Restoring ALUMINUM Trim for a Classic Car (or Truck)

When you restore aluminum trim on a classic car, there isn't an easy button. It requires patience and time to make it shine like new. There are 5 basic steps in restoring aluminum trim. Some of these steps apply to stainless steel trim, but this video is specifically about '60s and '70s cars and trucks that have anodized aluminum trim that needs to be restored. The example shown is a 1966 Chevy Nova, and there is not currently replacement side trim available to purchase. So the only choices are to weld up the holes and make a Super Sport clone, or restore the original beat up, dull aluminum trim. These methods also work for Chevy C10 and Ford F100 and F150 trucks that have aluminum side trim, headlight bezels, taillight bezels and grille. Here are the five steps that I used to repair and polish this aluminum side trim.
First is removing the anodized coating by spraying with oven cleaner (must contain LYE) and scrub with soap pads (SOS pads). Always wear gloves and work in a well ventilated area!!!
Second is straightening the bends and dents, which typically requires a hammer and dolly, chasing chisels, punches and other tools (sometimes homemade). I used a trim repair kit from Summit Racing that had most of what I needed, but you'll see that I did make some modifications to work with my application.
Third is filing, a step that seems a little scary, but really smoothes out the bumps and bruises nicely. The files with the trim repair kit worked nicely.
Fourth is sanding...I start with 180 grit and work my way finer until 600, and then do a final quick sand with 1500 before polishing.
Fifth is buffing, which is done on a 6 inch bench buffer from Harbor Freight with buffing pads from Summit Racing. Start with the yellow buffing wheel and brown compound, then the sewn cotton wheel with a white compound bar, and finally the loose cotton wheel with the red rouge compound bar.
Final polish can be done by hand with any type of aluminum polish, like mag wheel polish. You can send the trim out to be anodized to keep from having to re-polish occasionally.
#howto #polishing #aluminum

[@earth2steven197]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I have some obsolete trim I need to fix

[@user-qp4kx5ew2n]

Thanks for making this video.

[@babaoriley5751]

Awesome job! Thx

[@powers6963]

How often do those need to be re-polished?

[@garyfairman2805]

Do you know someone who does this for a job. I need trim work done a 84 dodge truck I hate to just take it permanently off

[@Sleeperdude]

Looks like tools to break out of prison

[@byrdsgarage]

They are definitely multi-use tools.