Restoring Upper and Lower Trim

[JJanzen]

It seems like about a year ago, someone did a write-up on restoring the side aluminum trim. For the life of me, I cannot find it now. If anyone has a link to it, I would appreciate it! Thanks.

[BlackTopMotors]

I will be getting to that soon...just cleaning an polishing for now

[DT1]

I restored my trim on my 71 Cheyenne about a year ago.
It takes a lot of time and patience but it can be done.
After removal I stripped all of the paint with Jabsco paint remover (Home Depot). Then I stripped the anodizing off with a solution of sodium hydroxide (Lye) and water 20:1.
I know that some guys here have had good luck with easy off oven cleaner or white lightning but it didn't work very well for me. I sprayed on the solution and worked it off with a scotch brite pad in just minutes. Once the aluminum is bare the dents can be worked out with a screen door roller and then sanded smooth. The high gloss is restored by using a denim buffing wheel and black cutting compound followed by a medium hard cotton wheel and brown or red compound. I then wiped the residue off with lacquer thinner. Finish by either applying a good grade of automotive clear coat or re-anodizing. I clear coated mine and it is holding up well. The black is SEM trim paint. and the wood grain if desired can be got from LMC Etc.

Before...


After...

[Fastfun]

That look's nice. That was a lot of work but it paid off!!!!

[BlackTopMotors]

That's good to know and looks great as well.

[DT1]

Here's the grill...

Before...


During...


After...

[BlackTopMotors]

That is perfect for where I am at in the restoration process. I just finished cleaning and polishing the front...what did you use for the black inlays and such?

[bosco200]

How did you get the scratches out of the grill?

[JJanzen]

DT1,
Now that I see your pictures your write-up comes back to me. Thanks for showing us how to do it again!

[FL71C10]

Wow, very nice!

[19seventeeCustom]

nice work,, that grill looks amazing!

[DT1]

Originally Posted by BlackTopMotors

That is perfect for where I am at in the restoration process. I just finished cleaning and polishing the front...what did you use for the black inlays and such?

I applied SEM 39144 Trim Black. To make it stick I applies a fog coat of automotive clear coat first and then put the black on. I followed it up with two more coats of clear.

[DT1]

Originally Posted by bosco200

How did you get the scratches out of the grill?

After removing all of the dents and imperfections I sanded the entire grill with 400 followed with 600 grit wet/dry paper. Then it was buffed with a denim wheel with black cutting compound. I followed that with a medium cotton wheel with a finer brown compound. Others recommend jewelers rouge but it seems to me that it fogs it up too much. The wheels and compounds can be purchased from http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/

[DT1]

Here's a couple of finished shots.

[VA72C10]

Awesome work!!!

[VA72C10]

I have a box full of trim and a few rolls of the woodgrain....Looks like I have some work to do

[BBrendal]

Originally Posted by DT1

I restored my trim on my 71 Cheyenne about a year ago.
It takes a lot of time and patience but it can be done.
After removal I stripped all of the paint with Jabsco paint remover (Home Depot). Then I stripped the anodizing off with a solution of sodium hydroxide (Lye) and water 20:1.
I know that some guys here have had good luck with easy off oven cleaner or white lightning but it didn't work very well for me. I sprayed on the solution and worked it off with a scotch brite pad in just minutes. Once the aluminum is bare the dents can be worked out with a screen door roller and then sanded smooth. The high gloss is restored by using a denim buffing wheel and black cutting compound followed by a medium hard cotton wheel and brown or red compound. I then wiped the residue off with lacquer thinner. Finish by either applying a good grade of automotive clear coat or re-anodizing. I clear coated mine and it is holding up well. The black is SEM trim paint. and the wood grain if desired can be got from LMC Etc.

Before...


After...

Did you clear the moldingds first and then paint theblack or apply the black paint first and then clear? Im sure the woodgrain went as the final step. Right?

[DT1]

Originally Posted by BBrendal

Did you clear the moldingds first and then paint theblack or apply the black paint first and then clear? Im sure the woodgrain went as the final step. Right?

I fog coated the moldings with clear first to make the black stick. Then I applied the black and followed it up with two more clear. The wood grain tape was the last thing that went on with no over coating.

[BBrendal]

Did you use a hi gloss or semi gloss clear? They turned out great!

[DT1]

Originally Posted by BBrendal

Did you use a hi gloss or semi gloss clear? They turned out great!

It's high gloss. I wanted the aluminum to shine like new. The black should be more of a semi gloss and I could have gone over it with a matte but I actually like it better shiny.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Awesome job!!! When you used the screen roller what did you use under the trim, just a table or a soft cloth?

[matthew20061]

That grill and trim turned out awesome! Now I am going to have to try and do my grill with that, it needs a new one because its faded and there are lots of scratchs.

[drewskiren]

Did you do anything to the egg crate grille?

How much time do you have in this.

Does anyone know if the original mdgs are significantly better than new repop?

[JJanzen]

Originally Posted by drewskiren

Did you do anything to the egg crate grille?

How much time do you have in this.

Does anyone know if the original mdgs are significantly better than new repop?

Do a search on threads started by DT1. He went through step by step instructions on how to re-finish the grill. He addresses the insert in that write-up.

[JJanzen]

I was going to start the stripping process this weekend on all the upper and lower trim and I thought I would just call around to several anodizing shops in Denver and see if they offered any advice. I found a shop called Finishing Pros and they indicated, if I would strip the paint and vinyl, they would strip the anodizing on all (20) piecs for $ 35.00. Then, once I polished or finished with scotchbrite, they would re-anodize all (20) pieces for $72.00. Sounds almost too good to be true!!! I sure am glad I made the call and think I will try this method out and will report back once I have completed the process.