Stripping chrome off wheel covers

[hunterdan]

I picked up a set of OEM Laramie 20s for free.50. I want to install them, but the finish on the chrome isn't so hot in some spots. I've got 2 different ideas I'm toying with. Either strip the chrome off the covers, and paint them, starting with a plastic primer to promote adhesion. Or remove the covers and hope the glue cleans up underneath the covers. Leaning towards option 1. My question is this, can the chrome be removed using oven cleaner or a heavy duty degreaser? I feel like getting all the chrome off would lend itself to better results with paint.
Or, if anyone has removed the covers from the Laramie wheels, how bad was it getting all the glue off? I've heard some stories and it seems like it's not worth heading down that path.

 

[chopperman1]

Rims underneath are not fully finished so will look like crap just painting them. Another option you didn't mention was to get some replacement covers. They have them in Chrome and pre-painted. Check out ebay for them. There are also a bunch of YouTube videos on how to remove the covers. If it were me, I would just scuff up the existing covers and paint right over the chrome, will be just fine.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Yes, what ^^ said about leaving the chrome clad covers on.
scuff them up with some fine sandpaper, clean them with soap/water and rinse thoroughly. Then prep all surfaces with a cloth soaked in alcohol to ensure a super clean area, let dry and then paint.

Plasti-Dip works wonders! Have you considered this product? (rattle can, or you can thin it down a tad and shoot it with a paint gun and compressor, they do have it in cans too for dipping and brush applications, but I don't recommend that for a nice finish on the rims).

I was involved in several LX/LC works with this product on the body and rims.

 

[TotallyHucked]

Look up "declad wheel GM truck" and there's a ton of threads about doing exactly what you're talking about. It's super common in the 99-07 GM truck world. Not an easy process but so many cladded wheels look 10x better without the cover.

How to: declad factory rims - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums

GMT 900 Trucks General Discussion - How to: declad factory rims - I put this is the GMT900 section because I'm not aware of any nbs rims tht come cladded, lucky! Now, Decladding them isn't THAT bad. Te hardest part is getting the foam that hold the cap on to the wheel, off the wheel. Here's a...

www.performancetrucks.net

Did a quick search for "declad wheel Dodge truck" and a few guys have done that as well, although what I found actually looked better with the cladding.

 

[GTyankee]

There are several Youtube videos about de-cladding
Most of them were made by curious people or tweakers

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Rims underneath are not fully finished so will look like crap just painting them. Another option you didn't mention was to get some replacement covers. They have them in Chrome and pre-painted. Check out ebay for them. There are also a bunch of YouTube videos on how to remove the covers. If it were me, I would just scuff up the existing covers and paint right over the chrome, will be just fine.

Try PlastiDip first

 

[hunterdan]

Rims underneath are not fully finished so will look like crap just painting them. Another option you didn't mention was to get some replacement covers. They have them in Chrome and pre-painted. Check out ebay for them. There are also a bunch of YouTube videos on how to remove the covers. If it were me, I would just scuff up the existing covers and paint right over the chrome, will be just fine.

The covers I found that fit the Laramie rims are almost $200 a piece and they're all chrome. Unless someone knows a place that sells the covers cheaper.
These are the wheels I picked up.

 

[REDinAZ]

you couldn't give me a pot of gold to try and remove the covers off those wheels. BEYOND a p.i.t.a. and at the end they come out [email protected] anyway.

if you want to see how they look "painted"?? then try getting a can of Plasti Dip and spraying them with it. search yourself for some YouTube videos out there on the subject.

 

[hunterdan]

you couldn't give me a pot of gold to try and remove the covers off those wheels. BEYOND a p.i.t.a. and at the end they come out ***** anyway.

if you want to see how they look "painted"?? then try getting a can of Plasti Dip and spraying them with it. search yourself for some YouTube videos out there on the subject.

Plan is to paint them. I've seen some posts about them being a pain. My question was whether or not it's possible to strip the chrome off the plastic.

 

[1SloRam]

If you mess them up or want a spare, here’s a “wheel skin” basically hubcap.
If painting, try plastidip. I’ve used it for several projects. Easy to remove if desired.