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#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 251
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Polished Grill before after
Well I decided to polish the grill on my 69 since it looked bad against a new chrome grille. The grille was a solid 8 with only one dent on the pass side. I started by removing the grille and tapping out the dents as best as possible. I then used easy-off to remove the anodize. after a good cleaning, I went over the whole grille with 600grit and wd40 to smooth out any scratches etc. followed with 0000 steel wool to smooth out and give a uniform surface appearance. The next was the fun stuff. I used a 4" medium buff wheel and tripoli (brown) and did most of the work with this compound. I cleaned the surface to remove and residue and followed with a new loose wheel and white rouge to remove any haze. Finally I polished the grille using an aluminum polish I found at outzone. Not the show quality results but the grille compliments the bumper pretty darn close. As for the inner grille, I painted the surface with silver, let it dry then taped it to protect it and from the back side I painted it black leaving the look use see in the pic. Overall it took about 7hrs but well worth cost savings of a new grille. Here are some pics. Hope you like.
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: metropolis il
Posts: 91
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Re: Polished Grill before after
looks great, I have one that needs the same treatment. So did the easy off take off the anodizing pretty well? I have tried a couple things on mine and the only thing I could get to take it off was sandpaper, even tried spray can paint stripper.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CASA GRANDE AZ
Posts: 4,276
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Re: Polished Grill before after
looks realy goog
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70 SWB STEPSIDE 70 BLAZER 09 challenger |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gardnerville Nv No Mo Cali!!
Posts: 869
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Re: Polished Grill before after
I'm in the process of doing my grill on my 71 C-10.
I tried Easy off and White lightning to remove the anodizing but neither worked all that well. If you want to remove the anodizing quickly, use a 20:1 mix of water and sodium hydroxide (lye). Put it in a spray bottle and liberally coat it. Let it sit for ten minutes and use a Scotchbrite pad. Repeat and done. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 581
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Nice!
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"I'll Procrastinate Tomorrow" quote by LEEVON 71 K10 long fleet (sons truck) new 370hp 355, sm465 np205, 3.73's 33's 70 K20 long fleet 98 G3500 work van |
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#6 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Re: Polished Grill before after
That looks fantastic!! I'm not a fan of the 69-70's because of the grill, but I wouldn't mind owning that. Wow!
Ok, after looking at it closely again I'd say you really need to clean up the black overspray on the grill and headlight buckets. In fact, I think it looks way better with the headlight buckets polished instead of painted like you did.
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1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... Last edited by Brad; 02-24-2010 at 11:46 AM. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 11,375
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Re: Polished Grill before after
That looks really good, definetly worth the effort...
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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 251
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Re: Polished Grill before after
thanks for the comments. I also didn't like the black headlight rims. Looked like the truck had black eyes. I wasn't too pleased with the quality of the aluminum bezels. They were shiny but very thin. Anyway, I dont plan on hitting them so it should be fine. I'll try the 20:1 water lye on the trim next. easy off wasn't the best but better than elbow grease and sandpaper.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: castlegar,b.c
Posts: 277
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Re: Polished Grill before after
where can you buy lye? as i need to do my grill too.
Last edited by robzilla; 02-24-2010 at 12:27 PM. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gardnerville Nv No Mo Cali!!
Posts: 869
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Re: Polished Grill before after
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#11 |
SWB 4x4 Collector
![]() Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Osage City, KS
Posts: 5,153
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Some hardware stores keep it in plumbing sections. Trevor
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TREVOR ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=624819 ![]() ![]() :2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (daily driver) WTB: 1968-70 Cruise Control Lever |
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 251
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Is it the same stuff you use in stucco to make it easier to spread and what you use when you bury dogs/ cats etc?
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gardnerville Nv No Mo Cali!!
Posts: 869
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Re: Polished Grill before after
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#14 |
Junior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Brandon, MS
Posts: 134
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Yep, that's lime. Please!!! be careful using lye. That stuff is very very nasty. You may be able to buy lye (Red Devil is a brand name) at a grocery store in the plumbing section. Also look for dry Drano granules, it is NaOH - Sodium Hydroxide too. BE SURE you read the directions very carefully and follow them explicitely. This stuff is dangerous!!!
If you know of anyone who runs a stripping business using "hot caustic" solutions ask them about it too. If you leave it on aluminum very long at all it will ruin it. Not only should you wear goggles and gloves - if you are spraying it as suggested, be sure to wear some respiration protection. If you breathe this stuff it will cause you problems for a long time. If you get the impression that I'm trying to discourage you from using lye - you're right. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,121
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Oven cleaner worked great for me...but not the cheap kind... use Easy Off original. It must be the original, fume free does not work.
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'72 C to K20 "Cannibalizer" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...32#post8653432 '85 K30 "Big Nassy" '01 2500 Suburban ...party wagon & tow truck '06 Silverado SS...DD '06 C1500 WT...DD '07 Classic C1500 WT...DD Built & sold cause can't keep 'em all: '72 Blazer "The Bucket" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=433190 '55 Chevy straight axle gasser https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173938 '69 Pro Street Chevelle http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332541 '86 M1031 CUCV http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=553619 |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: castlegar,b.c
Posts: 277
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Re: Polished Grill before after
what have others used for polishing the aluminum, after cleaning up the oxidation. any kits anybody would recommend? or just good old elbow grease and a polish?
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#17 |
*************
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 17,846
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Re: Polished Grill before after
It looks great! Have you thought about shooting a coat of clearcoat on it to preserve the shine?
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gardnerville Nv No Mo Cali!!
Posts: 869
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Quote:
Caswell Plating has just about everything you will need. |
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#19 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Hey, I also noticed the chrome bumper isn't there anymore. Why did you take it off? It looks really good with your blingin' grill!
![]() I did a little 'paint' for ya and I think this would make the grill perfect:
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1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... Last edited by Brad; 02-25-2010 at 03:51 AM. |
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#20 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Polished Grill before after
I think the last pic was his "before" pic.
I like it, good job ![]()
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Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! |
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#21 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SE WY
Posts: 640
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Re: Polished Grill before after
That is a nice job. What kinda paint did ya use for the lettering?
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72 chevy 3/4 ton 4X4 |
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#22 |
Happy to be here
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Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: Polished Grill before after
That turned out awesome.
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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
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#23 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 251
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Re: Polished Grill before after
I do plan on adding the stripping this weekend. It would cover areas I just couldn't reach with the buffing wheel. I'll post update Saturday.
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#24 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,006
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Re: Polished Grill before after
Looks good!!
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 226
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Re: Polished Grill before after
LMC Truck sure likes the 69-70s....a new grill shell in their catalog is $1150 vs something like under $400 for a 71-72. Crazy.
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