metal surround of gauge pod (68) annodized aluminum?

[Banjo]

Is a 68 gauge surround (you know, the large metal peice) annodized aluminum, and does oven cleaner do the same as lye in removing annodize for polishing? I have removed my gauge pod in '68, and intend to install new bulbs and new plastic front and general clean up. I didn't realize how dulled the metal surround was until was out of truck and I'm thinking it's the annonized coating that needs to be removed so the peice could be polished, like maybe with Wenol and a Dremel cotton buff.
What are your thoughts, anything else you'd recommend doing while I have out (should I paint speedo needle orange or anything), always open for suggestion. Reason I ask if I can use oven cleaner instead of Lye, I've heard Lye is hard to locate anymore? Maybe I've heard wrong? Banjo.

[snake]

I don't believe any bumpsides ever had aluminum gauge panels. They were either painted steel or plastic.

I'm sure others will chime in on this too.

[FORDification]

That's correct...factory instrument panel bezels were either plastic or steel, no aluminum...and you say yours is plastic, which means it's (almost) all plastic.

[Banjo]

I'm talking about the large metal peice, which kinda looks like chrome? which houses the plastic lense and speedometer behind it. Is it steel or stainless or what material is it made of, I need to polish it, it's cloudy. Was assuming anodizing had oxidized? Maybe it's just regular chrome that needs polishing?
any other recommendations while I have gauge panel out of my 68 (other than cleaning and new bulbs??), thx, Banjo.

[71 LONG BED]

It is steel. If your unsure, test it with a magnet. If it sticks it's steel, if it doesn't it's plastic. They never where aluminum.

[Banjo]

Agree it's steel, stuck magnet to it last night. Tried to polish it for couple hours w/Wenol (which is usually pretty good), but it's not accomplishing much. Is this steel peice anodized or clear coated or ? Mine has a funky light carmel coating that doesn't want to come off no matter how hard I buff?

[snake]

I always thought they were just painted....?

[kaptnkaos]

Hey all,

I don't think he is talking about the instrument benzel itself, which were either steel or plastic. I think he is refering to the gauge housing itself. My '68 has a plastic benzel but has a metal housing attached to the back that surrounds the gauges.
I believe '67's had a metal benzel with a metal housing, '68-'69's had a plastic benzel with a metal housing... I think 70-72's had plastic benzels with plastic gauge housings as well...

take care,
KaptnKAOS