Is there a way to clean GT Braces?

growley · 01-20-2003, 06:37 PM

Mine are looking a bit old and tarnished. Is there a to clean them or spray paint them?

Volvo78GT · 01-20-2003, 06:41 PM

sand blast 'em and put some nice paint with color of your choice...

OEM GT braces have a rough finish on them... I think that's galvanizing for rust protection, hence its ugly appearence.

growley · 01-20-2003, 06:49 PM

Yes I do have OEM GT braces. Would sandpaper work?

Volvo78GT · 01-20-2003, 06:51 PM

hmm some galvanizing is rather pitted... mine sure is!... it'd take alot of grunt work and steps of sanding...

I'm just talking myself into a hole... somebody else'd have a better idea

Steve C · 01-20-2003, 06:53 PM

Go to your local speed shot and have them put them through a cycle in the brace cleaner.

01-20-2003, 06:53 PM

Have them cromed at a shop. It is not too expensive, looks nice and a one time job.

Hank Scorpio · 01-20-2003, 06:55 PM

you can always try fine grain steal wool. Thats what I did on mine and they turned out...ok I guess, not perfect. I'll probably just bead-blast them and polish them though.

Doug

growley · 01-20-2003, 06:55 PM

I'll try some light sanding and see what happens. I don't know what kind of shop I go to to get them chromed.

growley · 01-20-2003, 07:09 PM

Alright, just tried it with light grain sandpaper. It turned out a little better looking but it was harder to sand towards the ends of the braces.

DaRiceRipper · 01-20-2003, 08:08 PM

All you have to do sand them down with a med grit sand paper lightly sorta of barley touching them but fast movments.
after it looks like youve scuffed them well wash and leave wet take the fine grit sandpaper give it a good go over then use self leveling primer
{they sell it in a spray can} Give them 3 coats {not 3 heavy coats}
then spray them with the engine paint of your choice.
they should come out real smooth and slick.

Angus242 · 01-21-2003, 06:36 AM

Firstly, the stock finish isn't galvanising, its cadmium plating. A common finish on automotive components.

I just sprayed mine black with regular enamel in a spray can. If you intend to paint them then going over them with some sandpaper should be enough to get rid of any mild surface corrosion. If the surface is still a bit pitted then spray them with "primer surfacer", primer with filler in it, and give it a very light sanding before painting.

Another option is powder coating, I've seen a few sets of braces done with this very durable finish, looks pretty good.

Volvo78GT · 01-21-2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angus242

Firstly, the stock finish isn't galvanising, its cadmium plating. A common finish on automotive components.

Yeah that's it, was talking to my dad about it last night and he said its cadmium plating and its not paticularly easy to get a nice finish without sandblasting... but it can be done... mine's all stratched up but is it worth the effort? no. i've got a billion other things to do!

01-21-2003, 09:20 PM

When you remove the (usually old and pitted) cadmium plating by sand/bead blasting the surface tends to get a bit rough, some sanding and polishing afterwards should get a good surface for croming.
Many motor shops that specialize in tuning, especially amcars should be able to crome them or tell you where to go. Also furniture restorers could give you a hint. Powdercoating is a good option also and does not require a smooth surface, but it is usually a bit more expensive.(and I prefer croming by taste..) If you decide too have them done in either way you might consider doing other parts in the same time. There are a lot of plated or galvanized parts in the engine room that get ugly with time.
It was a lot cheaper than I expected, I paid $15 US for the braces, intercooler brackets, washerbottle bracket and a couple of other pieces.
Double or triple that for powdercoating. Considering buying spraypaint and doing the terribly annoing work of painting the pieces with a coat that will probably get bad in a couple of years... :? I do again reccomend some sorts of professional plating.

Hank Scorpio · 01-21-2003, 09:23 PM

Eastwood sells that powder coating kit that I'd love to snag. One of these days I will, I have the oven sitting around already!

Doug

01-22-2003, 01:27 AM

I just did mine last summer. after you prep, use a couple coats of good clearcoat on top of a nice engine paint, and you'll have some nice braces! 8)

DaButcher · 01-28-2003, 11:12 AM

there is something called "Autosol" which is good for polishing.
I polished the metal thingies holding my radiator, they got all shiny and nice, but I think you should use something on it afterwards to prevent "corrosion".

G96nt · 01-28-2003, 11:16 PM

*WHOOOOOOO*

how about... go to your local parts dealer, and pick up a small container Of mothers aluminum/metal polish.

use some windex to clean it, and polish it up.... if you do Well-enough you should have quite the shine ( I have made my 3 year-old s/s muffler Shine pretty well With mothers' and some elbow grease)

if you're worried, you can wait For the polish to dry.. buf it a little, and apply some clearcoat via krylon (at Some point, I'm doing This to the valve-cover... I'll show y'all then) actually... here let me show you a tranny housing I did.

here's some pictures:

mmmm eyecandy!

but.. yeah you can See how well the mothers' works. it's all by hand.. and that Tranny you can See the half I didn't Touch(lower part.. still has mod/oxidization)

01-20-2003, 06:37 PM	#1
growley has a large member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	Mine are looking a bit old and tarnished. Is there a to clean them or spray paint them? __________________ -Ian '91 240-"slolvo" Gnargineering

01-20-2003, 06:41 PM	#2
Volvo78GT Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Plano, TX USA	sand blast 'em and put some nice paint with color of your choice... OEM GT braces have a rough finish on them... I think that's galvanizing for rust protection, hence its ugly appearence. __________________ ENEM POWER! \| OEM Cam Specs \| ENEM Spec Sheet \| 242GT Gallery

