refinishing 65's anodized aluminum grille

[fredd65]

hello...my 65 project is going great...i have the original grille and want to restore it...i have the outside frame off and the horizontal bars off and back to their original black...the 4 pieces to the anodized aluminum frame are apart....anyone know how to strip the anodizing before i sand and polish the pieces?...chemicals or just sanding?...and what might be good to use to seal it....diamond clear satin from eastwood?...i have to do the same process to the rocker panels.....also, should i seal the stainless windshield trim after it's polished..? thanks...fred

 

[Viking427]

Anodizing applies a thin, transparent, very hard surface coating to the item in an electrically charged solution bath. The only proper way to "restore" an anodized part is to reverse polarize the item in the same manner (un-anodizing) first, then restore the metal surface (polish, sand etc.) the re-annodize it. A laborous and expensive proposition to be sure. Thats why its easier and sometimes cheaper to buy repro sidepipe covers or rocker panels than restore originals (although I'm not positive the repros are even anodized).

However, satisfactory results can be obtained by sanding/buffing through the thin anodized coating, resurfacing the metal, then leaving uncoated...or clearcoating, depending upon your preference. Keep in mind the metal will require more periodic maint. (cleaning/polishing) than the original anodized surface required.

Similarly, all stainless steel trim (and some wheel covers) were originally "smack" or "flash" chromed, providing that faint blueish color tone when they were new. Once buffed, SS will take on a faint yellow hue and again require more periodic maintenance than the original flash chromed required. I've always left SS untreated after buffing.

 

[magicv8]

I didn't know 65s had aluminum grilles.

Is that why they are not available as repops?

The zinc (pot metal) ones on the 66 are heavy, hard to clean pieces, and Ive been looking for a stainless screen to substitute.

 

[Ron Miller]

I didn't know 65s had aluminum grilles.

Is that why they are not available as repops?

The zinc (pot metal) ones on the 66 are heavy, hard to clean pieces, and Ive been looking for a stainless screen to substitute.

The 65 grille is aluminum and is now available as a reproduction item, see for example Corvette Central's website for one.

http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.a...w.corvettecentral.com&TITLE=Corvette_Central.

The 65 grille is considerably lighter than the 66, I have replaced both in my 65 and 66, but as far as ease of cleaning, they are both difficult to get to and clean. And, bugs come off of the chrome of the 66 a lot easier than from the flat black paint of the 65.

rlm:cool

 

[magicv8]

Thanks for the link