ihave the 84 factory rims that are showing their age, can they be painted black? Silver? do i need to rough them up first? Never done ...advise would be great.

They can be repainted black or silver -- or clear-coated as they were originally. You might want to have someone powder-coat them as that will be more durable than almost anything you can paint them with, although a two-part epoxy would do well.

As far as painting them yourself, you do not need to rough them up. However, you do need to clean them several times to remove any contamination, especially wax and silicone ... both will prevent the paint from adhering. After you clean them, use a solvent to remove any remaining original clear coat. Then you can use a file or stone to work over any gouges or curb rash, then prime them with a two-part etching primer, followed by the paint. They can be done with a brush, but use a slow-drying thinner so the paint flows well and gives you a smooth finish.

If you are going to clear coat them, you wouldn't prime them first.

I used engine paint.

my wheels are a mess, so covering the mess was my only concern.