'59 Plymouth Forum

Oke, I got the drivers side of the grille apart from the car now.

How do you clean all those grooves in the grille??? They look dirty now and i've tried a couple thing but it won't clean up.
Had it in the bath for about 12 hours and tried to clean it with a toothbrush, no result.
Sprayed it with high pressure, nothing.

Any tips??

Hi Matthew,

You are on the right track using a toothbrush. I have used a toothbrush along with a good quality Aluminum polish such as:

Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish
This is our legendary metal polish. Mothers®’ secret formula balances a brilliant shine with easy use for aluminum wheels and parts, brass, alloys and accessories. Application is just a matter of a clean cloth and a little elbow grease. Mothers® Mag & Aluminum polish is strong enough to put a shine to the most neglected metals and gentle enough to use on a regular basis.
#05100, 5 oz. #05101, 10 oz.

A good spay on aluminum wheel cleaner may work as well.


Mother's Wheel Mist® Chrome/Wire
When your chrome is dirty, hazed and oxidized and corrosion is setting in, it’s time for the big gun. Our Wheel Mist® Chrome/Wire is the original, powerful one-step that works on chrome wire wheels, chrome bumpers and roughcast aluminum. Spray on and hose off—this is the quickest way to the sharpest shine your chrome wheels and bumpers have ever seen. Overheated brake dust, surface rust, ground in dirt and oxidation can’t evade this high impact cleaner.
#05824, 24 oz.

Thanks!
I got that Mother mag & alu polish.

Gonna try the wheel cleaner tonight! Hopefully this will show some results

This is what our Plymouth looks now

I know Tom Fox completely disassembled his grille to clean it, but I don't recall if he cleaned it, buffed off all the anodizing down to raw aluminum, or had it re-anodized. REMEMBER; the grilles are not rough aluminum or even un-coated aluminum, they are anodized.