65 grill
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65 grill
i have look at some old threads but didn't see what i was looking for.
I have a 65 grill it is aluminum trying to get it back to looking good again,priced to have it rechromed $300-600(don't have it). Has anyone power coat one before, any help or ideas would be great.
My truck is at my painters house should be done next month. I went with DK CARMINE with ford blue.
I have a 65 grill it is aluminum trying to get it back to looking good again,priced to have it rechromed $300-600(don't have it). Has anyone power coat one before, any help or ideas would be great.
My truck is at my painters house should be done next month. I went with DK CARMINE with ford blue.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Grille is anodize. Suggest check with plating shop on cost to have re-anodized. Was going to have 65 grille chromed but plater suggested not doing it. There are a few post in the 61-66 forum by those of us who reconditioned the grille by removing the anodize using an anodize stripper. Couple methods of finishing after anodize is removed, some suggest using small buffing wheels to get desired finish. I started with medium sandpaper, lot of pits, and progressing up to 2000-3000 grit to desired sheen. Some used alum polish for final finish. In my case, found the alum tarnish too quickly so sprayed grille with aerosol clear. There is an aerosol clear for alum. Suggest run search on topic; confine to 61-65 forum, narrowed field to "search title only" and enter grille restoration, or something simular. As probably already aware, can be labor intensive.
dave
dave
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I was told at one point that a can of easy off oven cleaner works but not to leave it on to long it will take the anodization off the grill then polish it up then clear coat it not sure if it works yet have not triied it going to do so on my side chrome on my 66 customcab.
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From: Elizabethtown, PA
I've used the anodizing stripper, and it works great. You will have to build some sort of vat or tub to submerge the grille fully. A suitable cardboard box, reinforced to hold water, with a plastic liner should work.
After stripping, I polished my pieces with a buffing wheel on my bench grinder, but this won't really work for the grille. You'll need an attachment on a drill to get into all the crevices. It is time consuming, but not particularly hard if you purchase the proper compound.
A protective coating is debatable...I tried a spray clear and was unhappy with the results. My pieces are 'naked' right now and I'm going to see how they hold up. My truck is stored indoors, so durability shouldn't be an issue for me, and I don't mind the occasional polishing to keep it shiny. If your truck will see more weather, I'd look into re-anodizing or getting a professional, proper aluminum clearcoat (like is put on mag wheels).
After stripping, I polished my pieces with a buffing wheel on my bench grinder, but this won't really work for the grille. You'll need an attachment on a drill to get into all the crevices. It is time consuming, but not particularly hard if you purchase the proper compound.
A protective coating is debatable...I tried a spray clear and was unhappy with the results. My pieces are 'naked' right now and I'm going to see how they hold up. My truck is stored indoors, so durability shouldn't be an issue for me, and I don't mind the occasional polishing to keep it shiny. If your truck will see more weather, I'd look into re-anodizing or getting a professional, proper aluminum clearcoat (like is put on mag wheels).
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
The plating shop felt aluminum alloy grille too soft for chroming; felt the chrome finish would deteriate in relatively short period of time. Only one shop owner's opinion. If pressed for a grille, perhaps the steel alloy grilles would be more suitable for chrome plating. If know of a reliable plater might be worth asking. My 65 is by no means original but just could not install a 66 grille.
dave
dave
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Central Oregon
I have seen some of the steel grilles crome plated, they look Very good. I have a aluminum grille is my 66 now, but will be croming one of the steel grilles that I have later, when I have the $$. I also have a 65 steel grille, so I know they are out there.
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I stripped the anodizing off of my headlight surrounds with Drain-O. I just soaked them for about 20-30 minutes until they were brown and ugly, then took a rag and simply wiped the anodizing off. It's the sodium hydroxide that removes the junk, so lye would work as well. Oh, and make sure to wear some latex or similar gloves or you can get a nasty chemical burn. I used to work in water treatment and we used sodium hydroxide to adjust pH and have had the great pleasure to "wear" some of that stuff.
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well tryed oven cleaner, drano, found that lye worked the best 20 minutes did not do it went 5 hours on the head light covers. Now that its down to the ALUM i am going to use the high grit that was suggested.
1) any one know of a good alum polish, tryed never dull, mothers i haven't found a good one yet.
1) any one know of a good alum polish, tryed never dull, mothers i haven't found a good one yet.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Elizabethtown, PA
I got both the anodizing remover and the buffing supplies from Jestco Products (google them). They sell at most shows on the east coast as well as mail order. They have the right products to do these jobs. While cheaper, 'ghetto' products may get the job done eventually, the time wasted isn't worth the small savings, IMO. The anodizing remover strips the parts in mere minutes. The buffing compound for aluminum with a buffing wheel still takes time, but the results are what you want. They will guide you to the proper product, instead of guessing which one of half a dozen compounds is actually correct. And I've found the prices to be reasonable.
Over the counter products like Mothers I think are intended for finish work on already polished surfaces. I don't think it's aggressive enough to develop the initial shine you are after.
Over the counter products like Mothers I think are intended for finish work on already polished surfaces. I don't think it's aggressive enough to develop the initial shine you are after.
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From: Turlock CA
After my accident I had to replace my grill. I wanted to stay with a 65 grill and the only one I found was on Ebay. It looked alot better online than when I got it.
I sanded off the anodized because it was prior to finding this web site. I than used rouge and a polishing wheel and it came out good but it was alot of work.
I will tell you this go out and try to find a 65 grill, the effort to restore it is well worth it.
jd
I sanded off the anodized because it was prior to finding this web site. I than used rouge and a polishing wheel and it came out good but it was alot of work.
I will tell you this go out and try to find a 65 grill, the effort to restore it is well worth it.
jd
