How do I brighten a 70 Grille? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70c10 · 03-26-2002, 07:50 AM

Hey guys,
My dad has a nice grille for his truck thats very dull with scratches. Is there a way to brighten it up?. I tried oven cleaner - didn't work. Does anybody know of a product or steps I need to take?. Thanks

Frank_Zeller · 03-26-2002, 08:37 AM

I have played with spray on oven cleaner and scotch bright pads.... Try out the technique on your light bezels first...there is a lot of scrubbing to get it shinny. Then you have to put a clear coat on it.

kaarazy · 03-26-2002, 09:08 AM

I've tried this in the last week or so and it is a lot of work. Soak the parts in liquid draino overnight. The anodizing washes off and the you can polish to a high luster. Looks cool though.

70c10 · 03-26-2002, 12:27 PM

Did you polish it wish aluminum wheel polish?. Did you use a buffer or by hand?

*racedvl* · 03-26-2002, 10:13 PM

ttt

------------------

http://hometown.aol.com/racedvl/racedvl69index.html

Woodstock,IL.northwest of Chicago

It's not what you buy, it's what you build!!

I did not climb to the top of the food chain, to become a vegetarian.

For some pics of my truck.

**BIG ORANGE** · 03-27-2002, 12:07 AM

Eastwood sells a stripper that will remove the coating and then you will have to sand it with a fine grid sandpaper then buff and not with your hand.good luck!

------------------
BIG ORANGE 1971 SUBURBAN
1970/90-Little Buck's Truck (ONE DAY)
USED TRUCK PARTS 4 SALE

kaarazy · 03-27-2002, 09:52 AM

I have this polishing compound from "Michiana" polishing in Indiana. Bought it at a swap meet and it works fine by hand but would be quicker with a polishing wheel. I mixed up some draino last night and let it sit too long. Made teh aluminum a little thin. Pay attention on how long you let it sit if you use crystals. I let the premixed liquid plumber sit overnight and it was ok.

**crossy** · 03-27-2002, 11:33 AM

this is interesting to me as I like to play with parts restorations. I never heard of the draino thing before though . how many gallons does it take to soak one of those huge grille shells in though and did you buy a big tub to put it in? do you think it would work to soak a rag with it and lay it on the grille a section at a time? thanx , DAVE

REPO1 · 03-27-2002, 11:38 AM

Have you tried a can of Never Dull? That is what I have used for years. It takes a bit of elbow-grease, but usually turns out ok.

In case you don't know, Never Dull is in a blue can, inside is basically full of cotton that is soaked with some sort of chemical. You just pull out a wad and get scrubbing. It works awesome.

Reid

------------------
Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper
#s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans.
Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes.
73,600 Original Miles!!

ol-yellr72 · 03-27-2002, 01:56 PM

How hard is it to apply the clear coat, what kind of materials are needed?

kaarazy · 03-27-2002, 04:48 PM

Dave,
In an answer to your question on part size, I have not done a grill shell yet but don't see why a rag soaked with the solution would not work. For long pieces such as the front fender spears, I put them in a 2" piece of PVC with a cap on the end and fill the pipe with solution. Draino is only $4.50 a can at Wally World and makes quite a few gallons. If your time is worth money, it definitely is faster than sanding. I used to glass bead blast the anodizing off but that lead to a lot of sanding and prep before polishing. Let me know how you like the process.

wlee · 03-28-2002, 12:16 PM

Here's one I "fixed up". It had the usual dents & dings, as well as a nasty series if creases along the top edge. I was able to knock all the dents out and clean up the hammer marks using 220 sandpaper. I then used 320 to get out the 220 scratches, 600 for smoothing and ended up with 1500 grit to get a nice sheen. I finished it off with 0000 steel wool. It's now ready for the black lettering & accent stripes. Took some time, but I'm pleased with the end result! Lee

------------------
1969 Custom 20 Longhorn
1970 CST 20 Fleetside
1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe
1991 Jaguar Sovereign
1992 Mazda Miata
1969 Triumph Bonneville
1964 Harley Sportster

70c10 · 03-28-2002, 01:17 PM

Looks great!!!!

03-26-2002, 07:50 AM	#1
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	How do I brighten a 70 Grille? Hey guys, My dad has a nice grille for his truck thats very dull with scratches. Is there a way to brighten it up?. I tried oven cleaner - didn't work. Does anybody know of a product or steps I need to take?. Thanks __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

03-26-2002, 08:37 AM	#2
Frank_Zeller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 796	I have played with spray on oven cleaner and scotch bright pads.... Try out the technique on your light bezels first...there is a lot of scrubbing to get it shinny. Then you have to put a clear coat on it. __________________ 69 SWB C/10 5-6 drop 700R4 69 Firebird Convert 455 4 spd 70 Torino GT Convert Austin-Texas

