Aluminum Filler for SE rear Applique Panel

[kent_goins]

Just got my rear SE Applique Panel back from the Michigan restoration vendor which I located in Hemmings Motor News. The guy did a good job on the general metal work and Argent color. He did a terrible job on the finish of the silver boundary edge. There are pits, dings scratches all around the polished silver edge. Does anyone know of a way or filler to fill these imperfections and resand and polish? Let me know of a good technique. There is no paint on the silver boundary. It is just polished aluminum, so any repair I make has to blend well.

Thanks
Kent G

[RUNCHARGER]

It should be hammer and dollied back then sanded and repolished. It can be finicky work. The quick way home on an SE that isn't concourse (and if the ends are in really tough shape) is to trim them off and use repro quarter trim from a normal 70 Challenger overtop of them.

[soundcontrol]

Mine had a drilled hole in it, I filled it with an aluminum soldering stick, (soldered with a torch), worked well but I still have to sand and polish it, I dont know if it will blend in perfect yet.

It's German product, called al85plus, here's a YT link to a video: https://youtu.be/NTqmwnZcDL0

[kent_goins]

Thanks for the response...that is good information. My particular case is not so straightforward as a hole to be filled. My case is dings and scratches and divits all along the surface which needs something more like a epoxy filler  or similar. But yes, I like brazing with a aluminum rod if the situation warrants... Thin aluminum is so tricky....it tends to evaporate of it gets too hot with little to no warning.

KG

[soundcontrol]

Thanks for the response...that is good information. My particular case is not so straightforward as a hole to be filled. My case is dings and scratches and divits all along the surface which needs something more like a epoxy filler  or similar. But yes, I like brazing with a aluminum rod if the situation warrants... Thin aluminum is so tricky....it tends to evaporate of it gets too hot with little to no warning.

KG

This material that I used, al85plus, does not require heating to the point where the trim melts, the alu rod melts way before that point, but it merges well anyways, my only concern is that it will match later. Before I tried it on my SE trim I practiced on a piece of alu, and there it matches perfect, and its superstrong, I tried soldering 2 pieces together, and I can not break it afterwards.

[kent_goins]

Very good thanks and I will check it out

KG

[cordodge]

I used Patmia near Roseville and my trim came back amazing, they did a repair on my finish panel and i can't even see where the damage was.

[kent_goins]

Here are a couple of pics of the divots and dings along the SE Panel...anybody have any ideas...They are small so either a metal filler and silver touch up paint or small torch heat and braze/solder. What do you think?

KG

[kent_goins]

and another....

[YellowThumper]

Technique on the thin trim is you have to utilize the existing metal. The deeper low spots are tapped out to be at minimum flush. After that any high spots on the parts are sanded to be flat again. Removing high spots. Obviously there is very little thickness to work with. Every area on trim will take a creative buck and hammer setup to correct close for finishing.

Very time consuming.
Good luck.

[anlauto]

In my opinion, that trim was not worth restoring and they should have told you that up front.

[soundcontrol]

I bought this, and a bunch of files, gonna try to fix my own trim, it can't be rocket science. If I screw it up, I'll get new trim, but I gotta try. Got some scraps to practice on first.

[kent_goins]

Just talked to the guy on the phone who did the restoration in Michigan and he felt he sent out a substandard product....So looks like I might get another one from him no charge. The work was good but the bottom edge is pitted....so he may make everything better. I will know in 10 days 

Sometimes it pays to be friendly....

KG

[YellowThumper]

I bought this, and a bunch of files, gonna try to fix my own trim, it can't be rocket science. If I screw it up, I'll get new trim, but I gotta try. Got some scraps to practice on first.

Use anything and everything at your disposL.
Old files work great for grinding down into forming tools.
Hard wood can also be your friend.

[RUNCHARGER]

I think Alan is right: That metal is too thin to work by the look of it. I'm surprised they did all the straightening and paint work on the surfaces beside it.