Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

[Martin N.]

Can scratches be polished out of original C-3 factory sill plates? I would like to keep the originals if possible. It appears that these are not chromed, just polished aluminum / metal? Wondering if you could wet block sand with like maybe 1500 grit and than polish them with a buffing wheel, any thoughts?

Marty

[Terry M.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

My bet is that those are clear anodized -- like the rocker moldings. If that is true, you will have to have the anodizing removed, do your dent removal, polish, and re-anodize. The anodizing work is not a DIY operation. My prediction is before you are done you will have a lot more money, time and effort into them than the reproductions cost.

And just what is wrong with the reproduction sill plates?

[Martin N.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

TERRY-
If those sill plates are anodized, the reproduction units are looking real good right now

Marty

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

TERRY-
If those sill plates are anodized, the reproduction units are looking real good right now

Marty

Not to hijack you post Marty, but I have the same situtation with my originals being scuffed up. On the repros I have the three raised stripes are narrower than the originals. A judge pointed it out to me, I just blinked.

I was about to send out my originals, now , not sure.$$$$$

[Martin N.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-
Do you know if the sills are anodized or not?

Marty

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-
Do you know if the sills are anodized or not?

Marty

Marty, sorry, I do not know. Today was the first I heard of that too.
I share your interest in information on this subject. I posted a picture of my originals with the repos FYI.

Ken

[Martin N.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-
It'd be interesting to take a micrometer to the raised fins of the 2 and see what the thickness differance is between original and factory. That'd also tell us how good the judge's eye sight is.

Marty

[Alan S.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

Hi Martin,
I believe Terry is right-on about them being anodized, as are the rocker moldings.
Regards,
Alan

PS: I know there are some firms that will do and re-do the anodizing. I'll try to remember where I saw their advertisement.
PSS: There are several firms in the current HEMMINGS that SAY they'll restore and re-dip aluminium parts.

[Martin N.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

ALAN-

Like Kenneth said, I'm not sure (if they are anodized) that the price of re-anodizing will be worth the cost of saving the original factory pieces. Thanks for your input.

Marty

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-
It'd be interesting to take a micrometer to the raised fins of the 2 and see what the thickness differance is between original and factory. That'd also tell us how good the judge's eye sight is.

Marty

Marty, I will mic them, only for you. How anal are we? Met someone with a nice LT1 today told him to join up!

[Harmon C.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

You have four points for originalty and two for condition so unless you get the originals perfect the deduction could be the same. I think the price per point will be high on this part.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-
It'd be interesting to take a micrometer to the raised fins of the 2 and see what the thickness differance is between original and factory. That'd also tell us how good the judge's eye sight is.

Marty

Marty,

If the judge's eyesight is poor, you may get dinged. Please see mic photos.

Ken

[Greg L.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

I don't know if they are anodized or not but there is some sort of coating on them. Sanding them down will probably remove some of the extrusion markings so you would have to be carefull when doing that.

I can't help much on how to restore them properly but I can say that the repop set that I got from one of the reputable supplers were what I'd call service replacements. They weighed A LOT less than the originals because they are much thinner. The screw holes also don't line up very well with the original holes and they are also not counter sunk like the original holes. They sure look good in the catalogue though.

[Martin N.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-

Original is about .66 and repro is about .50, correct?

Marty

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Factory Sill Plate Refurbishing

KEN-

Original is about .66 and repro is about .50, correct?

Marty

Yes Sir!
Please let me know if you find a good guy for this.
I have someone for the wheel trim rings to polish, but I have not asked
him if he can do the sills. I will ask.

I will sent the info on him, do not have it now.

Ken