My NSX-R wheel project

[Papalazarou]

Well as no-one posts on this site anymore, I may be talking to myself, but that’s fine. I’m good with that.
Anyway, a while back, I bought a set of NA2-R wheels from another long-time forum member. I didn’t have a master plan, but I thought I’d just get them powder coated in the elusive washi grey and have an extra set of wheels for the next car. Whatever that is.
So I bought some grey NA2R wheel centres from Amayama and started looking for the correct colour. That became a massive PITA because pretty much every piece of info on the net is inaccurate. Nothing matches. Which means; 1. The wheel centres are not quite washi grey. Or 2. I just haven’t found the right colour yet. Personally, it annoyed me because if Honda cared about it’s customers it would have made all the paint codes available. But they do not and it’s not the only one. It’s obviously a first world problem. But why shroud it in mystery. Please don’t right in with paint code suggestions. I’ve painted them white now!
So what are the differences between standard 02 wheels and R wheels. One of the new NSX replica wheel manufacturers would have you believe there is no difference. But I’ve weighed mine and they are lighter.
NA2R wheels also have their own prefix F = RV720, R = RV721. Standard 02 wheels are 718/719.
When a wheel is powder coated, it is dipped, then shot blasted to give the paint something to adhere to. Each time this is done, you lose a bit of detail. Whether it’s the sharpness of a design or the serial numbers. My wheels needed painting, but I was reluctant to lose the serial numbers and I wanted a sleeker finish that powder coating can’t quite provide.
I’m probably splitting hairs, but if you can find someone who can paint wheels, wet painting definitely has it’s advantages. Rhe disadvantages are that they probably won’t wear quite so well. But we’d have to use them for that to matter.
So, the wheels came back today. They look fantastic, the colour matches the original CW centre caps and you can see the numbers.
It’s not the be all and end all, but as these cars become more and more valuable, this stuff begins to matter a bit more. Or maybe not 🤔

[NSXGB]

I thought I gave you the code for 'Washi grey' - Desert Silver YR534M. Matches my OE caps anyway.

[Papalazarou]

I thought I gave you the code for 'Washi grey' - Desert Silver YR534M. Matches my OE caps anyway.

Hi Simon,

I tried the swatch at my local paint shop and it was a bit out. What I probably should have done was get them to spray one out to double check. May try it next time.

Cheers.

[Heineken]

My wheels, even though repainted in Japan not-so-long ago probably need a new coat as well. Seems like with my regular cars I never really took care of the wheels. The old Prelude had aluminium polished wheels. The downside of constant corrosion has the advantage that there's no paint to flake or chip .. maybe not such a bad decision after all.

[Papalazarou]

Our family cars rarely get washed and the alloys get slowly coated with brake dust. I wondered whether it might be kinder to spray them with stone chip before they have a chance to degrade! We’ve never had a nice family car, so I just view them as a depreciating necessity for which I have no love or interest. Maybe it’s time to buy a Prelude.

[Heineken]

True words. My fellow Prelude friend from the days recently bought himself one - he seems very happy with it.