Electro-Polishing Aluminum Panels

[BobCarter]

As I embark on my first build I am curious if anyone has used the Electro Polishing method on aluminum panels. Im considering doing this on panels that will be in-sight upon completion of assembly. To keep the cost down for this im also curious which panels will be visible upon completion. I do not want to have the trunk panels done but areas like the engine compartment and foot wells will be my prime areas.

[David Hodgkins]

Bob I don't know what Electro Polishing is but is terms of what panels to do I can help you there:





For the panels not shown: The inside top of the driver's footbox is polished, the out top is not. The "ears" (front wheel splash guards, not shown) should be polished on the side facing the footboxes. THe othe side, facing the wheel, can be painted or powdercoated.

HTH,

[edwardb]

When you receive your kit, most of the large panels will be temporarily mounted for shipping. It will be real obvious which ones show and which ones don't. It would be easy to decide from there.

[KeyserGogo]

x2 what edwardb said. My kit showed up Sunday (best fathers day gift ever) and I too did not want to coat panels that are hidden. With the body still on, I have been looking at which panels are actually visable, as well as where I can place things like brake lines, fluid reservoirs, MSD box, etc. without having clearance issues down the road. Same goes for dash (I got the blank dash) so it's nice to have an idea what is back there as well. Taking lots of pics too just to be sure. Good luck!

[chopthebass]

David,
A bit off topic, but are any of the foot well panels riveted to the main 4" rails?
I've never heard of electro polishing either.

[David Hodgkins]

David,
A bit off topic, but are any of the foot well panels riveted to the main 4" rails?
I've never heard of electro polishing either.

Wow, you learn something new every day. I'd really like to try this:



re: floor panels, yes they are riveted to the 4" tube. there is an inside tab for that. I'll see if I can find a relevant pic of it. EDIT: Here's a pic of my passenger foot box. You can see where the floorboard attaches to the 4" tube. This one is a custom foot box, but the stock ones are similar:


Sorry, this is the best shot I have of the driver's side. At least it shows where the panels are attached:

[BobCarter]

For those who are not familiar with Electropolishing-
This procedure can provide an almost mirror finish to metals. It is similar in some respects to plating operations. We use it in custom metal fabrications for Pharmaceutical customers and others whose specs. require extremely clean, non pitted surface finishes. On an entry level the equipment and method is relatively straight forward but be careful, you will be exposed to a number of hazards (acids, fumes etc. ). On a industrial level the investment is pretty steep the training and experience is key. I do not recommend attempting this on your own. (The internet tends to over simplify). If your looking for a source for this service send me a message and I will send you a contact.

Thanks to all for your replies to my Q.

[David Hodgkins]

For those who are not familiar with Electropolishing-
This procedure can provide an almost mirror finish to metals. It is similar in some respects to plating operations. We use it in custom metal fabrications for Pharmaceutical customers and others whose specs. require extremely clean, non pitted surface finishes. On an entry level the equipment and method is relatively straight forward but be careful, you will be exposed to a number of hazards (acids, fumes etc. ). On a industrial level the investment is pretty steep the training and experience is key. I do not recommend attempting this on your own. (The internet tends to over simplify). If your looking for a source for this service send me a message and I will send you a contact.

Thanks to all for your replies to my Q.

I didn't mean to say I wanted to try it, I meant I want to try utilizing this process as a customer.

[68GT500MAN]

Now I know what electro polishing is, would need a very large tank to polish a panel.
Doug

[christenfreedman]

I could be wrong but I am guessing it is cost prohibitive compared to other options...Anyone with experience with it here?

[chopthebass]

Thanks for my off-topic reply David.

Ian

[MPTech]

Im considering doing this on panels that will be in-sight upon completion of assembly. To keep the cost down for this im also curious which panels will be visible upon completion.

Please correct me if I'm wrong or omitted anything.

Driver's footbox:

• Inside panel (next to engine)
• Front panel
• Top panel (engine side)
• Top panel cover
• Round patch panel on front of Front Panel (may be optional on some builds)
• not visible / no need to finish (outside panel (next to body), floor pan, Top panel (body side)

Passenger's footbox:

• Inside panel (next to engine)
• Front panel
• Top panel
• not visible / no need to finish (outside panel (next to body), floor pan

Driver and Passenger F-Panels:

• Inside panels (next to engine)
• Rear panels (behind tire, elephant ears)
• Radiator hose patch panel

(you can polish the inside (facing the engine) and treat the outside with truck-bed liner or such (fender well side)
(fyi, on my build I fabricated a new F-Panel on the passenger side, eliminating the radiator hose hole and patch panel)


Firewall:

Radiator opening Panels:

• Side panels
• Bottom panel

Other items:
Radiator Aluminum Fan Shroud (highly recommended for improving fan cooling, after-market product)
Radiator Cowl cover (also recommended for cooling and to cleanup the top of the radiator and 3/4" tubing, after-market product)

[skullandbones]

Hi Bob,

Sounds like you might have an insider edge on this for your project. For those who don't, it could be cost prohibitive. If I was limited by cost, I would do the top of foot boxes, firewall, and inside of foot boxes along with the f panels. Some builders do a custom panel that is not included (I guess fabricated) that fits in the area between the f panels and the foot boxes to hide things like the back side of side vents and underneath fender areas. I'm considering those as well. These attach to the 3/4 tubes fore and aft at the edge of the hood. Those would be beautiful if you had them. Curious to how you maintain the clean mirror finish after it is subjected to the heat, fluids and dirt from the engine bay. With aluminum, the oxidation and contamination is a major deal in polishing and welding for such things as sheet metal manifolds or other welded products. So it might be useful there, too.

Good luck on your build,

WEK.

[BobCarter]

Skullandbones:
Good point on corrosion resistance once aluminum is polished.

Check out this link-
http://www.superiormetals.us/corrosion-protection.htm

As added protection, one option will even stand up to nuclear radiation! And mold...? Hmm.

[MPTech]

While you're polishing, you can also do the Louvers, unless you were planning to paint or replace them with Stainless Steel.

[cjcnj01]

the finished product looks surgical sf precise... I imagine it would be one of a kind... we decided on powder coating for our foot boxes and firewall... it turned out nice and really makes the engine standout..

[Raceral]

For me, the fender well area looks so nice left natural. With my old car, about once a year, I would jack it up , take all 4 wheels off and use a SOS soap pad and clean the crap out of the fender wells... the finish looked better than natural. Plus, when at car shows folks really noticed the aluminum and thought it was a REAL ONE!!