Polishing a grille - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bowtieride · 03-24-2007, 11:35 PM

Does anyone know a good way to polish the outer gille on a 69-72. If anyone knows of a good way i would like to know. Thanks

mnunn454 · 03-25-2007, 08:39 AM

I'm facing the same thing in a month or two, once I'm done with the interior. This makes 2 of us looking for a good answer. Thx for posting.

Piece of Work · 03-25-2007, 08:45 AM

Make that three!

msgross · 03-25-2007, 08:56 AM

I've heard of WD-40 and 1000 steel wool for polishing/deoxidizing chrome/aluminum. That and a gallon of elbow grease!

chevydad · 03-25-2007, 08:58 AM

I had the same question,I took my grill to a custom car builder and asked what can I do.He took some 320 wet sandpaper and sanded about foot long section,then went to 600 wet,800 wet ,1000 wet.He then polished that section.It came out like new.I have about half the grill done,it's time consuming but the results are worth it. Bill

**special-K** · 03-25-2007, 09:59 AM

The problem is the hard anodizing the factory used.Get through that and treat as any metal polishing.

Huskerboy2 · 03-25-2007, 10:07 AM

Autosol. Expensive, but works really well.

[ol'Blue] · 03-25-2007, 10:47 AM

where can you buy a gallon of elbow grease?
from mexico?

jk

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 03-25-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ol'Blue]

where can you buy a gallon of elbow grease?
from mexico?

jk

**********************************************************

Autosol and very, very fine Bull Wool Has worked well for me on tons of stuff.

Now a grill .... all of a sudden it just grew by about 10 feet!

esll.

BowTieOgre · 03-25-2007, 12:51 PM

I remember someone saying good things about WENOL.

69ChevyLB · 03-25-2007, 04:29 PM

I think I saw a while back where you could use oven cleaner to remove the anodizing before trying to polish the aluminum parts.

1fast71 · 03-25-2007, 04:35 PM

i just plain need a new outer grill anybody kno where i can buy one from?
for a 71

chevyman432003 · 03-25-2007, 05:16 PM

eastwood says to use oven cleaner to take off the anodizing

*Shane* · 03-25-2007, 06:37 PM

you can rub it with whatever you want ... cheap or expensive ... and it WON'T shine until you get the anodizing off it.

Oven cleaner to remove anodizing ... and then just about any decent metal polish will make it shine ... be prepared to polish fairly often now that the anodizing is gone, it will tarnish rather quickly.

RANDY COX · 03-25-2007, 06:49 PM

I think the steel grill that's Chrome plated looks really good,But as far as I know they don't make em for a 69-70 grill.When I get rich would like to buy new Grill.

Wootdog · 03-25-2007, 08:09 PM

Flitz metal polish will make it shine. Kerry

SacramentoJoe · 03-25-2007, 08:25 PM

I used #0000 steel wool on my few sparse trim pieces. It won't make them new but will make them clean and presentable.

racerman85 · 03-25-2007, 08:26 PM

something i always do is use some soft scrub and a scotch bright pad before polishing... it smooths everything a little and makes it a nice, even color... just my opinion!

piecesparts · 03-25-2007, 09:19 PM

The grilles are anodized and after y ou remove that, then you will be polishing forever. Just a thought to have in mind. With that covered, the process of taking wet and dry sand paper (starting with 600 grit and working your way to 2500 grit) and using wd-40 to keep the paper clean as you sand is a way to start. I finish up with a tub of Mother's aluminum polish (to remove sanding scratches) and then a touch of Mother's "billet Polish" for a mirror finish.

If you are really serious you can purchase some razor buffing pads for your die grinder and a buffing taper to hold them. Get some polishing compund sticks and go to it. It works great and takes less "Elbow Grease". Look at purchasing a couple bottles of "Metal Sealant" to seal the metal and keep water spots out of it.

03-24-2007, 11:35 PM	#1
bowtieride Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 103	Polishing a grille Does anyone know a good way to polish the outer gille on a 69-72. If anyone knows of a good way i would like to know. Thanks

03-25-2007, 08:39 AM	#2
mnunn454 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 602	Re: Polishing a grille I'm facing the same thing in a month or two, once I'm done with the interior. This makes 2 of us looking for a good answer. Thx for posting. __________________ 69 C-10 SWB Fleetside 454/TH400 (For Sale) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c...ct=1299&cat=12 70 El Camino 454 TH700 29 Model A 4-DR Sedan Deluxe

03-25-2007, 08:45 AM	#3
Piece of Work Cultural Infidel Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 668	Re: Polishing a grille Make that three! __________________ posted via La-Z-Boy -Mark 1972 C-10 Fleetside 350/TH350 PS PB A/C Cab Sadly....Sold 1968 Short Fleet 350/TH400 PS PB Delivered by Fine69 Also sadly Sold! It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. A man is not complete until he is married -- then he is finished.

