Polished Strut Tower Brace? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

NC-V · 12-11-2013, 12:08 PM

Yes the casting on the ends were smoothed on the yellow bar before paint.

Babich9 · 12-16-2013, 11:54 AM

I have the 14 1LE. Opinions. You think matte black bar with gloss black ends or polished bar with gloss black ends? Also what are you guys using to polish out the bar?? Thanks

DwRed1LTV6 · 12-16-2013, 04:38 PM

Cool looking strut bars guys

Babich9 · 12-28-2013, 02:10 PM

Polished with gloss black ends!

scott's45 · 12-28-2013, 02:19 PM

I painted mine and put the 45th emblem on it. Polishing it never entered my head, but that sure looks great!

45thCamaro · 12-28-2013, 02:22 PM

I also painted an engine cover but it's a bit messed up, I have to touch up the edges.

FLYNNZL1 · 12-28-2013, 02:29 PM

I was off this week, so I spend some time sanding and polishing my strut tower brace. I started with 500 grit sandpaper, wet sanding side to side then 1000 grit, then 1200 grit. I bought the sandpaper as a package at Harbor Freight for $3.00. Then I used Mother's Aluminum Polish, around $6.00. I put extra bright white LED's under the brace, with a on/off switch.

zandron263 · 12-28-2013, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flynnaz

I was off this week, so I spend some time sanding and polishing my strut tower brace. I started with 500 grit sandpaper, wet sanding side to side then 1000 grit, then 1200 grit. I bought the sandpaper as a package at Harbor Freight for $3.00. Then I used Mother's Aluminum Polish, around $6.00. I put extra bright white LED's under the brace, with a on/off switch.

Nice job I was going to paint mine but after reading what you did I am going g to try the polishing. I also have one of the older CAI intakes so I may try polishing that as well. I can always paint it if I don't like the way it turns out.

FLYNNZL1 · 12-28-2013, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zandron263

Nice job I was going to paint mine but after reading what you did I am going g to try the polishing. I also have one of the older CAI intakes so I may try polishing that as well. I can always paint it if I don't like the way it turns out.

I used Platidip on the ends as well.

the wet sanding takes off all the ridges, and scratches. The polish makes it shinny. I would not use lower than 500 grit, and end with 1200 grit before polishing.

FLYNNZL1 · 12-29-2013, 07:33 PM

A picture of the super bright white LEDs under the Strut Tower Brace. I think I am going to remove my engine cover, then you should be able to see the LS3 better

zandron263 · 01-01-2014, 03:37 PM

I tried the polishing over the last couple of days since I was off from work. I tried to replicate the process Flynnaz used but I used 600, 1000, the 2000 grit sandpaper for the wetsanding it was what I could find at the store. I did the sanding then used the Mothers aluminum polish. It came out a lot way more polished than it was stock but I was not satisifed. So I decided to try using my PC 7424 and the foam white pad that came with it and the Mothers polish. That combo gave me the look I was going for. I painted the ends black now I just need to put it back on the Camaro. I will probably get to that when it gets warmer in the garage. I wont be driving the Camaro till the spring so no rush to get it back on. Thanks to all for the tips it was easier to do than I thought it would be.

Michaels2011 · 01-03-2014, 04:25 PM

Just painted mine..
Going to install this Sunday….

Michaels2011 · 01-03-2014, 06:32 PM

Couldn't wait till Sunday……Just installed….

45thCamaro · 01-03-2014, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaels2011

Couldn't wait till Sunday……Just installed….

Looks excellent, congrats.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

12-11-2013, 12:08 PM	#15
NC-V Drives: cts-v Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 506	Yes the casting on the ends were smoothed on the yellow bar before paint. __________________ S.L. Customs www.slcustomsonline.com www.facebook.com/S.L.CustomsLLC

12-16-2013, 04:38 PM	#17
DwRed1LTV6 Drives: '11 VR 2LT HHr Join Date: May 2011 Location: Gateway to the West Posts: 2,720	Cool looking strut bars guys __________________ 2011 Hhr Formerly known as Silver85IrocZ !!

12-28-2013, 02:10 PM	#18
Babich9 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ca Posts: 30	Polished with gloss black ends! Attached Images

12-28-2013, 02:19 PM	#19
scott's45 Scott's45 Drives: 2012 2SS 45th Anniversary Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 556 View My Garage	I painted mine and put the 45th emblem on it. Polishing it never entered my head, but that sure looks great! Attached Images __________________ 2012 2SS 45th Anniversary, Hurst short throw shifter, Stainless Power LT headers, high flow cats, SW Retro Chambered 3" cat back, CAI, Heritage grill, tinted windows, red/silver hash stripes, AAC LED sidemarkers, blacked out turn signals/tail lights, splash guards. 402RWHP

12-28-2013, 02:29 PM	#21
FLYNNZL1 Account Suspended Drives: Man Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Usa Posts: 3,175 View My Garage	I was off this week, so I spend some time sanding and polishing my strut tower brace. I started with 500 grit sandpaper, wet sanding side to side then 1000 grit, then 1200 grit. I bought the sandpaper as a package at Harbor Freight for $3.00. Then I used Mother's Aluminum Polish, around $6.00. I put extra bright white LED's under the brace, with a on/off switch. Attached Images

12-16-2013, 11:54 AM	#16
Babich9 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ca Posts: 30	I have the 14 1LE. Opinions. You think matte black bar with gloss black ends or polished bar with gloss black ends? Also what are you guys using to polish out the bar?? Thanks

12-28-2013, 02:22 PM	#20
45thCamaro Drives: 2012 Camaro 45th Anniversary RS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York Posts: 2,417	I also painted an engine cover but it's a bit messed up, I have to touch up the edges.

12-29-2013, 07:33 PM	#24
FLYNNZL1 Account Suspended Drives: Man Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Usa Posts: 3,175 View My Garage	A picture of the super bright white LEDs under the Strut Tower Brace. I think I am going to remove my engine cover, then you should be able to see the LS3 better Attached Images

01-01-2014, 03:37 PM	#25
zandron263 Drives: 2011 2LT RS IOM Convertible Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 2,020 View My Garage	I tried the polishing over the last couple of days since I was off from work. I tried to replicate the process Flynnaz used but I used 600, 1000, the 2000 grit sandpaper for the wetsanding it was what I could find at the store. I did the sanding then used the Mothers aluminum polish. It came out a lot way more polished than it was stock but I was not satisifed. So I decided to try using my PC 7424 and the foam white pad that came with it and the Mothers polish. That combo gave me the look I was going for. I painted the ends black now I just need to put it back on the Camaro. I will probably get to that when it gets warmer in the garage. I wont be driving the Camaro till the spring so no rush to get it back on. Thanks to all for the tips it was easier to do than I thought it would be. Attached Images __________________ My Build Thread http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324276

01-03-2014, 04:25 PM	#26
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	Just painted mine.. Going to install this Sunday…. Attached Images __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....

01-03-2014, 06:32 PM	#27
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	Couldn't wait till Sunday……Just installed…. Attached Images __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....