Aluminum fire wall

[Chuckr]

The build instructions shows both painted and bare aluminum. Thought about polishing and no paint. Any thoughts/ideas that I’m missing would be greatly appreciated.

[narly1]

The things we own end up owning us. There is no right or wrong, only consequences. Consider how you are going to keep your firewall looking the way you want it to for the long haul.

Earl

[Chuckr]

Thank you for the input, excellent point. Looks like I need to select the paint color.

[mkassab]

Look at my build link in my signature.

Something you could consider if you want polished is to polish it then apply a 2k clear coat on it. You painter could do it, or you can do what I did.... a rattle can 2K clear.

Mark

[Blitzboy54]

There is no wrong answer. It's your truck and it has to make exactly one person happy.

Start a build thread, would love to follow along.

[David Hodgkins]

Engine Turn it!

[Super Dave]

I was thinking about using a scuff pad (or something similar) and doing a brush affect. Probably vertically

[PMD24]

I engine turned (jeweled) my firewall and it came out pretty good for a first try. Used a drill press outfitted with a lathe check from Amazon, along with Cratex sticks. The problem with using a drill press on larger pieces is that you have to flip the material part way through when you run out of throat on the drill press. That reverses the swirl which creates a subtle line across the pattern.

I polished my exposed footbox panels using Mothers and then sealed them with Sharkhide. If I do another build I will do that with the firewall.

Another option for you is bright anodize. Mike Bray can provide details on that.

Pat

[JohnnyB]

The problem with using a drill press on larger pieces is that you have to flip the material part way through when you run out of throat on the drill press. That reverses the swirl which creates a subtle line across the pattern
Pat

Good info that I wouldn't have considered.

[Guardm16]

I wish I could remember who, but someone built a simple square jig for a folding able, that allowed them to make nice even 2" "swirls", then offset the next row The entire firewall was done, then 2k clear. Great results. Anyone remember the thread?

[David Hodgkins]

I already have the technique down... I could modify my jig to accommodate 1" or maybe 2" pattern. How deep and wide are the panels?

[fact5racer]

I powder coated mine bronze to match the frame

[RuffShod]

Powder coated