Can a Clear Epoxy Wheel Withstand an LS-powered AWD Cutlass?
We’ve seen wheels made from steel, aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber. But Epoxy for a Cutlass? That’s a new one for us.
We love G-bodies here at LS1 Tech — who doesn’t? The Cutlass is among our favorites, with the 442 and Hurst/Olds models ranking right up there with the Monte Carlo SS and the Buick Grand National when it comes to cool factor.
So what’s cooler than a Cutlass? How about an all-wheel-drive, LS-powered one? That’s what we’re taking a look at here today. While the car itself is cool, the subject matter of the video might even be cooler.
The owner of the AWD Cutlass, Brian King, decided to attempt to make a wheel out of clear epoxy. The first half of the video shows the fascinating process of building the wheel itself.
First, King built a mold using another wheel he had on hand. However, instead of a standard spoked design, this wheel will be a completely clear disc. The mold is just for the outer wheel rim.
As the epoxy dries, the wheel is slowly rotated to keep the epoxy from pooling in just one spot. This aids in the strength of the wheel, and it helps with balance as well.
We never thought we’d enjoy watching epoxy dry, but here we are. As you might imagine, a project like this requires a lot of hand finish work. We get to see that as well.
A clear epoxy wheel is a unique way to show off the impressive brakes that stop the all wheel drive Cutlass. The big red Brembo calipers are on full display. However, as if that’s not cool enough, the epoxy wheel has another cool feature: integrated LEDs.
The color-changing LEDs appear to be integrated into the wheel, sealed inside of the epoxy. When they light up, the entire wheel is illuminated. It’s a cool effect.
Once the wheel is complete, a tire is mounted, and a question presents itself: can an epoxy wheel withstand a burnout? With the car tied down with a chain, King pulls the Cutlass into his driveway to find out.
The fury of the fire-breathing Cutlass manages to turn all four tires into pencil eraser shavings in a matter of just a few minutes. When the smoke clears, the rockers and quarter panels of King’s Cutlass are absolutely covered with rubber.
The driveway is also coated in an impressive layer of black dust. The wheel itself, however, appears to be fine. Who would have thought epoxy was strong enough for a wheel? We expect to see this Cutlass rolling on a full set soon.
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