03-26-2002, 09:08 AM	#3
kaarazy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Oakfield, WI Posts: 108	I've tried this in the last week or so and it is a lot of work. Soak the parts in liquid draino overnight. The anodizing washes off and the you can polish to a high luster. Looks cool though. __________________ 1972 K/20 355 c.i.d. sleeper "Circus Wagon"

03-26-2002, 12:27 PM	#4
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Did you polish it wish aluminum wheel polish?. Did you use a buffer or by hand? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

03-27-2002, 12:07 AM	#6
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,767	Eastwood sells a stripper that will remove the coating and then you will have to sand it with a fine grid sandpaper then buff and not with your hand.good luck! ------------------ BIG ORANGE 1971 SUBURBAN 1970/90-Little Buck's Truck (ONE DAY) USED TRUCK PARTS 4 SALE __________________ Things happen for a reason!

03-26-2002, 10:13 PM	#5
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	ttt ------------------ http://hometown.aol.com/racedvl/racedvl69index.html Woodstock,IL.northwest of Chicago It's not what you buy, it's what you build!! I did not climb to the top of the food chain, to become a vegetarian. For some pics of my truck.

03-27-2002, 09:52 AM	#7
kaarazy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Oakfield, WI Posts: 108	I have this polishing compound from "Michiana" polishing in Indiana. Bought it at a swap meet and it works fine by hand but would be quicker with a polishing wheel. I mixed up some draino last night and let it sit too long. Made teh aluminum a little thin. Pay attention on how long you let it sit if you use crystals. I let the premixed liquid plumber sit overnight and it was ok. __________________ 1972 K/20 355 c.i.d. sleeper "Circus Wagon"

03-27-2002, 11:33 AM	#8
crossy Oh,you can't buy that new Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Pennsville,N.J. 08070, USA Posts: 2,039	this is interesting to me as I like to play with parts restorations. I never heard of the draino thing before though . how many gallons does it take to soak one of those huge grille shells in though and did you buy a big tub to put it in? do you think it would work to soak a rag with it and lay it on the grille a section at a time? thanx , DAVE __________________ "been there, done that, ruined the T-shirt". 2007 LBZ GMC Sierra, ECSB 2006 LM7 RCSB Silverado 98 Vortec project. 94,3500,6.5L 4L80 81 SWB GMC POS finally gone 73 Pinto, stock, w/CragarSS's-eww LOTS of Cummins trucks.

03-27-2002, 11:38 AM	#9
REPO1 Shortbox wanna-be. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort St.John, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 773	Have you tried a can of Never Dull? That is what I have used for years. It takes a bit of elbow-grease, but usually turns out ok. In case you don't know, Never Dull is in a blue can, inside is basically full of cotton that is soaked with some sort of chemical. You just pull out a wad and get scrubbing. It works awesome. Reid ------------------ Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper #s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans. Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes. 73,600 Original Miles!! __________________ 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper 402BB Turbo 400 trans. (Slowly becoming a '70 shortbox 1/2 ton) '71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto '97 Z28 (11.41@127MPH)

03-27-2002, 01:56 PM	#10
ol-yellr72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 34	How hard is it to apply the clear coat, what kind of materials are needed? __________________ 72' Chevy C-10 rebuilt 350 backed by a TH350 and a 3:73 posi rearend. Located in Mesa, AZ

03-27-2002, 04:48 PM	#11
kaarazy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Oakfield, WI Posts: 108	Dave, In an answer to your question on part size, I have not done a grill shell yet but don't see why a rag soaked with the solution would not work. For long pieces such as the front fender spears, I put them in a 2" piece of PVC with a cap on the end and fill the pipe with solution. Draino is only $4.50 a can at Wally World and makes quite a few gallons. If your time is worth money, it definitely is faster than sanding. I used to glass bead blast the anodizing off but that lead to a lot of sanding and prep before polishing. Let me know how you like the process. __________________ 1972 K/20 355 c.i.d. sleeper "Circus Wagon"

03-28-2002, 12:16 PM	#12
wlee Just an Old Mr Goodwrench Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Green Ridge, MO USA Posts: 259	Here's one I "fixed up". It had the usual dents & dings, as well as a nasty series if creases along the top edge. I was able to knock all the dents out and clean up the hammer marks using 220 sandpaper. I then used 320 to get out the 220 scratches, 600 for smoothing and ended up with 1500 grit to get a nice sheen. I finished it off with 0000 steel wool. It's now ready for the black lettering & accent stripes. Took some time, but I'm pleased with the end result! Lee ------------------ 1969 Custom 20 Longhorn 1970 CST 20 Fleetside 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe 1991 Jaguar Sovereign 1992 Mazda Miata 1969 Triumph Bonneville 1964 Harley Sportster __________________ 1969 CST 20 Longhorn 1970 CST 20 Fleetside 1991 Jaguar Sovereign 1992 Mazda Miata

03-28-2002, 01:17 PM	#13
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Looks great!!!! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

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