Current Classifieds

1980 Pinto Parts

Date: 08/05/2020 04:20 pm
1978 ford pinto carb
Date: 02/04/2018 06:09 pm
postal pinto
Date: 06/03/2020 09:31 am
Accelerator Pump Diaphram for 1978 Pinto
Date: 09/03/2018 08:58 am
Wanted - 71-73 Pinto grill
Date: 12/15/2016 03:32 pm
Clutch Pedals for 75to 80 Pinto
Date: 09/21/2018 11:35 am
1975 Pinto wagon emissions decal wanted
Date: 09/20/2018 11:01 pm
1974 Ford Pinto

Date: 10/16/2017 10:45 am
2.0 performance parts, 2 intakes, header, ported head, more
Date: 10/25/2019 04:05 pm
hubcaps

Date: 10/31/2018 12:04 pm
EARLY PINTO CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY
Date: 02/14/2019 06:27 pm
FLOOR PANS
Date: 06/12/2020 07:24 pm

Author Topic: aluminum Bumper polishing  (Read 2787 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Clydesdale80

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
  • FeedBack: +4/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Linux User Mobile User Windows User
aluminum Bumper polishing
« on: August 02, 2014, 04:12:03 PM »
I'm wondering if the aluminum bumpers on my 78 hatchback came from the factory with some kind of coating on them or if it is the same aluminum all through the bumper.

Somebody that owned this car before me must have never gotten used to how far the bumpers stick out on these cars and hit everything.  There are scratches and scrapes everywhere.  Can I just sand the damage out using 220 sandpaper and work my way up to polish or would I be removing some important surface layer?
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline Clydesdale80

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
  • FeedBack: +4/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Linux User Mobile User Windows User
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2014, 03:40:54 PM »
I know not many of these cars have aluminum bumpers but I was hoping someone would have an idea. Are these bumpers plated with something or is it just bare polished aluminum?
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline flash041

  • PCCA VIP
  • Pinto Master
  • ***
  • Posts: 902
  • FeedBack: +88/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User Linux User Mobile User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2014, 07:04:25 AM »
The bumpers have an anodized coating on them. Mine  were pitted with white spots all over . I sanded them with a power vibrating sander starting with 100 grit, finishing with 1200. I also used oven spray to help in the process, as that eats up some of the anodizing.Afte r that use a good aluminum polish and they will shime like chrome. 
1978 Pinto Cruising wagon (I am the original owner ! ) Built Aug 15th 1977 in NJ
1993 Mustang LX 2.3 convertible

Offline lightning

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 12
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 2
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2014, 12:16:38 PM »
Google "Shark Hide". Once polished this product will keep them looking new. We use it on aluminum boats in the PNW.
Using Tapatalk

Offline 74 PintoWagon

  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 3105
  • FeedBack: +540/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 5
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 01:01:10 PM »
Art
65 Falcon 2DR 200 IL6 with C4.

Offline Clydesdale80

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
  • FeedBack: +4/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Linux User Mobile User Windows User
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 05:17:07 PM »
thanks guys, that's exactly what I needed to know  :)
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline arkyt

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 111
  • FeedBack: +5/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2014, 07:18:33 PM »
what about the trim around the drip railings on a '78?  Mine has some kind of ruined coating on them, but the door and wheelwell trim is good.
78 sedan
77 V8 cruizin wagon
73 MGB
09 Challenger RT

Offline Clydesdale80

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
  • FeedBack: +4/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Linux User Mobile User Windows User
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2014, 08:19:06 PM »
If I remember correctly the drip railing trim is metallic coated plastic and crumbles to pieces if you attempt to remove/repair it... on that note does anyone know of anything to replace it?
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline Pinto5.0

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1974
  • FeedBack: +77/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 80 hatch, 76 Wagon, 72 & 73 Sedans, 71 half hatch

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Fifth year Anniversary Windows User 1000 Posts
Re: aluminum Bumper polishing
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2014, 06:50:21 AM »
If I remember correctly the drip railing trim is metallic coated plastic and crumbles to pieces if you attempt to remove/repair it... on that note does anyone know of anything to replace it?

Early cars had stainless drip rail trim instead of plastic.
'73 Sedan (I'll get to it)
'76 Wagon driver
'80 hatch(Restoring to be my son's 1st car)~Callisto
'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
'72 sedan 5.0/T5~Lemon Squeeze