Stainless steel or Aluminum Trim Pieces? How to determine the difference

[66plysat]

I'm wondering if B-bodies are consistent with what parts are aluminum and what parts are stainless. What is an easy way to tell if a part is aluminum or stainless?

I'm looking to de-anodize parts so they can be polished and I'm looking to figure out what the different trims are made of.

 

[Mark B]

Weight and color are your guide. Aluminum is 1/3 the weight of stainless. Aluminum will also scratch easier. Stainless will look like chrome and aluminum is whiter in color. A lot of the stainless on our cars is also magnetic.
Hope this helps.
Mark

 

[747mopar]

X2, if you have one of each in your hand it's easy to see the difference but like said the stainless appears more like chrome and is much stiffer. On my 69 Charger almost everything is stainless, I believe the grill trim is the only aluminum on it.

 

[66plysat]

How about the headlight surrounds and/or grill on a 66 Satellite or Belvedere?

 

[747mopar]

I think those are aluminum but don't own one?

 

[62MAX]

Weight and color are your guide. Aluminum is 1/3 the weight of stainless. Aluminum will also scratch easier. Stainless will look like chrome and aluminum is whiter in color. A lot of the stainless on our cars is also magnetic.
Hope this helps.
Mark

One thing to remember if you remove the anodizing,the bare aluminum is very prone to scuffing and scratching,you can actually mark it with your thumb if you rub hard enough,even clear coat won't last forever.I don't think you will find a piece of aluminum trim on the front of any car that is not anodized,those pieces are exposed to the worst possible conditions constantly.

 

[patrick66]

How about the headlight surrounds and/or grill on a 66 Satellite or Belvedere?

Both are aluminum.

 

[Mark B]

On a 66 Satellite Wheel lip and rocker moldings are stainless. Grill, headlight bezels and trim on the top of the fenders, doors and quarters is aluminum.
Mark

 

[66plysat]

Thanks for all the feedback, I stripped the anodizing off the headlight bezels with "Easy Off", it really worked great. If you do it make sure you wear eye protection and mask, that stuff is pretty foul, I got a quick whiff of it and instantly started coughing, it's nothing to mess around with.

I'm now sanding and polishing the bezels to remove pitting and scratches, it's a big, time consuming job but it beats paying nearly $500 for a NOS bezel that's on ebay right now. I found an anodizing business that will do them for a minimum shop charge of $50, sounds good for newly polished and painted bezels.

You FBBO people are a great source for needed information, thanks again for the info.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Don't paint until the anodizing is done, but I'm sure your aware of that. Post some pics of the work!!