What is the shiny trim on the outside of my '79 F150 S/C made of?
Wheel arch molding, tailgate molding and side molding.

And what is the best recommendation, product and / or method, to restore it to it's former luster and beyond?!?

 

It's aluminum and it is almost impossible to polish in it's original condition. Originally it is anodized so it makes it difficult to polish.

 

what bout using chrome polish like mother's or something like that on it. also maybe check in your area what someone would charge to restore the chrome an ask them what they use.

 

Mothers do an anodized aluminium polish.............anyone tried it?

 

HOLD UP! No they don't.

 

You can buy new stuff or you can try to restore it yourself. I heard one guy on here a while back said that he took it off, sprayed it with oven cleaner to take off the coating, polished it, and then put a couple coatings of polish or clearcoat on it. I would recommend trying this on some garbage chrome first. Good luck

 

I have used very fine steel wool (000) to clean up aluminum but I think you would need to put some kind of protective coating over it.

 

Here ya go.... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...dent-trim.html