) I had bought on Ebay.
It certainly will be a challenge. I have now tried 5 different silvers and it's not even close. The metallics are all too big. Shelbyelite is correct, quicksilver is not even close.
Duplicolor has a "Ultra Silver T191" but again, the metallics are to large. This does however, look fairly good on the frame.
![IMG_1791[1].jpg](https://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/data/attachments/33/33870-60957c8f2e6111d3cdae6888f8278a9c.jpg?hash=YJV8jy5hEd "IMG_1791[1].jpg")
I then tried 3 other paints, basically wheel and caliper paints and the reflectivity is all wrong. I won't even show those samples. Too "frosty" if that is the correct word. These wheels have a very bright, almost "polished aluminum" look to them.
Since it became obvious that the silver color on the wheel is a very very reflective material, I decided to try some of the "Chrome" paints
and I am getting closer. If you look below, the level of gloss, reflectivity, clarity is much closer vs a "Silver" based paint.
Rustoleum 7718 was a really close match (looks better in person) but once I urethane cleared it for durability, it all frosted (incompatible materials).
![IMG_1792[1].jpg](https://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/data/attachments/33/33871-57485b0ddc791f43370179c0f2ecfe7a.jpg?hash=V0hbDdx5H0 "IMG_1792[1].jpg")
So I am going to go back to Painters Supply and start looking at the Urethane Chrome topcoats. They will mix me test samples at $45/each.
Jim
Duplicolor has a "Ultra Silver T191" but again, the metallics are to large. This does however, look fairly good on the frame.
I then tried 3 other paints, basically wheel and caliper paints and the reflectivity is all wrong. I won't even show those samples. Too "frosty" if that is the correct word. These wheels have a very bright, almost "polished aluminum" look to them.
Since it became obvious that the silver color on the wheel is a very very reflective material, I decided to try some of the "Chrome" paints
and I am getting closer. If you look below, the level of gloss, reflectivity, clarity is much closer vs a "Silver" based paint.
Rustoleum 7718 was a really close match (looks better in person) but once I urethane cleared it for durability, it all frosted (incompatible materials).
So I am going to go back to Painters Supply and start looking at the Urethane Chrome topcoats. They will mix me test samples at $45/each.
Jim
Indy GT
Yea, I got one...too
Jim,
Very interesting post and you certainly are determined! Go for it.
In talking to the BBS people in Braselton, Georgia, the finish used on both the 05-06 Base BBS and Optional BBS rims is proprietary to BBS. As I recall it is a 2-step process. A light base coat with a thin silver layer over that and then a clear top coat. There is no lead used in any of the coatings and there is no specific "paint code". The people at BBS have had a number of claims on rim problems by people claiming something was defective on the rim. One of the first questions asked is if the rim had been powder coated. If pursued by the claimant, when the rim is received for warranty review the metallurgy of the base metal can be easily checked. The bake temperatures of the powder coat process does indelibly alter the aluminum microstructure such that it can be easily determined if the rim had in fact been powder coated at which point all warranty claims are null and void.
Pretty sure it is a paint process only.
Very interesting post and you certainly are determined! Go for it.
In talking to the BBS people in Braselton, Georgia, the finish used on both the 05-06 Base BBS and Optional BBS rims is proprietary to BBS. As I recall it is a 2-step process. A light base coat with a thin silver layer over that and then a clear top coat. There is no lead used in any of the coatings and there is no specific "paint code". The people at BBS have had a number of claims on rim problems by people claiming something was defective on the rim. One of the first questions asked is if the rim had been powder coated. If pursued by the claimant, when the rim is received for warranty review the metallurgy of the base metal can be easily checked. The bake temperatures of the powder coat process does indelibly alter the aluminum microstructure such that it can be easily determined if the rim had in fact been powder coated at which point all warranty claims are null and void.
Pretty sure it is a paint process only.
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If it's a paint, it appears to be a "water based" paint as that's typically the only way to achieve such fine metallics. The Nissan GTR in SUPER SILVER is a water based paint and it has the very fine metallics like the BBS wheels.
