How does one restore Side Pipe Covers
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
How does one restore Side Pipe Covers
I have a nice set of side pipe covers with a few scratches on them. Can anyone help me with correct way to get them back to pretty close to normal. Thanks George 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Good Luck!!! I took mine and used a 3M small disk with an air drill and cut the original finish of the ribs. Did not fool with the indented areas as there was not way to get to them. I polished the ribs up and then tried to find the hardest clear that I could. I taped off the low areas and sprayed the ribs with several light coats. That was 3 or 4 years ago. Covers still look good but they haven't seen much sunlight either so not sure what they would look like if in sun for extended period of time.
Steve
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
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Jeff,
I think you are correct. But I didn't know how to get it off so I used the method I listed. It worked but was time consuming.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 554
From: Sun Prairie WI
George
Sidepipe heatshields are 'hardcoat' anodized. The hardcoat oxide is very thick (typically .001-.006"), nasty hard & abrasive. Your only hope of removal is by mechanical means such as grinding, but this is also difficult since it acts as an insulator. Buffing will do little or nothing.
If you have "... a few scratches on them ...", I'd declare victory after perhaps freshening up the black between the ribs.
Sidepipe heatshields are 'hardcoat' anodized. The hardcoat oxide is very thick (typically .001-.006"), nasty hard & abrasive. Your only hope of removal is by mechanical means such as grinding, but this is also difficult since it acts as an insulator. Buffing will do little or nothing.
If you have "... a few scratches on them ...", I'd declare victory after perhaps freshening up the black between the ribs.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
George
Sidepipe heatshields are 'hardcoat' anodized. The hardcoat oxide is very thick (typically .001-.006"), nasty hard & abrasive. Your only hope of removal is by mechanical means such as grinding, but this is also difficult since it acts as an insulator. Buffing will do little or nothing.
If you have "... a few scratches on them ...", I'd declare victory after perhaps freshening up the black between the ribs.
Sidepipe heatshields are 'hardcoat' anodized. The hardcoat oxide is very thick (typically .001-.006"), nasty hard & abrasive. Your only hope of removal is by mechanical means such as grinding, but this is also difficult since it acts as an insulator. Buffing will do little or nothing.
If you have "... a few scratches on them ...", I'd declare victory after perhaps freshening up the black between the ribs.
Advice well taken. I will try a little spot with oven cleaner and then determine the next step. I'll take it slow and easy. I am finding out that patience is a MUST in restoring these cars.
If one does not have patience, best to let someone else do the work. And that just kills me.
George
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