<VV> Refurbishing the aluminum trim on my 64 Spyder; the solution

[Joe West]

After removing all the trim on my 64 Spyder, I was left with a dilemma...
Replacement trim was not available (a few pieces were... But not all) and
the pieces that were available (the non-NOS stuff) didn't quite match the
factory trim with respect to finish.  In fact, some of the items I ordered
actually had small dents in them that I would need to fix.

At the suggestion of a vv group member, I looked into having the parts clear
powder-coated.  I called my powder coater (who did all of the sheet metal on
my engine during this latest rebuild) and told him I would be polishing the
parts and I asked him if he could powder coat the aluminum trim.  He said
"yes... But rather than YOU polishing them... There is a business two doors
down called Southwest polishing who can do it for you... You should give
them a call"

So I gathered up all of my factory trim... Dinged, battered and dents
everywhere (I'm talking about EVERY aluminum piece on the entire car from
the rear engine grill to the front grill and everything in-between) and I
went to Southwest polishing here in Mesa Arizona.

I walked in and spoke with the owner and asked him to come out to my truck
and look at all the trim that I needed polished.  He came out, looked at the
trim, and said; "I charge $8.00 per foot" and he started measuring.  When he
got done measuring he said... The $8.00 per foot includes removal of every
dent and ding in every piece as well as polishing.  Trying to keep my mouth
from falling agape, I asked him if I understood him correctly, no extra
charges for straightening the parts and removing the dents and dings (there
must be HUNDREDS of dings and dents combined in these trim parts) and he
replied that when I get these parts back.. They will be EXACTLY as they were
when they were new.  Absolutely NO flaws.

He will also anodize the parts when he finishes polishing them.

Total cost?

$380

Now... Some of you may think that this is pretty expensive, but just try to
find PERFECT trim, NOS or not, for that price... I think you'll find that
this is an amazingly low price.

I have some "before" pictures of the trim, and will post the "after"
pictures to the group.

If it turns out that the returned trim is absolutely perfect... I'd be more
than happy to hook anyone who is interested up with contact information for
this shop. 

Joe West