Tailgate trim, best way to shine it up?

[5bassman]

I have an 86 Silverado, I need the trim to match the paint, shiny. How do I shine up the trim on the tailgate and the bed corner pieces?



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[Firebirdjones]

If you are speaking of the big trim piece on the tailgate, I believe that is supposed to be a brushed look and somewhat dull (not shiny)

But if you want to shine trim, I use this stuff on all my stainless and other small pieces on the classic cars...best stuff out there in my opinion. Has many other uses too.

https://www.wenol-polish.com/

If you are speaking of the lower trim moldings, then you have an issue. During these years of production that is a rubber flexible molding that has that simulated chrome attached (more like plastic) and then it usually has a clear covering over that for protection. Usually over time that clear coating starts peeling off. No way to shine this stuff up really. If it's discolored or peeling it's probably time to replace it.

[5bassman]

At an angle it almost has a chalky look to it.
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[JWall]

We polished out the trim on my Dad's 76 including the tailgate band, cab trim below the window, etc.
We polished it out with some jewlers rouge and a buffing wheel then some good metal polishing... it took a little time but looks pretty cool.

[5bassman]

Originally Posted by JWall

We polished out the trim on my Dad's 76 including the tailgate band, cab trim below the window, etc.
We polished it out with some jewlers rouge and a buffing wheel then some good metal polishing... it took a little time but looks pretty cool.

Looks great! I like that. I might have to try that. My corner pieces don't come close to matching the stick-on chrome on the side and back.
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[truckfan]

i will watch this

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Jwall isnt there a coating on the tailgate trim?
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[Firebirdjones]

Some of this stuff will have a clear coating on them (usually the aluminum pieces), which will all have to be stripped to buff the aluminum or stainless underneath.

On these aluminum pieces, once it's stripped and polished, it becomes a continual process to keep it looking nice, the aluminum dulls quickly in the weather without a protective coating and also becomes subjected to corrosion.

I wasn't aware you wanted to get that serious with the polishing Bassman. In order to do that you'll have to do what JWall did and break out the rouge and buffing wheels, take the pieces off the truck, and plan to spend days on it

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I want to do the same thing since the clear coat on my thin tailgate trim is kinda milky. But the damned coating wont come off
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[JWall]

We did that trim several years back so I cant remeber about the coating... if there was we cleared that off first.

My dad uses that truck for shows & cruise nights so its hard to say about the durablity of it if it was daily driven.

The truck was painted 8 or so years ago & thats when we did it & I think we've only repolished the tailgate & cab bands once.

[6772fan]

5bassman, Really sharp truck and doesn't look like it needs a great deal more shining as is. I've ordered a tube of the red polish that Firebirdjones refers to (have the same problem with my 87) Thanks for the post!

[5bassman]

Originally Posted by 6772fan

5bassman, Really sharp truck and doesn't look like it needs a great deal more shining as is. I've ordered a tube of the red polish that Firebirdjones refers to (have the same problem with my 87) Thanks for the post!

Thanks! The bed corners are duller than the tailgate piece but they both could use polishing. I have a roll of the side molding that I will be replacing soon.
Previous owner did a poor job of putting it on.
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[trout]

im watching also

[egaray281]

i added a tailgate trim that i got from a junkyard to my truck i used something called steel wool from autozone and it worked great it gave it a nice shine but of course its not super shiny since its made to look some what dull i guess from the factory but it cleaned up nice!

[88Jimmy4x4]

its designed not to be too shiny so when the vehicle behind you headlights hit it they dont shine back in his face.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

its designed not to be too shiny so when the vehicle behind you headlights hit it they dont shine back in his face.

Yep, same reason stainless backed rear view mirrors were also phased out starting around 1970, so oncoming traffic didn't get blinded by the reflection.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by 6772fan

I've ordered a tube of the red polish that Firebirdjones refers to (have the same problem with my 87) Thanks for the post!

That stuff is the best out there for maintaining stainless, aluminum, brass, etc...You'll like it.

I've even used it to polish plastic taillight lenses, plastic headlights, you name it and it works on it.

I like it because you can take a somewhat dull piece of stainless (say window trim) and use it by hand with a rag and some rubbing, it comes out like chrome with a little time spent.

Now if you want to buff something that has alot of scratches then rouge and a buffing wheel is the way to go.

[egaray281]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

its designed not to be too shiny so when the vehicle behind you headlights hit it they dont shine back in his face.

thats makes sense?

[DIRTY HAIR]

Originally Posted by 5bassman

i have an 86 silverado, i need the trim to match the paint, shiny. How do i shine up the trim on the tailgate and the bed corner pieces?



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nice truck!

[5bassman]

Originally Posted by DIRTY HAIR

nice truck!

Thanks! Was going to buy it for my son (pictured) but got it for myself instead. 117,000 miles but engine rebuilt at 79000 with larger cam and pistons, hits a good lick but not too much. Supposedly a $5000 paint job,nice original interior. Nice dual exhaust, a little louder than I like. Might replace with some quieter Magnaflow mufflers.
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