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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
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1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#2 |
It's Better With Nitro
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Very cool! Man, that's a lot of hard work...great job!
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1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes |
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#3 |
Senior Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Spokane Valley, WA
Posts: 8,356
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Sure looks like it was worth the effort. Nice job!
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: los angeles,ca
Posts: 3,617
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
I like the white grille , but that aluminum sure looks sweet! Alt of work I'm sure but def worth the effort
Posted via Mobile Device |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#6 |
Airport Bum
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Propwash (16Xray) D/FW, Texas
Posts: 320
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Looks awesome, I need to do that to mine.
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1964 Chevrolet C-10 1941 Chevrolet coupe 1962 Thunderbird 1959 Edsel Villager 1963 Skylark |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
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1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#8 |
Enjoy your truck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,066
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
I know how much effort goes into that - your results look great.
Greg.
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1 Corinthians 10:13 1963 Chevrolet 1/2 ton 2010 Camaro SS/RS 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2016 Jeep Cherokee |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Cleaned up the original T-3 headlights, will reassemble grill tonight and post pics once complete
__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: decatur, alabama
Posts: 31
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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 Posted via Mobile Device |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 362
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
looks damn good. cant wait to see it in person..
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The price of cool aint cheap. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Right on, when you due back in country?
__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 362
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Sept 2012
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The price of cool aint cheap. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
Should be a little warmer here then. Was around 15deg this a.m.with the windchill.....and truck still fired right up.
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__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#16 |
Rollin' Old Skool
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 5,371
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
that looks great! you did a nice job....i guess you just plan to keep the aluminum polished with no protective coating
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_____________________________________________ Phillip My Build threads: 1966 Chevy C-10 "Black Betty" shortbed, fleetside, BBW, 327 V8/ Powerglide (under construction) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=betty 1997 Chevy Tahoe, 2dr/2wd, mild custom (Daily driver) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=601142 Pics: '66 C-10 https://flic.kr/s/aHsjHWD4h9 '97 Tahoe https://flic.kr/s/aHsjGZ7wKP '93 C-1500 https://flic.kr/s/aHskxdpdnQ '88 S-10 Blazer https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYGx4Md Previous Rides: 1993 Chevy S-10 ext. cab, 4.3L, 4/5 drop (Sold) 1993 Chevy C-1500 short/step Retro-Rod (Sold) 1988 S-10 Blazer 2dr/2wd mild custom (Sold) |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
|
Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
__________________
1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Music City, U.S.A.
Posts: 638
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That's nice!
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Hanford, CA
Posts: 1,027
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
That sure does look nice. I might just have to undertake that project myself.
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Poor and content is Rich...and Rich enough! - William Shakespeare 1966 C10 Custom Cab "Luigi" Big Window - SWB Fleetside 350 V-8 - Powerglide My not so much a build thread as a "Slow Progression Thread":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486894 |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 422
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
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1963 Chevy stepside 327 1965 Chevy swb 383 1996 Mystic Mustang Cobra 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP 415hp/415tq 6speed |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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
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1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer Last edited by 1963c-10; 01-03-2012 at 05:55 PM. |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 422
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
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1963 Chevy stepside 327 1965 Chevy swb 383 1996 Mystic Mustang Cobra 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP 415hp/415tq 6speed |
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#23 |
Rollin' Old Skool
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 5,371
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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
__________________
_____________________________________________ Phillip My Build threads: 1966 Chevy C-10 "Black Betty" shortbed, fleetside, BBW, 327 V8/ Powerglide (under construction) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=betty 1997 Chevy Tahoe, 2dr/2wd, mild custom (Daily driver) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=601142 Pics: '66 C-10 https://flic.kr/s/aHsjHWD4h9 '97 Tahoe https://flic.kr/s/aHsjGZ7wKP '93 C-1500 https://flic.kr/s/aHskxdpdnQ '88 S-10 Blazer https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYGx4Md Previous Rides: 1993 Chevy S-10 ext. cab, 4.3L, 4/5 drop (Sold) 1993 Chevy C-1500 short/step Retro-Rod (Sold) 1988 S-10 Blazer 2dr/2wd mild custom (Sold) |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Fayetteville WV
Posts: 71
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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.
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#25 |
Easy Does It
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Dirdy Mo , North Carolina
Posts: 450
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Re: Finally polished the aluminum 1963 grill
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...
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