what is "bright aluminum"

[fordxxx]

Some of the trim on my '72, like the grill is call "bright aluminum". Is that some kind of electroplating or anodizing?.

The reason I ask is because the my grill got damaged in the middle. I found one pick-a-part that is good in the middle but rough by the headlights. I was thinking of trying to patch weld in the good part and then having the whole thing chromed, if that is what it is.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

[FORDification]

"Bright aluminum" simply means polished aluminum that is then anodized for protection from the elements.

As for welding that.....man, I hope whoever's going it is a true professional, as sectioning a thin piece of aluminum (and in multiple places!) like that and making it seamless will be next to impossible to do. There will definitely be a HUGE amount of manhours involved, not only with the welding, but then the necessary polishing afterwards to completely blend all seams.

I might be wrong, but I think you're going to have a lot more money invested into it than you'd have spent just getting yourself a good straight replacement grille.....and I think if your intent is to chrome-plate a grille, I'd suggest keeping your eyes open for a good steel grille and plating that, instead of the aluminum version. It'll be a lot more sturdy and any necessary repairs before the plating will be MUCH easier.

Just my

[dotcentral]

I don't think there is a steel grill for the 72, so he'd need a 67-69, and all the parts to swap it over.

NPD, Carpenter's, etc all carry new grill shells, but they are pricey.

[lazyj70]

Also the tread bright is hard to keep to a mirror finish. Once dirt hits it it's pretty much dulled.

[ERICLDUFFEL]

I found a steel 68 grille in a junkyard.It had a dent in the top bar and a crease on the side where the turn signal marker light.I stripped all the parts off it.I sent it to a chromer and they fixed all the dents.But at a price of $1500.00.When I got it back it looked brand new.I got some nos headlight doors off of ebay and had them chromed too.The results where great.