On my '72 Ranger, if appears most of the finish bright work is aluminum, not chrome. The grill, side mirrors, etc. Is this correct? If so, is there a way to refurbish these parts? Any recommendations on cleaners/polishes?
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I'm also looking for a source for side mirrors for the '72. They are the full size truck mirrors, not the small, single arm mirrors I see in Macs Autoparts. The original ones are in decent shape, but a little tired, I'm thinking they would look sharp fully chromed. Can one chrome over aluminum?<O</O

 

Buummpp
Try to find a shop nearby that will/ can handle a "chromate" type conversion...
We have a local shop that handles some of our Polished aluminum piece parts to some of our machine.

You also may want to think about acquiring a good buffing wheel on a stationary bench grinder, that aluminum (provided its still there) can and will buff to almost a "chrome/mirror" finish.. then maybe (optional) have it Clear Anodized (Non-yellowing; UV 'proof').

Here's the only place I could quickly find that handles the Chromate conversion process....http://www.dav-techplatinginc.com/chromate.htm

Im sure with enough digging you could find some closer and easier to work with.

 

Not familiar with the 72 Grille composition, 65/66 have the 'anodized' aluminum grille. Once the protective cover is removed, the elements start reacting to the surface of the aluminum, thus requiring some type of protective coating. There is an anodize remover. most auto supply shops carry it. If anodized alum, it can be stripped, sanded, polished, but extemely labor intensive. Topic of reconditioning anodized alum has come up up, may want to try running a search. Took the grille to have re-anodized and found it was not much cheaper than chroming. Plater recommended against chroming explaining pitting from road debre more pronounce when chroming soft metals. If it is anodized alum. suggest call couple platers and get estimate and opinions.

dave

 

While aluminum can be chromed, I wouldn't recommend it, especially on a grill. To do a chrome job on aluminum that will last you need to put at least one really thick layer of copper and buff it to a mirror finish then your nickel strike doesn't need to be very thick, then chrome. Some places just don't do it right and put a thick layer of nickel on, which is very brittle, and the first errant stone will shatter the nickel; a thick copper coat and thin nickel will bend and absorb the impact better and may not shatter and peel. Still, grills are very time/labor intensive and even with the best effort, they are difficult to plate the way aluminum should be plated and you will likely be disappointed in chroming an aluminum grill.

With a fully equipped polishing shop, I've polished/buffed several 68-72 chevy aluminum grills and, not including stripping anodizing, dent repair and grinding, they take 3 - 4 hours to finish. Average cost on a piece like that was around $100.00 per hour of my time.

There is clear powder coating, which, like anodizing, will dull the finish a bit but should provide a lasting protectant. Spray-on clears/laquers etc, in my experience, haven't been very long lasting at all and will probably disappoint you.