Rocker Panel Restoration
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: AR
Rocker Panel Restoration
Does anyone know who does restoration on the c3 rocker panels (72)? The only person I can find locally or near me said they could do it, in 4-5 months. That doesn't do me any good, so looking for other options. I tried a pair of the reproduction panels, they were not even close to fitting. Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi frb,
Finding anyone who can/will do it period, is quite amazing.
It takes some special abilities to strip and then prep the aluminum to look like it did originally, and THEN, have the ability to anodize something of that length.
The reproductions can be made to fit quite well with a bit of finessing.
Regards,
Alan
These are the reproduction trim panels.
Finding anyone who can/will do it period, is quite amazing.
It takes some special abilities to strip and then prep the aluminum to look like it did originally, and THEN, have the ability to anodize something of that length.
The reproductions can be made to fit quite well with a bit of finessing.
Regards,
Alan
These are the reproduction trim panels.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 63,
That's the $ range I've been hearing too.
One of the problems is that since the trim is mounted so low, and the aluminum is so soft, the aluminum actually gets stone and gravel 'pock' marks in it.
If the aluminum is 'surfaced' enough to get rid of these 'pocks' it will become very thin and even more fragile than the originals already are.
I hear about 'restored sets' but have not actually seen another besides the set I bought.
I really thought I was crazy spending the money at the time, but the situation doesn't seem to have gotten any better since.
Regards,
Alan
That's the $ range I've been hearing too.
One of the problems is that since the trim is mounted so low, and the aluminum is so soft, the aluminum actually gets stone and gravel 'pock' marks in it.
If the aluminum is 'surfaced' enough to get rid of these 'pocks' it will become very thin and even more fragile than the originals already are.
I hear about 'restored sets' but have not actually seen another besides the set I bought.
I really thought I was crazy spending the money at the time, but the situation doesn't seem to have gotten any better since.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi frb,
Someone who is sorta retired from the reproduction business had a set restored to see if it was reasonably possible for him to begin offering the service or to begin offering restored sets.
It was such a problem (at least with his sources for the restoration work) getting them done satisfactorily that he did just one set and called things to a halt. (I don't know if that situation has changed or not.)
I was told about the set he had at just the right time and bought them.
I hear and read about people doing all sorts if things to the panels, but I'm not sure just how close any of these end up looking like original panels. Plus I don't really SEE any results.
I'm NOT saying it can't be done, but this has to be one of the oddest processes, on one of the oddest materials, that restorers deal with.
I'd think the fact that there continues to be talk about 'better' reproductions being on the horizon discourages people from working out the process to restore the originals.
Regards,
Alan
Someone who is sorta retired from the reproduction business had a set restored to see if it was reasonably possible for him to begin offering the service or to begin offering restored sets.
It was such a problem (at least with his sources for the restoration work) getting them done satisfactorily that he did just one set and called things to a halt. (I don't know if that situation has changed or not.)
I was told about the set he had at just the right time and bought them.
I hear and read about people doing all sorts if things to the panels, but I'm not sure just how close any of these end up looking like original panels. Plus I don't really SEE any results.
I'm NOT saying it can't be done, but this has to be one of the oddest processes, on one of the oddest materials, that restorers deal with.
I'd think the fact that there continues to be talk about 'better' reproductions being on the horizon discourages people from working out the process to restore the originals.
Regards,
Alan
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