How do you clean the .....
 

I'm trying to clean up the my 86 and I'm not able to get the aluminum bezel and other pieces to look good. Is there something I should be using to clean it properly? Seems like there's some embedded water stains of some sort, and then theres some discolorization in some areas (off-white in color).

Also, what is the best engine degreaser and a good process to follow when cleaning up an almost 20 year old engine bay??

Someone please help me out :whine:



Thanks a lot,

Gil.

For under the hood, I think Simple Green works pretty good. I just spray it on (like the whole bottle), drive it around and let it soak, then bring it to one of those self car washes. I wouldnt know what to use on the aluminum. If it is really bad, I think you can but a stick on cover thing for those.

I had a guage bezel with the aluminum surround on it. I scuffed it with a scotch brite pad to clean it up some, but instead, it removed the aluminum appearance and made it white.

mothers aluminum polish is the best :metal: Use this stuff on my work truck.The fuel tanks and front rims are hard to keep clean!!!here is the pic of it.It is a 93 kenworth(i think it works good!!)It even takes the desiel stains off the feul tanks!!

If, when you say "aluminum bezel," you mean the stuff on a stock Silverado bezel, I dont think you can just clean that stuff up. Mine looks like what you described, and the stuff does not come off. I think it is just chromed plastic meant to look like aluminum, so you won't be able to polish it out.

You can buy a new bezel at the dealer, but it is over $100, and the new one will be an odd bronze color. You can replace the insert as well. I have heard that it just peels off. One of the people on this board said he just peeled he overlay off, and that it looked like a base trim model bexel underneath. One of the popular suppliers, maybe ChevyDuty, has a replaceable overlay for it.

Billet aluminum bezels are popular and readily available as well, but I don't really like the look of them. Many of the folks on this board have them, and can probably give you more info about them.

Slonaker

Yeah, the base trim bezel is underneath. I did the new aluminum stick-on deal. The fit isn't perfect. In fact, I ended up buying a new bezel-- got the best price from a GM dealer, in fact. Once I get around to installing it, I'll have the old one up for sale.

Something had managed to get onto the brushed aluminum on the old one, causing white spots. It's just a covered plastic backed with adhesive. The actual bezel underneath is the same, regardless of trim level.

The original brushed aluminum trim from the factory actually does have the slightest hint of bronze in it- always did. The stick-on deal is a bright aluminum color that doesn't quite match the dash and door trim the way the factory aluminum bezel does.

Just my experience and 2 cents.


Kevin