Grille Cleaning

[Andy4639]

Fixing to try and clean this grill up to try and make it worth the paint job I'm having put on the old truck. Any suggestions to how and what does or doesn't work.
I have searched the forum and found very little info. Some but not enough.
1? :
Has anybody ever used a buffer sander on there grille with compound?
I have the ball and a side grinder buffer, which should I use? I'm going to use one or the other on it this afternoon when it Kools off some.

[Andy4639]

Want to see what other's have done with factory grille after cleaning it. Paint, chrome, what has been done?

[beautimus]

on mine i used oven cleaner, to remove the rest of the old anodized finish.
then after a really good rinse and time to dry off, i bumped out all of the little dings with a piece of bar stock that i had laying around. next i went over the whole thing with 220 grit and a sanding block (wet)to flaten out the remaining imperfections. then i went over it again with i think it was 500 or 1000 grit paper also wet. then polishing compound, on a buffing pad. and last i used blue magic metal polish. it looks like new chrome. sorry i don't have any pics but believe me it can look like a mirror if you want it too. i have never polished anything before and i am all thumbs. so if i can make mine look good, you can too. i'll bet you will be surprised at how good you can make it look. good luck!!!
Tony

[drman929]

I just got finished with mine. Wire wheel on a Dewalt cordless. Don't have any pics though!

[Andy4639]

Wire wheel, didn't it scratch the heck out of it? I have to do something with mine. I have 4 weeks to get it ready for the truck. I don't know if I should buy a new one or have this one chromed. The only thing wrong with having it chromed is I have done away with all the other side chrome. The only thing that will be chrome is the door handles, and S/S trim around windows. I'm welding all the holes up.

[drman929]

No it didn't scratch it, I used a wire wheel with finer bristles.

[Andy4639]

Thanks, I would have thought it scratched it though. Did you sand it afterwards are leave it alone.

[drman929]

Nope, left it alone. I did soak the grill with some purple power cleaner while I was working on it. Also had a water hose to wash off the black paint after I cleaned it off. If I can remember I will snap a few pics for you.

[Andy4639]

Thanks, that would be nice. If you don't mind me asking how did you soak it in purple power as you worked on it.

I did soak the grill with some purple power cleaner while I was working on it.

Do you mean you just sprayed it down good with it I guess.

[Green Machine]

We used mothers alumininum polish rubbed by hand and then used some turtle wax chrome polish, seemed to remove the yellowing that was on it, not like new but pretty nice.

[Andy4639]

Green Machine,

We used mothers alumininum polish rubbed by hand and then used some turtle wax chrome polish, seemed to remove the yellowing that was on it, not like new but pretty nice.

No yellowing just scatches and wanting the black paint to stick to it this time.

[Andy4639]

Took 4" grinder with wire brush to it today. Man it made a big differance. Now I have to smooth it out and polish it. When done I'll post some pictures.

[xshadow]

andy did the wire brush scratch it any?

[Andy4639]

To be totally honest yes it did but it looks a lot better now than it did before. I will have it done I hope by Saturday. If so I will post some pictures. After I used the wire brush on it with the grinder I hand brushed it by hand with a new welder's brush. I can't beleive how it turned out. I think it will hold paint this time to.

[drman929]

Hey Andy, glad it turned out for you. I need to snap some pictures of mine. I just kept it wet with the cleaner. I'm not sure what kind of wire brush you have, but mine was easy enough on it to not scratch it...but it totally tore up my top bar. I have no idea why, but GM must have made these cheaper than the actual grille. Mine was rusted under the plating which made it flake off easily.

[Andy4639]

I'm tempted to leave it as is for now. I may paint the black around the lights and the rest leave as is. Well I spray some clear on it to help hold the shine.

[cameeks]

try the mothers power ball on it. Heard of others using that after taking off the anodized

[Andy4639]

That's what I plan to do today with it. I have both the large and small ball's HEEEEEEEEEEE!

[Andy4639]

Well I finished it up and reinstalled billet grille & Bowtie back in it today. What do you think.
When I sprayed the clear over it the dark spots showed up. That's OK the wife gave her blessing for a new one for it. Ha!

[drman929]

I like it!