D Case Restoration

I'm making headway on the restoration of my 1949 D Case but it seems like every new task I start just leads to more questions. The wheels had been painted with aluminum paint many years ago and are starting to show rust through the paint. I like the brightness of the aluminum paint but it rubs off on everything. I would like to use an enamel paint with a harder finish to it. What do you guys use? Also when the wheels were repainted (probably 25 years ago) they got overspray on the tires. The tires are too good to replace and I saw another post where someone had used Miller tire paint and had good results. Is that the best thing to use? I'd also like to know what or how you guys mask off the tires to prevent overspray, if you have any shortcuts. I'm not in a big hurry to get this done. My barn isn't heated and the temp got down in the 20's here this morning. Also 1 rear rim is in bad shape and someone had tried to patch it with what looked like liquid steel and was kind of sloppy. I haven't decided what to do with it yet. As you can tell I'm somewhat new to restoration. I've got lots more questions so I'm trying to ration them out a couple at a time.

Wipe the sidewall of the tire down with various and let it dry. Then use short pieces of ordinary masking tape to cover up the tire. The first round of tape takes some time but the next ones are easier. Time spent on masking varies directly with the end result.....

Ben

Argent silver, Chevy rally wheel silver, etc. Argent silver is available from Case IH. Or choose a similar silver in your choice of paint quality.

I would not trust the wheels to be good on the inside.

Very seldom will you find tires and wheels on a tractor that age to not be rusty. I would go ahead and dismount the tires and check everything out, do the necessary repairs, clean everything up, then paint the wheels before the tires go back on.

The paint on the tires can be removed with lacquer thinner and the black refreshed with various tire cleaners available.

(quoted from post at 19:25:23 11/26/23) I would not trust the wheels to be good on the inside.

Very seldom will you find tires and wheels on a tractor that age to not be rusty. I would go ahead and dismount the tires and check everything out, do the necessary repairs, clean everything up, then paint the wheels before the tires go back on.
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The paint on the tires can be removed with lacquer thinner and the black refreshed with various tire cleaners available.

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I paint VASELINE on the tire and paint rim with rustoleum aluminum enamel. Wash the Vaseline off tire with Dawn soap using a scrub brush.CM

I once used a wire wheel to clean old overspray from some tires. Like Steve posted, if one wheel needed patching the other does as well so you will kick yourself later if you don't break them down now. Plain Alkyd enamel is cheap but Acrylic enamel is way better for not that much more money. It is still only 1/10 what expensive paint costs.

Thank you Gentlemen.
I have picked up a lot from your replies. The front wheels look good from the outside so I may not do much to them. The back rims you've talked me into going ahead and breaking them down and checking them out. I've got a small sand blaster but a sander and wire wheel would be faster to clean them up. Then probably use a self-etching primer before using an acrylic enamel aluminum paint on the wheels. Do I need to use self-etching acrylic primer also or do they make such a thing? As you can tell I'm not a painter. I spent 32 years working for a service company and custom baled hay nights and weekends along with raising cattle. I never had time play with antique tractors except for what I had in the hay field. I've been retired for 20+ years now and the only hay work I do is for myself and my son. The dry spell the last couple of years have even caused me to cut my cow herd almost in half. I have to do something though. I've seen too many of the guys I used to work with sit down in their recliner when they retired and now they're gone.

(quoted from post at 09:09:40 11/27/23) Thank you Gentlemen.
I have picked up a lot from your replies. The front wheels look good from the outside so I may not do much to them. The back rims you've talked me into going ahead and breaking them down and checking them out. I've got a small sand blaster but a sander and wire wheel would be faster to clean them up. Then probably use a self-etching primer before using an acrylic enamel aluminum paint on the wheels. Do I need to use self-etching acrylic primer also or do they make such a thing? As you can tell I'm not a painter. I spent 32 years working for a service company and custom baled hay nights and weekends along with raising cattle. I never had time play with antique tractors except for what I had in the hay field. I've been retired for 20+ years now and the only hay work I do is for myself and my son. The dry spell the last couple of years have even caused me to cut my cow herd almost in half. I have to do something though. I've seen too many of the guys I used to work with sit down in their recliner when they retired and now they're gone.

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The twisted cup type wire wheel is the weapon that you want for those rims. You will also want to "kill" the rust down in the pits before priming. I have never heard of acrylic primer. To kill the rust you get some $75.00/ quart rust converter at your hardware store, or go to your dairy supply and pick up a gal of milkstone remover or a restaurant supply and get a gal of delimer. Either place the gallon should be around $30.00

Will the rust converter work as a primer or do I need to use a primer over the rust converter?

(quoted from post at 10:57:11 11/27/23) Will the rust converter work as a primer or do I need to use a primer over the rust converter?

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You want to still prime over it but after a good application of rust converter with working it around for 15 minutes with your brush after application, you can use a lower grade primer as opposed to the epoxy. You also want to aggressively rinse after working the rust converter around.

I appreciate you taking the time to answer what probably seems like trivial questions but I have learned a lot from your answers. When I get a little farther along I'll try to post some pictures. Thanks for your help.

Okie Haymaker ,Use Argent silver, Argent silver is available from Case IH.Good paint and looks good,prevents rust.Remove tires from rims,clean repair and weld washers on valve stem holes if rusty and paint rims.Use bed liner if the inside of the rims was rusty,paint rims with argent silver paint.clean over spray paint on tires with lacquer thinner before mounting tires.