03-25-2007, 08:56 AM	#4
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Polishing a grille I've heard of WD-40 and 1000 steel wool for polishing/deoxidizing chrome/aluminum. That and a gallon of elbow grease! __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

03-25-2007, 08:58 AM	#5
chevydad Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Washington,Pa Posts: 17	Re: Polishing a grille I had the same question,I took my grill to a custom car builder and asked what can I do.He took some 320 wet sandpaper and sanded about foot long section,then went to 600 wet,800 wet ,1000 wet.He then polished that section.It came out like new.I have about half the grill done,it's time consuming but the results are worth it. Bill __________________ :

03-25-2007, 09:59 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Polishing a grille The problem is the hard anodizing the factory used.Get through that and treat as any metal polishing. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-25-2007, 10:07 AM	#7
Huskerboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Posts: 1,628	Re: Polishing a grille Autosol. Expensive, but works really well. __________________ '72 Chevy Blazer

03-25-2007, 10:47 AM	#8
[ol'Blue] Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 158	Re: Polishing a grille where can you buy a gallon of elbow grease? from mexico? jk

03-25-2007, 12:51 PM	#10
BowTieOgre Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 1,461	Re: Polishing a grille I remember someone saying good things about WENOL. __________________ 1986 C10 - LWB, 305/700r4, posi, vortec heads

03-25-2007, 04:29 PM	#11
69ChevyLB Active Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 249	Re: Polishing a grille I think I saw a while back where you could use oven cleaner to remove the anodizing before trying to polish the aluminum parts. __________________ 69 C10 LWB Project 47 Cushman Scooter Project It is better to have loved and lost than to live with a psycho all your life.

03-25-2007, 04:35 PM	#12
1fast71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: medford oregon Posts: 152	Re: Polishing a grille i just plain need a new outer grill anybody kno where i can buy one from? for a 71

03-25-2007, 05:16 PM	#13
chevyman432003 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: houston, tx. Posts: 8	Re: Polishing a grille eastwood says to use oven cleaner to take off the anodizing

03-25-2007, 06:37 PM	#14
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Polishing a grille you can rub it with whatever you want ... cheap or expensive ... and it WON'T shine until you get the anodizing off it. Oven cleaner to remove anodizing ... and then just about any decent metal polish will make it shine ... be prepared to polish fairly often now that the anodizing is gone, it will tarnish rather quickly.

03-25-2007, 06:49 PM	#15
RANDY COX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: RADFORD, VA Posts: 2,651	Re: Polishing a grille I think the steel grill that's Chrome plated looks really good,But as far as I know they don't make em for a 69-70 grill.When I get rich would like to buy new Grill. __________________ 1964 BBC 402 4x4

03-25-2007, 08:09 PM	#16
Wootdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va, USA Posts: 1,677	Re: Polishing a grille Flitz metal polish will make it shine. Kerry __________________ 1969 Chevelle 1990 IROC Z Convertible 2002 Silverado LT



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03-25-2007, 08:25 PM	#17
SacramentoJoe Always Fixing Things Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 390	Re: Polishing a grille I used #0000 steel wool on my few sparse trim pieces. It won't make them new but will make them clean and presentable. __________________ Just an Average Joe ‘68 GMC 307 3spd – My dad's original truck 310,000 miles

03-25-2007, 08:26 PM	#18
racerman85 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, PA Posts: 318	Re: Polishing a grille something i always do is use some soft scrub and a scotch bright pad before polishing... it smooths everything a little and makes it a nice, even color... just my opinion!

03-25-2007, 09:19 PM	#19
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Polishing a grille The grilles are anodized and after y ou remove that, then you will be polishing forever. Just a thought to have in mind. With that covered, the process of taking wet and dry sand paper (starting with 600 grit and working your way to 2500 grit) and using wd-40 to keep the paper clean as you sand is a way to start. I finish up with a tub of Mother's aluminum polish (to remove sanding scratches) and then a touch of Mother's "billet Polish" for a mirror finish. If you are really serious you can purchase some razor buffing pads for your die grinder and a buffing taper to hold them. Get some polishing compund sticks and go to it. It works great and takes less "Elbow Grease". Look at purchasing a couple bottles of "Metal Sealant" to seal the metal and keep water spots out of it.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.