68 Ford Fairlane trim restoration

The aluminum trim (side moulding, wheel arches, grill, headlight trim rings, etc.) on my 68 Ford Fairlane have turned white (sort of).

I originally thought that the trim was stainless steel (because it was so hard to polish). However after constant polishing using a buffing wheel and several types of rouge, I managed to eat through some sort of coating and polish the metal underneath and it looks definitely like aluminum.

I had been spinning my wheels for sometime and all I manage to do was polish the coating.

First of all, what is it? Clearcoat? Clear anodizing? Power coating? What was used to protect polished aluminum back in the late 60s?

I applied some paint stripper but it didn't phase it. I even heated one item with a propane torch and it still wouldn't remove it. I figured it would have at least bubbled.

I'd rather not glassbead blast these pieces for obvious reasons.

All I need to know is how to remove the coating and I can do the rest. Thanks.

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Aluminium is a very reactive metal, but it's usually protected by the aluminium oxide (Al2O3) reasonably well because Al2O3 sticks to the surface very well and it is not very permeable. (unlike rust)

If the aluminium contains lots of other metals (i.e. Cu, Mg) or the environment is corrosive (i.e. salt water) then aluminium will corrode faster.

Might be nothing. Unlike common steel, Al require no protective coat in many cases.

If it's just Al2O3

What you have is aluminum trim that is anodized. They electroplate the aluminum with an aluminum alloy that holds up a bit better to the elements. There is no way to polish this substance back to it's original state. The only thing that will restore the piece(to original finish) is to have it stripped and re-anodized. I have tried to find local platers/anodizers to do this for me- but it was very cost prohibitive in my area. (east coast) HOWEVER: If this car is a driver/enjoyment vehicle- you like to wash it and polish it regularly- you don't mind waxing- and (preferably) it resides in a garage or carport- you CAN remove the anodizing and polish the raw aluminum basemetal to a chrome-like finish. In your 'experimenting' you have already seen the basemetal being polished where you have worn through the anodizing. If you want to know how to remove the anodizing (a whole lot faster)- e-mail me .

Probably anodizing.

Try this, it worked for a car that I restored: Easy-Off oven clenar to remove the anodizing; then sanding - starting off with the least aggressive grit that will remove any scratches, then progressing up to - at least - 1600. After that, if you want more shine, buff it with rouge. After you're donewith all that, coat it with a clear finish to preserve the shine, It will never be as bright as the original anodizing, but close enough.