Rocker Panel Refinishing
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
Rocker Panel Refinishing
I've read a few posts on sanding/buffing and polishing to remove scratches etc but it looks like mine are chrome plated and couldn't find where anyone had mentiioned that. I was using 400 grit paper wet sanding on an edge to remove a scratch and it looks like the plating is being sanded away. Are these things chrome plated aluminium?? If so, what do you guys recommend to freshen them up? I bought a new one and it doesn't fit worth a damn. Thanx
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
not sure about 75 but don't think they were factory chromed (could be wrong); 74 was not chrome plated. a previous post had specifics about how to bring back the al rocker panels. i remember reading they had some kind of coating (i can't tell on mine). see if you can locate with search . . .
Last edited by S489; Apr 28, 2007 at 10:43 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
These rockers I have are a different animal, I bet they're chrome plated, I didn't know chrome would stick to aluminium.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
The C3 rocker panels...from 1970-82...are anodized aluminum. Anodizing is a "plating" process where a hardened coating is deposited on the surface. You can't resurface it without taking it to a plater again. The last thing you want to do on these panels is sand them. You could use very fine steel wool (000 or 0000) to buff them and then put some kinds of wax or surface dressing on them.
P.S. If anyone is interested, I have a pair of '75-'79 silver rocker panels (original) in very good condition. I bought 'em at a swap meet for my '71 and didn't know they were an inch shorter than the '70-'74 panels. Send me a PM if interested. [I was thinking about trading both for one good (original) left-side '70-'74 panel or selling them on the CF "for sale" site, but hadn't got around to it.]
P.S. If anyone is interested, I have a pair of '75-'79 silver rocker panels (original) in very good condition. I bought 'em at a swap meet for my '71 and didn't know they were an inch shorter than the '70-'74 panels. Send me a PM if interested. [I was thinking about trading both for one good (original) left-side '70-'74 panel or selling them on the CF "for sale" site, but hadn't got around to it.]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
The C3 rocker panels...from 1970-82...are anodized aluminum. Anodizing is a "plating" process where a hardened coating is deposited on the surface. You can't resurface it without taking it to a plater again. The last thing you want to do on these panels is sand them. You could use very fine steel wool (000 or 0000) to buff them and then put some kinds of wax or surface dressing on them.
P.S. If anyone is interested, I have a pair of '75-'79 silver rocker panels (original) in very good condition. I bought 'em at a swap meet for my '71 and didn't know they were an inch shorter than the '70-'74 panels. Send me a PM if interested. [I was thinking about trading both for one good (original) left-side '70-'74 panel or selling them on the CF "for sale" site, but hadn't got around to it.]
P.S. If anyone is interested, I have a pair of '75-'79 silver rocker panels (original) in very good condition. I bought 'em at a swap meet for my '71 and didn't know they were an inch shorter than the '70-'74 panels. Send me a PM if interested. [I was thinking about trading both for one good (original) left-side '70-'74 panel or selling them on the CF "for sale" site, but hadn't got around to it.]
Bill
