gmj2fast
Well-known member
I know a how-to is not needed as this is such an easy thing to do, but I took all of these pics and I'm gonna use them! 
Well while looking for Center Caps for project Ge-Tara I came to 3 conclusions.
Conclusion #1 - there are way too many variations of Center caps for these trucks (although in these pics all of the different Patrick-colored pastel ones look like they are the same color).
Conclusion # 2 - I didn't have any "Suzuki" center caps, which is what I needed for this project (one quick trip to DeVinneys and that problem was fixed though)
Conclusion # 3 - all of the Center caps no matter what "flavor" were all dingy, faded or otherwise discolored.
Well I didn't want to use these nasty looking center caps on them purty new aluminum rims that I got for the Vitara, so I decided to see how hard it would be to make them look like new.
First thing I did was clean them with Lacquer Thinner (one of the "S" ones I got had overspray on it). I was worried about using the thinner because the logo is a decal but It worked perfectly. as a matter of fact look at the next two pictures, the first is a "Geo" cap that was completely painted over when I first started cleaning it and the second is the same cap after I was done still showing its ever so bright colors (no-fading at all)
So with my Suzuki caps all clean I taped off the logo :
I decided no sanding was necessary as the caps are rough by nature.
I sprayed them with flat-black so they would look original, but for a custom look I guess you could paint them any color you like.
Then all you have to do is peel of the masking tape and Viola! your center caps look as good as new:
Here are some comparison shots using an Asuna cap (as it is in about the same condition as the Suzuki ones were)
I know it is a very simple thing, but on a stocker I think it makes a big difference especially if you have some purdy aluminum wheels
I hope this has been educational to at least one person
Well while looking for Center Caps for project Ge-Tara I came to 3 conclusions.
Conclusion #1 - there are way too many variations of Center caps for these trucks (although in these pics all of the different Patrick-colored pastel ones look like they are the same color).
Conclusion # 2 - I didn't have any "Suzuki" center caps, which is what I needed for this project (one quick trip to DeVinneys and that problem was fixed though)
Conclusion # 3 - all of the Center caps no matter what "flavor" were all dingy, faded or otherwise discolored.
Well I didn't want to use these nasty looking center caps on them purty new aluminum rims that I got for the Vitara, so I decided to see how hard it would be to make them look like new.
First thing I did was clean them with Lacquer Thinner (one of the "S" ones I got had overspray on it). I was worried about using the thinner because the logo is a decal but It worked perfectly. as a matter of fact look at the next two pictures, the first is a "Geo" cap that was completely painted over when I first started cleaning it and the second is the same cap after I was done still showing its ever so bright colors (no-fading at all)
So with my Suzuki caps all clean I taped off the logo :
I decided no sanding was necessary as the caps are rough by nature.
I sprayed them with flat-black so they would look original, but for a custom look I guess you could paint them any color you like.
Then all you have to do is peel of the masking tape and Viola! your center caps look as good as new:
Here are some comparison shots using an Asuna cap (as it is in about the same condition as the Suzuki ones were)
I know it is a very simple thing, but on a stocker I think it makes a big difference especially if you have some purdy aluminum wheels
I hope this has been educational to at least one person
