Reconditioning chrome etc (the shiny bits!)

[willturfdog]

Just wondering if there is a good technique for restoring some shine to parts like headlight surrounds, windscreen wiper grilles (what is the correct name for this part, the grill at the bottom of the windscreen?)

If they have a bit of rust are they done, do they need professional attention, or can i make them look spiffy again?

Obviously I'll replace the screws as they make the whole thing look worse.

PS. I have been told to rotate my headlight surrounds by 180 degrees, my first job when i get some time...

Thanks much

IMG_6797.jpg

[Valencia]

Just some alloy polish for headlight surrounds they are not chromed
and the grill panel under the windscreen is called the scuttle panel

[Blocker]

Here are a set of great videos that you can use to help fix up stainless trim. I have followed these steps and had great success!

http://www.mysandman.com.au/forums/s...ight=stainless

[Innuendo]

Neither are stainless. The headlight surrounds are anodised aluminium and could be cleaned with Autosol or Blue Magic etc. Don't polish too hard or you will go through the anodising and will have to polish them for the rest of you life. The Wiper Grill/Scuttle should be painted body colour to be original. It was a common practice to chrome plate them as a custom thing. Again Autosol Metal Polish will do the job so long as it's not too rusty.
We used to sell these on an exchange basis and advised people to have them 2 pak clear coated.

[Big Rob]

Yep, what innuendo said.....

And you can't rotate your headlight surrounds 180 degrees, there are no screw holes at the top. You need to swap left for right.

[wbute]

I thought those twin headlight surrounds had radiused corners on one edge and square ones on the other? That would mean if you swapped them side to side and they only had holes on the bottom that they would be on the wrong way round? There must be a left and right one? The one pictured is on the wrong side?

[hxbunny]

There are four screws in the headlight surrounds, that's how they get put on upside down in the first place, but it's very easily done if you are in a rush or didn't take notes before you take them off.

[mook]

Neither are stainless. The headlight surrounds are anodised aluminium and could be cleaned with Autosol or Blue Magic etc. Don't polish too hard or you will go through the anodising and will have to polish them for the rest of you life. The Wiper Grill/Scuttle should be painted body colour to be original. It was a common practice to chrome plate them as a custom thing. Again Autosol Metal Polish will do the job so long as it's not too rusty.
We used to sell these on an exchange basis and advised people to have them 2 pak clear coated.

The headlight surrounds, are they bright anodized or satin?

[Absinth]

The headlight surrounds, are they bright anodized or satin?

They were painted a matt or satin silver with the border polished. Like the black painted GTS ones ones over the years the paint fades and wears off. I have the paint code for them in my desktop computer which is still packed at the moment.

[Innuendo]

The headlight surrounds, are they bright anodized or satin?

The compete aluminium unit is simply clear/bright anodised and "inserts" painted over the top. They are not unprotected plain aluminium.
Without the anodising the alloy would tarnish in no time flat. Anodising is very thin. Think of a old style saucepan or aluminium cup from an old style picnic set. Scratches pretty easily, but protects very well.