Re-galvanise grill for V8V?

[keiltyben]

Hi all,

My car has only done 26k and been kept in a garage its whole life but its fair to say that the grill has lost its shine. Even straight after cleaning it, the grill looks cloudy at best. Is there a product to deal with this or do owners get the slats regalvanized?

Any suggestions for products or suppliers would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[phumy]

keiltyben said:

Hi all,

My car has only done 26k and been kept in a garage its whole life but its fair to say that the grill has lost its shine. Even straight after cleaning it, the grill looks cloudy at best. Is there a product to deal with this or do owners get the slats regalvanized?

Any suggestions for products or suppliers would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Galvanised? Are you sure you dont mean chromed, I doubt you want them galvanised thats a very patchy type finish.

[TR-Spider]

As the slats are made from Aluminium, they are anodized, can be (chemically) stripped and and be re-anodized.
A broad range of colours can be selected.
Best is to go to a local shop & discuss/explain with them.

I recently had mine changed from stock (faded violet-ish) to a clean silver.

[keiltyben]

Sounds good. Could you give me an idea of likely cost? And do you have any before/after photos perhaps?

[TR-Spider]

I payed 135 CHF for 8 slats.
No pics - structure/surface as before, no polishing was done.

[Finding Neutral]

Problem with anodising is that is marks very easily.

The other issue is that any chips you have beneath will need to be repaired (probably machined down?).

I can imagine it being a right faff. I just had my scuff plates re done and the company had a bit of a nightmare with them. They look great in the end but they had them ages. The company I used, all they do is anodising. Mainly for aviation.

[Finding Neutral]

I’m all ears though if anyone on here has a company that can do the machining and the anodising at a sensible price

[LTP]

I actually approached a specialist anodising company near Birmingham and they told me the problem would be polishing the old vanes without distorting them, as each V8V vane has a curve (and I'm not even sure if the curve in each is the same).

Their opinion was that, without polishing, the vanes would look the same after as when they went in - and these guys did restoration work on old car parts, etc. so I assumed they knew of which they spoke - so I didn't bother. If anyone knows any different they I'm definitely interested

[Riddochg]

I used some guys in Bristol a few years back to anodise mine. Went for a black finish as I was giving the car a bit of a make over. From memory about £120 and a great job. Still looks perfect.

[EVR]

I use this periodically with good results, but keep in mind my grille is the dark, gunmetal one.

[Nigel_O]

Anodised aluminium won't polish - the anodising is an electrochemical process that changes the surface layer of the aluminium. It can be cleaned up a bit, but you'll never get that "polished aluminium" look without completely stripping the anodised layer

My bright grille is quite shabby and scratched and I'd like to improve it - how do the slats release from the uprights? I've had the grille off, but I couldn't release any of the slats aand I don't want to break the plastic uprights

[Riddochg]

On the vantage they just push out. Be gentle and once you have a couple out the rest follow easily.

[LLaPGoCh]

Had mine re-anodised a few years back, here's the link;

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

Someone else used the same firm with equally good results .

Biggest phaff was taking the grille apart and putting back together again....

[LTP]

LLaPGoCh said:

Had mine re-anodised a few years back, here's the link;

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

Someone else used the same firm with equally good results .

Biggest phaff was taking the grille apart and putting back together again....

That's odd - it was Badger Anodising I spoke to last year who told me they couldn't guarantee keeping the vanes' shape and curve through polishing.

[keiltyben]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I love it when a forum work this well.

[JonnyCJ]

Try Aleo Plating in Liverpool as well. John the owner is a big Everton fan, so just tell him you hate Liverpool and he’ll sort you out.

Did all my bolts in BZP for my subframe resto.