Making the T Bar Pretty
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach FL
Making the T Bar Pretty
The T bar on my car is aluminum (I think) and it looks terrible, it's all cloudy looking and I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a cover that you can put on it...maybe something chrome. Or, is there a polish that will clean it up? I've tried both Mothers aluminum polish and chrome polish and it still looks awful.
Thanks! :thumbs:
Thanks! :thumbs:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
I believe the T-bar is made of stainless so the polishes you're using won't do much to bring up the shine. You have to remove the bar and then polish it on a buffing wheel. If I were going to give it a try I would first wet sand the entire bar with 2000 to 3000 wet sandpaper and then buff it with 2 or 3 succeedingly finer compounds. You can check out places like Eastwood for their stainless buffing kits or I'm sure many others on the web. It's not an easy job so you might just look into a replacement if it bothers you that much. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
The T-bar is stainless steel. You can remove it and use a buffing wheel and compund but be very careful. It is sharp and also bends very easily. You might want to try buffing it without removing it from the car. If you still don't like it it can be replaced but make sure you get the correct year. The rear "extensions" on the early models (1968 - 1973) are about 1/2" longer on each side than later models. I don't think they are available through any repro dealers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
Hey what about covering up the interior and using a drill mounted buffer like a wheel buff and compound from Eastwood. Done gentlely enough you wouldn't run the risk of bending it out of shape or snagging it. Run the buff so it would slip over the edge as you get to it and not grab.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
You could also leave the T-Tops on. Hell if you wanted a convertable you should have bought one!!! :jester :jester :jester
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,751
Likes: 2,497
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
I am planning on doing mine this weekend. My approach is to cover the intereior and buff it using Eastwood S/S buffing compound on a 3" buffing wheel on a drill.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (gliot1)
Some fine steel wool, like OOOO grit, works wonders on the stainless. Use a little metal polish like Autosol with it and you will get outstanding results.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,483
Likes: 1
From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (7t2vette)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=504081
If you need more info, just IM Cali,77,L-82
:cool:
If you need more info, just IM Cali,77,L-82
:cool:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (6t9l4t6)
If mine ever has to come off it will get powder coated red and that will be the end of those problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 24,906
Likes: 0
From: Swords Check/Saws Check/Clubs Check/Claws Check/Hatred Check/Anger Check/Murmaid Check/Murder Check
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (WS6TA01)
I use a little 3M hand glaze on mine and rubb it out.
You said hand glaze and rub it out in the same sentence :crazy:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 24,906
Likes: 0
From: Swords Check/Saws Check/Clubs Check/Claws Check/Hatred Check/Anger Check/Murmaid Check/Murder Check
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
Damn... I wish I could get mine to look this good
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Ipswich, MA
Re: Making the T Bar Pretty (Mystery Machine)
My bar is in good shape but the screws holding it in are either missing or the philips slots are stripped. Does any one know the size (thread) and length of said screws? or where I can purchase some.....I've looked in all my catalogs and it seems no one lists them.
TIA
Chas :flag
[Modified by CharlieF, 1:14 AM 6/7/2003]
TIA
Chas :flag
[Modified by CharlieF, 1:14 AM 6/7/2003]
