I'm looking for advice once again. Rocker molding - my narrow, 71 pieces seem to be anodized aluminum, is that correct? What is the best way to restore these pieces? Is stripping the coating and buffing the piece recommended? I understand that if they are aluminum I would have to plan in waxing them quite frequently.
Restoration advice: rocker panel trim
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- GTX (RS)
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:14 pm
- My Cars: 71 Satellite
70 Challenger
07 300C SRT8
13 Ram C/V (Caravan) work-issued - Location: Vancouver, WA
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- GTX (RS)
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:32 pm
- My Cars: 71 GTX
72 cuda repli-mod - Location: S. E. Michigan
Re: Restoration advice: rocker panel trim
I think those moldings were bright aluminum - not anodized. Exposure eventually dulls the finish.
I have seen custom made pieces come out of our machine shop at work that are almost as "shiny" as chrome. If starting with unpitted aircraft aluminum, the process involves wet sanding with finer and finer grit, starting at 400 or so and going to 2,500. Then use a polishing compound with a low speed buffer. I recommend a compound called Simichrome Polish. You might need quite a bit for 2 moldings.
You could clearcoat afterward. I have a custom license plate, made by a machinist who was the previous owner, on the front of my cuda that was polished this way about 9 years ago. I've never touched it and it's still very shiny.
I have seen custom made pieces come out of our machine shop at work that are almost as "shiny" as chrome. If starting with unpitted aircraft aluminum, the process involves wet sanding with finer and finer grit, starting at 400 or so and going to 2,500. Then use a polishing compound with a low speed buffer. I recommend a compound called Simichrome Polish. You might need quite a bit for 2 moldings.
You could clearcoat afterward. I have a custom license plate, made by a machinist who was the previous owner, on the front of my cuda that was polished this way about 9 years ago. I've never touched it and it's still very shiny.
Re: Restoration advice: rocker panel trim
Shiny aluminum parts are anodized in a process called "Brite-Dip". It's really hard to find a shop that still does this. David Russell in Florida did some samples for me and while they're not as bright as factory, they're really nice. Tuff Wheel resto also provides this service. New repros might be cheaper in the long run.
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- GTX (RS)
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:32 pm
- My Cars: 71 GTX
72 cuda repli-mod - Location: S. E. Michigan
Re: Restoration advice: rocker panel trim
The last time I searched, nobody was repopping the GTX rocker moldings..........
I read somewhere - probably here - that the upper surface of the "ribs" was painted argent silver while the radius end and bottom remained plain aluminum.
I read somewhere - probably here - that the upper surface of the "ribs" was painted argent silver while the radius end and bottom remained plain aluminum.
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- GTX (RS)
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:14 pm
- My Cars: 71 Satellite
70 Challenger
07 300C SRT8
13 Ram C/V (Caravan) work-issued - Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Restoration advice: rocker panel trim
Seems like someone recently suggested a shop that restored aluminum trim. Anyone ever used King of Trim in San Diego?
http://kingoftrim.com/
http://kingoftrim.com/