01-20-2003, 06:53 PM	#5
Steve C Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: TO	Go to your local speed shot and have them put them through a cycle in the brace cleaner. __________________ 91 940 Turbo, MBC, cut fronts, more to do... 89 765 Turbo, fresh B230FT, hybrid TD05@14#s, intake, exhaust, cut fronts, 250# rears, dual f sways, rear bar

01-20-2003, 06:55 PM	#7
Hank Scorpio Chubfest 2009 Survivor Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The neighborhood with the ******* guitar player.	you can always try fine grain steal wool. Thats what I did on mine and they turned out...ok I guess, not perfect. I'll probably just bead-blast them and polish them though. Doug __________________ Will trade guitars/guitar parts for go fast goodies or stuff I need. Just PM. www.kauerguitars.com the second best way to upset neighbors and alienate people. History: Car 1 \| Car 2 \| Car 3

01-20-2003, 08:08 PM	#10
DaRiceRipper Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Jerzy	All you have to do sand them down with a med grit sand paper lightly sorta of barley touching them but fast movments. after it looks like youve scuffed them well wash and leave wet take the fine grit sandpaper give it a good go over then use self leveling primer {they sell it in a spray can} Give them 3 coats {not 3 heavy coats} then spray them with the engine paint of your choice. they should come out real smooth and slick. __________________ 95 850 GLT Cold air ractive intake 17x8 inch chrome imola's 225/45/17 82 245 GLTi K cam, Ipd cam gear,60/63 Ford turbo, 2 1/2 inch down pipe Complete 3 inch cat single muffler exuast. 82 244T 17" C70 wheels Still diggin threw the garage to see what i can hammer drill and bolt on. And one pissed off girlfriend ready to burn everything.

01-20-2003, 06:49 PM	#3
growley has a large member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	Yes I do have OEM GT braces. Would sandpaper work?

01-20-2003, 06:51 PM	#4
Volvo78GT Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Plano, TX USA	hmm some galvanizing is rather pitted... mine sure is!... it'd take alot of grunt work and steps of sanding... I'm just talking myself into a hole... somebody else'd have a better idea

01-20-2003, 06:53 PM	#6
Guest	Have them cromed at a shop. It is not too expensive, looks nice and a one time job.

01-20-2003, 07:09 PM	#9
growley has a large member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	Alright, just tried it with light grain sandpaper. It turned out a little better looking but it was harder to sand towards the ends of the braces.

01-21-2003, 06:36 AM	#11
Angus242 Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Firstly, the stock finish isn't galvanising, its cadmium plating. A common finish on automotive components. I just sprayed mine black with regular enamel in a spray can. If you intend to paint them then going over them with some sandpaper should be enough to get rid of any mild surface corrosion. If the surface is still a bit pitted then spray them with "primer surfacer", primer with filler in it, and give it a very light sanding before painting. Another option is powder coating, I've seen a few sets of braces done with this very durable finish, looks pretty good.

01-21-2003, 09:20 PM	#13
Guest	When you remove the (usually old and pitted) cadmium plating by sand/bead blasting the surface tends to get a bit rough, some sanding and polishing afterwards should get a good surface for croming. Many motor shops that specialize in tuning, especially amcars should be able to crome them or tell you where to go. Also furniture restorers could give you a hint. Powdercoating is a good option also and does not require a smooth surface, but it is usually a bit more expensive.(and I prefer croming by taste..) If you decide too have them done in either way you might consider doing other parts in the same time. There are a lot of plated or galvanized parts in the engine room that get ugly with time. It was a lot cheaper than I expected, I paid $15 US for the braces, intercooler brackets, washerbottle bracket and a couple of other pieces. Double or triple that for powdercoating. Considering buying spraypaint and doing the terribly annoing work of painting the pieces with a coat that will probably get bad in a couple of years... :? I do again reccomend some sorts of professional plating.

01-21-2003, 09:23 PM	#14
Hank Scorpio Chubfest 2009 Survivor Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The neighborhood with the ******* guitar player.	Eastwood sells that powder coating kit that I'd love to snag. One of these days I will, I have the oven sitting around already! Doug

01-22-2003, 01:27 AM	#15
Anonymous Guest	I just did mine last summer. after you prep, use a couple coats of good clearcoat on top of a nice engine paint, and you'll have some nice braces! 8)

01-28-2003, 11:12 AM	#16
DaButcher Do a Burnout! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway	there is something called "Autosol" which is good for polishing. I polished the metal thingies holding my radiator, they got all shiny and nice, but I think you should use something on it afterwards to prevent "corrosion".

01-28-2003, 11:16 PM	#17
G96nt Board Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Leominster, MA	WHOOOOOOO how about... go to your local parts dealer, and pick up a small container Of mothers aluminum/metal polish. use some windex to clean it, and polish it up.... if you do Well-enough you should have quite the shine ( I have made my 3 year-old s/s muffler Shine pretty well With mothers' and some elbow grease) if you're worried, you can wait For the polish to dry.. buf it a little, and apply some clearcoat via krylon (at Some point, I'm doing This to the valve-cover... I'll show y'all then) actually... here let me show you a tranny housing I did. here's some pictures: mmmm eyecandy! but.. yeah you can See how well the mothers' works. it's all by hand.. and that Tranny you can See the half I didn't Touch(lower part.. still has mod/oxidization) __________________ Countries First DSM-powered 7th generation Galant (If you want info, just Ask) Soon to have ~250HP b21ft (NOT with a powerstroke intercooler)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode