Grill finish

[tahoe healey]

I just received a new grill for my BJ8 from a well known British suppliers. There are tool swirls that are just noticeable on the finish. Is this common with repro grills part? They will take it back but I am out the shipping. They said all their grill are like that so no advantage in exchanging it. They said it is anodized so it cannot be polished. Has anyone had this experience with other suppliers like Moss?

 

[Jerry]

Some of the chrome parts I ordered had AH SPares label on them. It was cheaper to buy direct from AH SPares so I did. I only had one spear for the fender that had a poor chrome job.

Jerry
BN4
BJ8

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

What part of the grill shows marks? Can ou post a closeup?

 

[tahoe healey]

It was several of the vertical slats that have swirl marks. I can live with it but I paid for unblemished. My old one wasn't all that bad. A few small dents and slightly pitted surface. Very serviceable but since I have everything apart why not bright and new? It is from AH Spares.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Once you get it sorted out TH, you may consider protecting the slats from getting pitted.
I put a strip of the clear bra film on each of the slats. It's invisible.
Cheers.

 

[John_Progess]

TH,
You might consider swapping out the bad slats with some good ones from your old grill. They are just pop riveted on and easily exchanged. I had a couple with dents in them and exchanged them with the end slats and the dents were covered. Have a good day!

John

 

[tahoe healey]

The new slats are brighter than the original or I would have just ordered the replacements.
Roger, I had considered that after seeing yours. Where can I get a small amount I would need? Now is the time for me to do it.

 

[AUSMHLY]

The new slats are brighter than the original or I would have just ordered the replacements.
Roger, I had considered that after seeing yours. Where can I get a small amount I would need? Now is the time for me to do it.

You might look on the web for it. Local installers or product. 3m is one of the companies makes it.
Or contact your local car dealership and ask who installs the clear bra for them. Ask the installer if he has any scraps.

You may get lucky.
The film is not crystal clear. It may dull down the brighter than the original look you have.

Best of luck
r

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

Have you tried polishing the old slats to get a better shine or improve surface on new ones? Right now my originals are dull looking, but will polish to almost a mirror finish with very little effort on a bench grinder with a fairly hard polishing wheel.

 

[Cutlass]

Aluminum will polish up very nicely. But the polishing exposes the surface to oxidation, so will not remain shiny without protection. In part, that's what anodizing does. I personally would not polish those slats. The continuing maintenance would not be worth it.

 

[tahoe healey]

I've tried polishing the old grill and it didn't seem to make any difference. Its pretty straight but tons of micro pits.

 

[healyfan53]

The only way to restore an anodized aluminium part is take off the anodize on the part by spraying easy off on it, wait a bit and then use steel wool to finish the job of cleaning (glove is a must). Now the part will be dull finish. Now it time to sand with different aluminium oxyde grade paper 200 to 400 depending on the degree of piting, the piece will become soft without any flaw being entirely without imperfection.
If you decide to have the same original finish as it was in the 60's you should then <span style="text-decoration: underline">buff</span> the part with oxyde aluminium paste (white) which will give a chrome finish look. After that clean with soap and send the part to be clear anodized without ecthing.

The finish will be as it should and last for long .

Care treatment after that could be <span style="text-decoration: underline">polishing</span> or just soap cleaning.

Hope that can help , long evening in the forecast.... :thumbsup:

gilbert

 

[why]

Just received my new grill from Moss Motors (post about a week ago asking for hints on extraction and replacement)and it all sounds familiar, my old grill good but verticals pitted. New one seems a satiny finish with every "tooth" showing swirl/groove marks. Pretty disappointed, $230 Moss compared with $190 Victoria. Went the more expensive since up till now good luck with Moss, but this thing definitely below par with some of swirl marks on the border of grooves. When I saw "Manufactured in UK" on Box my heart sank as in UK wires versus Dayton. Replacement hint: once grill loosened, took off tire and cranked steering wheel full lock,taped wiring out of harms way and extraced through wheel well

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

The slats on a BJ8 grill look like stainless steel, but on closer inspection may just be chrome plated. Earlier models that may have aluminum need to be top coated with a clear urethane, like used on aluminum wheels currently in production.

So what year grill is in question? The original post refers to the BJ8.

 

[GregW]

My BJ8 grill is aluminum.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

My BJ8 grill is aluminum.

Mine is also aluminum and I had it "polished" and it came out looking very nice.
Patrick

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

Just making sure I am on the same page as everyone else. Is this the type of grill in question???????????????

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Just making sure I am on the same page as everyone else. Is this the type of grill in question???????????????

I'm talking about the vertical slats piece.
Patrick

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

So replacements are made from aluminum? These slats are very thin steel amd all individually attached to a framework.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

So replacements are made from aluminum? These slats are very thin steel amd all individually attached to a framework.

I have two original grills and both appear to be aluminum but I'm not 100% sure on this.