Speedster side spears
- Chuck House
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Speedster side spears
Does anyone know of someone who supplies the side spears (Speedsters, D's, Roadsters, etc.) in bare aluminum like the originals? I called Stiddard and SMC and they said theirs were anodized (like the kit cars). I know I can strip the anodizing but it's a PITA and worth the money to buy bare ones if available.
Chuck House
Southern California
Southern California
- Mike Wilson
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Re: Speedster side spears
Chuck: If you don't locate the non-anodized ones, I found a local shop that can strip the anodizing. I just had them strip the anodizing off some B/C bumper and rocker decos. They then sent them out to have scratches removed and polished then back for anodizing. Very reasonably priced and I'm very happy with the results.
Custom Metal Finishing in Gardena. 319-532-5075. Ask for Dave.
Custom Metal Finishing in Gardena. 319-532-5075. Ask for Dave.
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Chuck House
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Re: Speedster side spears
Mike,Mike Wilson wrote:Chuck: If you don't locate the non-anodized ones, I found a local shop that can strip the anodizing. I just had them strip the anodizing off some B/C bumper and rocker decos. They then sent them out to have scratches removed and polished then back for anodizing. Very reasonably priced and I'm very happy with the results.
Custom Metal Finishing in Gardena. 319-532-5075. Ask for Dave.
Thanks for the reply. I may go that route or just strip them myself. I was just hoping to find good repos. Too bad they are all anodized. Also, the 356Bs had bare decos with solid ends at least through mid'63 production. Quality repo decos for Bs have never been available to my knowledge so most have been replaced with anodized C decos with split ends.
Chuck House
Southern California
Southern California
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Re: Speedster side spears
The repros I have seen look exactly as you described, Chuck. Feel free to contact me off-line if you'd like addtional info on my experience,
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
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Re: Speedster side spears
FWIW: Anodizing on aluminum can be stripped quite easily with oven cleaner. Go for the "Original Formula" type that doesn't mention anything about "fume free" The lye does pretty quick work.
Per Schroeder
Stoddard
LA Lit Meet Organizer
Stoddard
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Re: Speedster side spears
Good point, Per. I used Easy Off to remove the anodizing on some B/C horn grills.
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Doug McDonnell
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Re: Speedster side spears
If they were the same size/length on C coupes I deleted mine when I did my restoration but still have them.
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.
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Re: Speedster side spears
There must be some of this in the wheel cleaners that ruin the finish on Fuchs rims.Per Schroeder wrote:FWIW: Anodizing on aluminum can be stripped quite easily with oven cleaner. Go for the "Original Formula" type that doesn't mention anything about "fume free" The lye does pretty quick work.
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Re: Speedster side spears
Yea, strong bases will definitely cause the issue on Fuchs. That's why P21S has that ad that says "No Lyes" for its wheel cleaner.
Per Schroeder
Stoddard
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- Jim Alton
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Re: Speedster side spears
If you're very careful this may work but aluminum will dissolve in NaOH (lye) solutions.Per Schroeder wrote:FWIW: Anodizing on aluminum can be stripped quite easily with oven cleaner. Go for the "Original Formula" type that doesn't mention anything about "fume free" The lye does pretty quick work.
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster
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Re: Speedster side spears
So will your hands. Oven cleaner, IIRC, is a pretty low concentration of lye. Spray on...let sit for a bit, wipe off. Reapply as needed. Rubber gloves if you like having cuticles.
Per Schroeder
Stoddard
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- Pascal Giai
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Re: Speedster side spears
Chuck,
did you find the answer ?
I am assembling my car and would like to know...
Regards
Pascal Giai, San Diego
did you find the answer ?
I am assembling my car and would like to know...
Regards
Pascal Giai, San Diego
- Chuck House
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Re: Speedster side spears
Hi Pascal,pascal giai wrote:Chuck,
did you find the answer ?
I am assembling my car and would like to know...
Regards
Pascal Giai, San Diego
No one that I am aware of makes good reproductions of the side spears, however with work you can make the reproductions look like originals. You have to strip the anodizing and polish. You also have to file/dress the front fender and door spears where they meet at the door. The original spear gaps followed the door gap which means they are unique to the left or right right side of the car while the reproductions do not and look bad if not dressed properly at the front door gap.
Chuck House
Southern California
Southern California
- Pascal Giai
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Re: Speedster side spears
Very good !
Did you use "oven cleaner" to remove the plating ???
Pascal
Did you use "oven cleaner" to remove the plating ???
Pascal
- Chuck House
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Re: Speedster side spears
Last set I did I just sanded with progressive finer grit sandpaper followed by 0000 steel wool and then aluminum compound on the buffer. I've also used oven cleaner but it doesn't leave the aluminum surface that great and you still have to sand. Any way you look at it, it's still a lot of work to make them look right and not look like kit car spears. It's worth it though.
Chuck House
Southern California
Southern California