Learning Trim Restoration - All That Shines - Pontiac Tech

Upon completion, the wheel is cleaned using a buff rake to remove all of the cutting compound and the minute amounts of metal collected from polishing.

Polishing compound is then applied to the wheel. In this case, a fine polishing compound (jeweler's rouge) designed for stainless steel is utilized. A different aluminum, white-rouge coloring/polishing compound is used for the aluminum upper-door and quarter-window trim molding. Polishing continues in the same manner as the cutting-compound step, but additional cross-buffing is utilized to remove all minute swirls.

A cotton white wheel that is soft, untreated, and ventilated is mounted for final polishing. The fine fibers in the polishing wheel create a brilliant shine and make the piece ready for the finest show car. In essence, a series of steps occur that slowly close the grain of the metal through heat and polishing. Closing the grain too fast or introducing too much heat will result in a poor finish that may be plagued with tiny pits or distorted metal. It takes experience and a delicate touch to know how much polishing the metal can take before the finish is at risk. For the inquisitive types, the tailpanel trim's stainless steel is only 0.022 thick, while the aluminum upper-door molding is just a bit thicker at 0.030.

Compare the end of the tail-panel trim piece with the unrestored piece shown earlier. In addition to a brilliant shine, these restored original pieces will fit perfectly back on the GTO at the time of installation.

Careful attention is paid to protecting the parts after polishing and preparing them for shipment. Each is individually wrapped in cellophane and newspaper; then packed. A label identifies each part according to a description and is cross-referenced back to the item number on the invoice. Nothing is more frustrating than unwrapping a bunch of parts in order to find the one you're ready to install. Since oil from your fingers will mar the finish of the restored metal, Bill recommends wiping the item with window cleaner and then applying a high-quality polish for protection after installing a stainless part.

Here is the actual invoice for the GTO-trim restoration.

Since aluminum anodization is very difficult to obtain, Zoop Seal should be applied to aluminum pieces. MPR can provide the service, or the customer can purchase a kit and apply the sealer himself. In addition to protecting the surface for years to come, the Zoop Sealer reduces the brilliance of the aluminum just a bit, giving the finish the perfect factory sheen.

The unrestored portion of the upper-door molding on the left doesn't look like it should be in the same zip code as the restored portion on the right.