Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill

[1963c-10]

Finally decided to tackle the aluminum 63 grill. Couple of cans of oven cleaner, box of brillo pads, lots of Mothers polish and a little over a week of nights and weekends doing the work.

[vin63]

Very cool! Man, that's a lot of hard work...great job!

[markeb01]

Sure looks like it was worth the effort. Nice job!

[hopped up]

I like the white grille , but that aluminum sure looks sweet! Alt of work I'm sure but def worth the effort
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[1963c-10]

I think so too....couldn't get the results I wanted with the drill, so just polished by hand. Little more work, but theres so many places to polish that the buffer couldn't get to. The sodium hydroxide in the oven cleaner did a great job of removing the anodization...took 3-4 real good coats to get it off. Damn tough coating they put on. Used steel wool to prep the surface and remove any little pieces of anodization that got into some of the pores in the aluminum, then lots of hand polishing. My last step is to do the letters on the bottom and Ive already replaced all of the grill hardware, so just have to reassemble. The aluminum bezels were the hardest to strip, dont know why, but took like two extra coats to remove the anodization from the bezels. Saved alot of money by doing it myself and I'm satisfied with the polishing. The best part is unlike my steel 63 grill, I dont have to worry about rust. Now just have to install.

[Rogue]

Looks awesome, I need to do that to mine.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by Rogue

Looks awesome, I need to do that to mine.

Wasn't a bad project, just time consuming. But with it being 15 degrees here with the windchill right now, was an excellant indoor project. I did the anodization removal outside due to the fumes though.

[Greg63]

I know how much effort goes into that - your results look great.
Greg.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by Greg63

I know how much effort goes into that - your results look great.
Greg.

You inspired me to do mine after talking to you about yours. Was alot of work, but well worth it. Made a big difference being polished as opposed to anodized.

[1963c-10]

Cleaned up the original T-3 headlights, will reassemble grill tonight and post pics once complete

[punk17]

Nice job I really like the 63 grille
Most out of family of grilles our trucks can use I found
Mine in junkyard years Ago
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[willyp]

looks damn good. cant wait to see it in person..

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by willyp

looks damn good. cant wait to see it in person..

Right on, when you due back in country?

[willyp]

Sept 2012

[1963c-10]

Should be a little warmer here then. Was around 15deg this a.m.with the windchill.....and truck still fired right up.

[likaroc13]

that looks great! you did a nice job....i guess you just plan to keep the aluminum polished with no protective coating

[1963c-10]

Thanks for all the compliments....yeah, plan is to leave is polished and uncoated. Just a dab of polishing compound every now and then should keep it looking good.

[Revoh]

That's nice!

[MisterC]

That sure does look nice. I might just have to undertake that project myself.

[rbar]

You did a really nice job on that. That polishing takes a long time and a lot of work. I just sold an aluminum grill today with a few minor dings and was talking about polishing and anodizing with the buyer. If you were to bright anodize it again you wouldn't have to polish it ever again. I also have two NOS grills (a 65 and a 63) and I am concerned with the ice melting chemicals they use here in Boise. That stuff ate up my aluminum rims, so I will be avoiding driving it on days they might use that, or put the perfect steel one back on in colder weather.

[1963c-10]

Have you considered clear powder coating or clear coating? Im looking into the clear powder coat now....I wana see how it looks on a piece of aluminum 1st in person. Here is a pic of clear powdercoat over chrome

[rbar]

I was checking into it on the one I just sold before I got my NOS ones. We have a local anodizing company that said they could do it just like the factory. Two powder coating shops told me it would look a little duller and grey when they do clear. I will have to do something with the bezels, because the 64-66 grill didn't come with bezels.

[likaroc13]

yeah, i had a polished aluminum Edelbrock water pump that i was considering having clear powdercoated...but i was told that it would dull a little and have a gray tint

[ralf]

There is an art to polishing aluminum, I keep this bird polished. There are some great links and products for polishing aluminum. I will post some links and the generally accepted products and tools.

[brawley]

Looks Good ! I know that was alot of work. Do you spray with oven cleaner then scrub with brillo pads ? how long should it last before it needs a repolishing ?? i've got some trim rings that are aluminum or stainless and I have a hard time polishing with compound alone...